Hello my fellow Architecture +Design lovers,
What's up guys? I hope you are doing well. Among the rainforests located in Sri Lanka, the Sinharaja Rainforest occupies a prominent position. The Sinharaja Rainforest, which is spread between two provinces rich in biodiversity, has a high attraction for local and foreign tourists. Therefore, tourist lodges have been built in a natural and attractive manner in accordance with the regulations of the Forest Conservation Department. Most of the tourist lodges are built in various architectural forms near the entrance to the Sinharaja Rainforest in the Deniyaya Mederipitiya area. Before leaving for this trip, I checked the internet and looked for a suitable accommodation to spend a weekend in the cold Deniyaya. Accordingly, I and two other friends left home on Saturday morning for the 360 Rainforest Restaurant, one of the most attractive restaurants in the Mederipitiya area. Travel along the Galle-Deniya main road, from Deniyaya take the Lankagama road, turn around at Pallegama town and travel another 4 kilometers to Mederipitiya. The road from Mederipitiya is a very narrow road. According to the regulations of the Forest Conservation Department, that road cannot be developed. I will present information about it through this content.
Since 360 Rainforest Restaurant is located on a natural road, large vehicles have to park and drive through. The restaurant's name board was attractively made of wood in front of the entrance. Those who wanted an Ayurvedic massage could enter the front as soon as they entered. The benches were made of wood. The roof was thatched with dry coconut leaves. The swimming pool of Sinharaja 360 Rainforest Restaurant, which was located in an environment surrounded by tea plantations, was also built in the front area. Since it was located in a cold environment, even going down to the swimming pool was inconvenient. The lack of parking facilities was a drawback.
The garden of 360 Rainforest Restaurant is beautifully maintained with ornamental plants and trees. Since it was close to the Sinharaja Rainforest, we did not feel the sun's rays. A large number of trees had also grown under the green concept, which is a relief for the tourist accommodation. Since it is located close to the Gin River, the coolness felt increases even more. The garden here is a good place to take photos etc.
There are two types of cabanas at 360 Rainforest Restaurant, and you can choose the one you prefer when booking. These accommodations are called wooden cottage and tent cottage. We chose a tent cottage for a different experience. We felt like we were staying in a glamping camp. These cottages had a small area with wooden chairs and benches near the river for a free party or meal without being cramped. This area is built on stilts slightly above the ground because leeches live on the ground. Four tent cottages have been built close to each other at Sinharaja 360 Rainforest Restaurant. All the tent cottages were built on concrete pillars with stilts and covered with a glamping tent.
The tent cottage at Sinharaja 360 Rainforest Restaurant was completely covered with a glamping tent, and the entrance door was made of a light type of wood. Instead of windows, the glamping tent had the option of opening. Since there was a possibility of fire inside the glamping tent, the use of fire was prohibited. The bed and bathroom were arranged on a solid wooden surface. Even though it was inside a tent, there were facilities such as electricity and water.
The tent cottage at Sinharaja 360 Rainforest Restaurant has a balcony in front, and it is also made of wood, which is a good example of using natural materials. The stairs to climb from the bottom to the top are also made of strong wood. The balance of the tent was maintained with galvanized pipes. Although built following a very simple construction concept, it brings a great attraction to this area. The resorts built in the Mederipitiya area reflect their identity in creating different shapes and styles from each other.
After our arrival during the day, we explored the surrounding environment better and enjoyed the coolness of nature. After a refreshing hot water bath, I walked around the garden of Sinharaja 360 Rainforest Restaurant in the evening. When I saw the water flowing in the Gin River, all the problems in my mind seemed to be forgotten. I could not stay in one place for long because I was caught in the grip of leeches. With the onset of evening, the environment changed and fog began to flow. With the onset of darkness, the sounds of the insects and wild creatures in the Sinharaja forest increased. At that moment, I felt like I was really living in a forest. It is only after coming to a place like this that I feel that the shapes of the environment are also very important in the concept of architecture. When I looked at the mountain above from the garden, it was clear that there were more tourist resorts around this region.
Time was passing very quickly. After the night fell, we went to the restaurant section and had dinner and returned to our restaurant. There is something special to mention here. The service provided to us by the manager and the staff here is especially commendable. The food that suited our needs was prepared in a very tasty and different way. I promise that I will definitely go to Sinharaja 360 Rainforest Restaurant on another vacation. You can also see that the lights in our resort were turned on at night, which gave an extra glow. At night, I went to the balcony and gazed at the Sinharaja rainforest without sleeping. Finally, I would like to mention that the most wonderful moment of my life was the time spent at Sinharaja 360 Rainforest Restaurant.
