Tangalle, Sri Lanka's secret sanctuary of peace and calm near the southernmost tip of the island

My hair was in complete disarray as fierce winds lambasted my face along a rocky coastline at what seemed like the end of the world. I could taste the seawater that was everywhere around me, even in the air. Whooshing sound of the wind compounded with the ferocious roar of crashing waves at the cove below my vantage point where I was standing alone. Mesmerized by an endless carpet of blue ocean laid out in front of me and the drama of a clouds above, for a moment I forgot everything else, even the dangerously swaying palm trees behind me. I was at Tangalle, Sri Lanka's secret sanctuary of peace and calm near the southernmost tip of the island.

I arrived at Sri Lanka in the ungodly hours of the previous morning to spend a few days doing nothing but pampering myself and getting some much needed peace (life as an itinerant freelancer is awesome but tiring, believe me!) in association with Hotels.com. Considering I do not accept property reviews unless it's unique (it's been a year exactly since my last), you now know this place is special - the newly opened Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort set inside a coconut plantation on the secluded rocky coast of a yet to be “discovered” town of Tangalle.

Arriving in the summer heat of the tropical island, I feared if my so-called peaceful days would be restricted to taking in the views from the comforts behind glass walls but thankfully the thoughtfully designed vast open air spaces that utilize the local architectural style keeps you cool throughout the day no matter the heat outside! If all else fails, there’s a gorgeous pool that will do excellently.

Waking up to the faint sound of waves one morning, I rushed to the same corner on the edge of the property to witness my most dramatic sunrise of 2016 yet – a fiery red sky above a wrathful ocean. Later, I walked along the wild blue coast that’s unsuitable for swimming (but makes for great images) and plonked myself in the hammock overlooking the sea. Unruly waves hit the unflinching coastline with an admirable tenacity as I let myself drench in the balmy glory of early morning sun therapy. My mind slowly let go of all the worries I carried here with me — my wellness vacation was working well indeed!

But what’s a wellness vacation without a spa? Anantara offers revitalizing spa and ayurvedic treatments for a balanced wellness experience. Whatever remaining worries I had were comfortably forgotten during the 2-hour Anantara Signature Spa experience. I even went into a deep slumber towards the end. And I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or bad that I actually slept through it. Perhaps I needed this vacation more than I knew!

Over lazy lunches and dinners (no breakfast because I’m so not a morning person and since I’m on a do-nothing vacation, I’m not waking up before 10 ;)), I got to sample some of Sri Lanka’s culinary delicacies such as egg hoppers and the delectably spicy red chilli sambal among others. But being a hardcore south Indian perpetually hungry for spices, I was missing the sharp tang of spicy food. I had little idea then that my craving would be satisfied and how!

Cooking Class: Spicy Sri Lankan Food String Hoppers. Prawns, Fish & Chicken curry tempered with coconut milk and plenty of spices. Red rice. Banana flower curry

When we were beckoned to cook our own lunch one afternoon under the aegis of an Anantara chef, I went in with certain cynicism. I am not a patient person when it comes to cooking and supremely disinterested in such activities. So when we went shopping for local spices in the town market of Tangalle, I was left wondering what’s so special about buying Sri Lankan spices from a grocery store like any other. But there in lies the allure of Sri Lanka, those ordinary looking spice packets were anything but. They added such a strong flavour to the lunch we helped prepare that I was crying with delight while the rest were sweating from the heat of the spices! All of this was part of a bespoke cooking class called Spice Spoon’s Sri Lankan Culinary Journey and I can highly recommend this in a heartbeat to anyone intending to get a first hand experience of the delicious Sri Lankan cuisine — just go easy on the spices though, unless you can devour a whole chilli without a cry.

At the end of my stay, Anantara’s Sri Lankan hospitality worked its magic and I was thoroughly rested, well fed and the dark circles under my eyes were probably a shade lighter than when I arrived.

Set amidst 21-acre coconut plantation in Tangalle, Anantara offers 152 guest rooms and villas with garden view and ocean view. Doubles price starts from Rs. 16000 per night as seen in hotels.com

With 20 million verified guest reviews Hotels.com is a leading online accommodation booking website, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favorite and bed & breakfasts in more than 200 countries. Check out their site for exclusive discounts and loyalty programs such as special secret prices and earn a free hotel night after every 10 hotel nights booked.

Go whale watching at Weligama Bay or observe marine turtles nesting at the Rekawa Turtle Sanctuary. Go bird watching at the coastal lagoons and mangroves of Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary or track the leopard at Yala National Park. Indulge in a relaxing spa session or cook your own Sri Lankan dish at the Spice Spoon’s Cooking Class.

By road: Tangalle is at a distance of 195kms from Colombo and the journey by road on the smooth Southern Expressway(E01) takes approximately 4 hours.
By air: Cinnamon Air offers a daily 40-minute sea-plane flight from Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport to Mawella Lagoon in Dickwella, which is a mere 10 minute drive from the resort.

It’s very easy to apply for Sri Lankan visa online. You need to apply beforehand for ETA, an official Electronic Travel Authorization for a visit to Sri Lanka. You will get the confirmation within 48 hours after filling the online application where you are expected to provide passport scans and return tickets. Carry the ETA confirmation with you and provide it at the immigration at the port of entry, a 30-day short stay visa is then issued.

Passport should have minimum 6 months validity from date of departure.

It’s quite hard to exchange Indian currency at most places. Only option to exchange INR is at the local jewelers at big towns. It’s best to carry Euros or USDs if you can.

You can show a valid International credit card as proof of funds.

Note: This trip was sponsored by Hotels.com.

Having seen so much of Himalayas already, from Ladakh to Sikkim, I thought I was prepared, but I wasn’t by any means for what Kashmir had to offer. I used to wonder, how Kashmir was conferred the title of “Heaven on Earth”? I wondered if they had seen rest of the Himalayas, let alone rest of the world to make such tall claims. Then I found my answer.

Little do I know what paradise looks like, but if it’s not Kashmir, then I do not know what is. The minute we set out on the familiar highway to Sonmarg, glimpses of snow capped peaks and green meadows suggestive of what may be in store for us over the next few days got me terribly excited. The idea was to trek through the alpine meadows into the lap of heavenly lakes, tucked deep inside the wilderness where few have gone before, from Sonmarg to Narnag – what’s now famous as the Kashmir Great Lakes trek.

On the first evening, our campsite was on a small tableland overlooking the valley by the side of the river and the sparkling settlement of Sonmarg. When the sun finally went down late in the evening, considering the days were longest in June, I knew it was time! One of the reasons I love camping in the wilderness is because of the million stars and the delightful milkyway stretching across the mysterious night sky. Tonight we had it all, clear skies, dazzling stars and a splendid galaxy. Every shooting star I spotted brought forth a sense of calm and a rising sense of anticipation! For I was here, in Kashmir!

The next morning was as glorious as it could get. The sunlight slowly traced the mountain slope as we raced to meet the light half way through. The freshness of the air almost felt alien, but not for long. Thajwas glacier was behind us as we hiked through the green meadows to reach the silver birch trees at the top of the mountain. Here was a shepherd village called Shekdur, where huts had no doors and the trees were sparkling silver in the sunlight. During the colder months, the shepherds would return and take shelter here. Now in the summers, the sheep are grazing at higher grounds.

Beyond this settlement opens a fairy tale like meadows surrounded by snow capped peaks with horses grazing in its verdant pastures as the stream cuts across at its whimsy. A leisurely walk came to end when a full grown Himalayan dog decided to defend its territory. Slowly we went past the meadows, the horses and the dog to descend into the next valley. Later when we reached our campsite for the day, amidst snow and rock, I came to know that one of our horses had died en route. They told me it was a brown and white pony, I am sure it would’ve been a beautiful animal.

While each horse can cost anywhere from above fifty thousand rupees, they are a very important part of the locals’ livelihood. They carry load, provide them transport and help run their business. The horses are treated dearly and it shows. The animals looked majestic. The person who lost his horse was called Mansoor and I was surprised to find that the dashing smile never left his face despite his great loss. He seemed to accept fate as it was, a worthy trait I found many a times in the men of the mountains.

Next day, we waded through a lot of snow with ample support from the locals to get us across the snow ridden Nichnai Pass into the next valley. It was a very long and tiring hike before we reached the campsite by the side of an allutring half-frozen lake called Vishnusar. Hearing the gentle song of flowing water, seeing the looming clouds over the dark mountains as the sunshine escaped through the gaps, all fatigue was comfortably forgotten. Tariq, a young 15 year old boy from the nearby village was with us on the trek. His spirit was contagious. He would never sit still, always up for another task, always with a shy smile, always willing to help more. From what I heard through his cousins, he leads a tough life. As night fell, he brought us dinner. Of course he was still smiling even as it rained! Turns out, life is only as cruel as we make it to be.

The next day, the mountains made their point clear that nature has the final say in the wilderness. We had to return back from Vishnusar as the snow hadn’t melted on a critical crossing yet. We spent the day walking along the frozen lake instead. Lurking around the corners of the glacial lake and wondering in silent contemplation, a thought was constantly ringing in my head – this is life! Being able to sit by the pristine lake, watching the blue sky reflect in the calm waters, tracing the clear reflection of the mountains and enjoying a cool breeze with a brilliant sun shining down on us. There was a dash of pink and yellow and a whole lot of green everywhere around us. This surely was the good life.

Later, back at the campsite, we met a family of three, residing in a makeshift home by the river. I was surprised to know that these crystal clear streams and the enchanting glacial lakes here were thriving with trout. This family takes care of checking the permits before one can go fishing in these waters. We tasted the delicious Kashmiri Kahwa, a specialty spiced tea while the family told us we were one of the first batch of Indians they had seen in a long time(this happened 5 years ago and is obviously not the case anymore). I was surprised and also kind of embarrassed at the fact that there have been so many foreigners trekking on this route since years and not one of us(Indians).

Over the next two days we retraced the same route we had come, from the snow laden pass, through the valley, along the silver birches, into the pine forest and out to the last campsite. On the last day, the group of us collected a decent amount to tip the locals who helped us immensely. The cheerful locals sang beautiful songs that none of us understood. We handed over the money to them over campfire.

Next morning as we prepared to leave from the trek, a little bird told us the entire tip amount collected was happily given to Mansoor, the guy who lost his pony earlier! Bewitched by Kashmir’s immense beauty and its peoples’ incredible generosity of spirit, I was embarrased of my ignorance — of a paradise I didn’t know existed.

A paradise called Kashmir.