The Place Picture this – a huge wooden door which slides open to reveal a spacious living room, a container pool and the beach. That was my first impression of The Sandhya, a boutique beachfront hotel located along the Southern coast of Sri Lanka which is a mere 30 minutes drive from Galle. It looks exactly just like what I saw online, as I was telling The Rantee. If you are in the midst of planing a trip to the island country, check out our 7 days itinerary for Sri Lanka.

A spiral stairway which takes centrestage in the whole classy look of the property, the high glass to ceiling window panes which offer the most alluring view of the sun-kissed beach, the choice of locally hand-made wooden furniture and its impeccable arrangement which makes this feel like the perfect minimalist holiday, or rather the first step to declutter my mind of any work.

The Sandhya sits on Kabalana Beach, Ahangama, one of the best spots in the Southern coast of the island for some serious surfing. The best part? It is also an adults only property.

The Rooms 9 rooms, this is it. It is my first time staying at a hotel property with so few rooms but there is really no rants on that ground. Each room spots a contemporary design, with either a patio or balcony overlooking the Indian ocean. I stayed in a corner suite room on level 2 which is nothing short of amazing. A nice king size bed greets us which boasts a 500 thread linen, followed by the balcony with the best view of the white beach. If you are a music junkie, the room is also equipped with Harman/Kardon Bluetooth speaker.

The interior design of the room is cosy, minimalist and contemporary, one of those interior design themes which I envision my house to be. This notion extends to the spacious bathroom as well, which comes with 2 sinks for our room, separate toilet and shower compartments, a tempting and huge bathtub fit for 2 adults, as well as the luxurious Spa Ceylon bath products.

The Facilities The one aspect which makes The Sandhya stands out from other hotels I have stayed before is the ingenious communal space. The aesthetics and choice of furniture is right up my alley as well, with very soothing wooden tones to create the cosy and homely feel.

Suffice to say, the lobby is akin to a huge living room of a Good Class Bungalow in Singapore, and it does not at all feel like there is a lack of space for us at any point. In fact, I enjoyed the casual chat sessions and interactions with other hotel guests during my stay during meal times.

If you are expecting a huge lap pool, the 15m long container pool will disappoint you. It is really secondary for me when I have the ocean right in front. Other facilities of the property include a communal tv and games room, laundry services, in room massage and tour arrangements, if need be.

The Restaurants There is only one kitchen at The Sandhya which prepares our breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food here truly surprises, with a seasonal menu and a farm to table concept. Expect a mix of western and local Sri Lankan options for breakfast, while lunch and dinner options revolve around dishes like Arancinis, Poke bowl, Tom Yum Fried Noodles, Handmade Fresh Fettucini and Burger. It is a very diverse and good mix, with a very decent quality.

If you are planning to go for the local Sri Lankan breakfast, you will need to inform the staff one day in advance. I had a mix of local curries and egg hoppers for one of our breakfast, which is quite interesting.

Rants My stay was too short. I could have stayed here for a week and do nothing. On a serious note, the air-conditioning in my room had some power issues on a few counts but was quickly fixed by the helpful staff.

Overall Experience The Sandhya may not be the largest property I have stayed in, but it is by far one of the most comfortable hotels I have ever stayed in. The boutique property is very charming in my heart and if you are looking for somewhere to feel at home in Sri Lanka, and possibly connect with other travellers in style, this is the resort for you.

For more information, do check out The Sandhya Website.

The Sandhya
A2, Ahangama 80650, Sri Lanka

Ranted by The Ranter