Bethany 101

This family home turned into a hotel is in the middle of a lagoon in the otherwise arid district of Puttalam. The rooms are surrounded by a brilliant garden with a swimming pool. The traditional woven grandpa chairs and the stuffed animal heads mounted on the walls reflect the rich culture of this tropical island. Visiting the Wilpattu National Park home to some of the native  wildlife, is almost mandatory from Bethany 101. The Kalpitiya whale and dolphin watching spot is at a short boat ride from the hotel. Its original Puttalam cuisine, which has influences from other south-east Asian neighbours is a restaurant speciality. Bethany keeps it traditional by offering local food on a banana leaf. Bethany101 is unpretentious and offers a grand experience by keeping it simple.