Page 44 - Travel + Leisure India & South Asia (January 2020)

D IS C O V E RI E S

The plush Junior
Suite offers a
breathaking view of
the Indian Ocean.

The 24-storeyed
Mövenpick Hotel
Colombo is a
landmark in
the capital.

Isle of Luxury

Bang in the heart of the throbbing capital of Sri Lanka, Mövenpick
Hotel Colombo is the last word in luxury. BY SUSHMITA SRIVASTAV

PEOPLE USUALLY HEAD TO COLOMBO for some beach
fun, to stroll through its palm-shaded parks and
colonial-era churches, to marvel at its streets that
often transform into open-air art galleries, or to
delve into its rich Dutch history. But as I drove along
the sprawling Galle Face Green, I knew I wouldn’t be
doing any of these on my maiden visit.
The change of plans wasn’t my idea, though.
The dramatic sky and rain clouds hinted that my
weekend was most likely to be a relaxing staycation
with very limited jaunts in the Sri Lankan capital.
By the time I checked into the stylish
Mövenpick Hotel Colombo, more murky clouds
loomed above. Dispirited, I headed to the Junior
Suite on the 22 fl oor, my home in Colombo
nd
for the next few days. Located in Kollupitiya in
central Colombo, the 24-storeyed Mövenpick Hotel
Colombo stands tall between the city’s two main
thoroughfares, Galle Face and Duplication Road.
The plush, well-lit room at the hotel instantly lifted and a huge whirlpool tub in the hall. The loud
my mood with its contemporary design and upbeat rumble of the clouds wasn’t audible anymore, and
vibe. Picture this: artworks hanging on bright walls, all the gloom faded behind the glass frames. COURTESY OF MÖVENPICK HOTEL COLOMBO
king-size bed with fluffy feather-soft duvets, a I pulled open the drapes to find the blue of Indian

separate sitting area with lounge chairs and a huge Ocean melting into the purple-grey sky.
flat-screen TV, a spacious en-suite bathroom with Soon, it began to pour. I picked a table by

walk-in shower, a fully-stocked mini bar, floor-to- the window at the Robata Grill and Lounge, the

ceiling glass windows offering beautiful city views, hotel’s Japanese restaurant on the second floor, for

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