Relaxed at Delthota

Year and Month	2019 June 15th and 16th
Number of Days	Two Days
Crew	04-Chinthaka, Rakitha, Heshan and Myself
Accommodation	Wind loft Retreat-Delthota
Transport	By car
Activities	Sightseeing, Photography and Relaxation
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo->Peradeniya->Galaha (ගලහ)->Delthota (දෙල්තොට)->Bopitiya Road (බෝපිටිය පාර)-> Wind loft Retreat->Back along same route
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Delthota and Galaha towns are good enough to buy necessary things when you go to Wind loft retreat. Road condition is not good for a low ground vehicle from Delthota town. Three wheel charges from Delthota town to hotel is Rs 300. Basically it is a place to relax and enjoy the view. Nothing much to do at this place except some indoor games. When the area is dry, natural pool is not functioning. They mainly provide Sri Lankan food. It is better to walk around the hotel to enjoy the view.
Related Resources	Travel with Chathura-Delthota Wind Loft Retreat web site
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Relaxed at Delthota

As always my travelling is full of mountains, waterfalls and adventures, this time decided to go for a relax trip with few less travelling friends. I have watched Travel with Chathura-Delthota programme a time ago and was planning to visit this hotel located with beautiful sceneries. This is all about our journey to Wind loft retreat at Delthota.

It was bit late start from Colombo and it was evidenced by facing traffic jam towards Kandy. We have reached Delthota from Peradeniya via Galaha road. I have a routine to taste a Soya ice cream at front of Peradeniya Uni when I travel along Galaha road. As our check in time was at 1pm we had lunch from Galaha town. Galaha comes before Delthota town and it has no variety of food.

After passing Delthota town we had left side turn to Great valley estate. Great valley estate belongs to Janatha Estate Developing Board. We have passed one of an old tea factories at Great Valley, seems not functioning. Road condition was extremely bad after the tea factory and we three decided to walk with enjoying the view while Rakitha was driving carefully to the hotel.

This hotel is situated at the angel of a mountain, surrounded by bare lands with Mana. Seem it is like an abounded tea estate. Delthota town, the mountain with tower, Kondagala, Loolecondera estate and Hanthana hills are situated in front of us.

Entering to Great Valley Estate.

Great Valley tea factory. Not functioning now.

Their hard life.

It is a good exercise for them.

Hanthana

Mountain at Delthota. Pinus cap and transmission towers.

Delthota town

Abounded estate tea estate

Upper part of Great Valley estate.

Check in to the hotel

Wind Loft Retreat Hotel

The first idea of making a hotel at this place came from a New Zealander called Peter Duncan who was a retired economist. He has converted the existing building into a guest house and kept upper floor as his research center and accommodation. In 2012, after 10 years of initial plan management was taken over by two local businessman to convert this to a nine bed room hotel to accommodate total 26 guests.
Peter Duncan had a great idea of reforestation of the abounded tea patch around the hotel. The grave of Peter Duncan can be seen behind the hotel.

As the hotel is situated at an angle of a mountain it provides beautiful view. There is a natural pool as well as vegetable farm belongs to hotel. Water is one of a precious thing of this area as water absorption ability of earth is poor due to lack of forest cover other than Pinus patch. During our visit we were not able to enjoy the natural pool facility due to lack of water.

Lobby

Welcome

Natural

It is our family room

View of Delthota town

The rock next to Kondagala

Delthota Zoomed

Alagalla

Car park

Road continues to Little Valley area

Pinus cap covering the top of the mountain. This is one reason for the dryness of the soil.

Enjoying the view

.	Veranda with spectacular view

Different view

It is not a surprise if you get a mist all of sudden

Different view

Game room

.	Time for music

Vegetable farm

Vegetable farm and hotel

Grave of Peter Duncan

Doggies

Small lake feeds natural pool

Natural pool. Not functioning due to lack of water.

Spending the night at Wind Loft retreat was different experience. You can enjoy the view of illuminating town of Delthota from veranda in amid of wind.

Wind Loft Retreat at night

View of Delthota Town

Wind Loft retreat at night

Never forget to experience the sun rise from Wind Loft Retreat after a late night drink. I woke up at 5.30am and enjoyed the sun rise from Veranda of the lobby with different colours of the sky.

Pre sun rise sky….

Sun rise from Wind Loft Retreat

Enjoying….

Good Morning

Morning view

Different colours

Morning view

Cloud cap

Morning view…

Kondagala

Time to have breakfast

Though it was a relaxing trip my natural habits came out. I have stimulated others to explore the surrounding. First day evening we had a mountainous walk to Little Valley area. Little Valley means just another set of tea estates situated above Great Valley estate. We spent a time in exploring two lakes situated at Little Valley.

Road to Little Valley

Chinthaka (left), Rakitha and Heshan (Right)

Sun set

Towards Delthota

Kovil at Little Valley

Nice place to have a play ground….

Little Valley

Estate road

Lake at Little Valley

The Moon

Next day morning following breakfast we did a mini hike to nearby mountain with Pinus cap. There was a foot pathway closer to natural pool to get on to the top of Pinus patch. It was about 30minutes journey and we were able to identify Kukulagala, Nawenagala, and Rajagala Kanda when we were at top of the mountain. But most of the mountains were new for me.