Aditya

Opened in 2006, Aditya roughly translates from Sanskrit to "belonging to the sun." Natural light floods the public spaces and rooms, warming up the vibe and the air. With the resort's high, high ceilings, mostly open floor plans, indoor-outdoor spaces, concrete floors, precisely placed plants, and superbly executed Indo-Asian antique decor, it's easy to feel like you are a part of something big; Aditya hides its small size well. Despite its intimate size, this boutique has become a big name among other hoteliers along the west coast, and particularly in the Hikkaduwa to Galle region. You'll mostly find couples here, young and old, mostly all keeping to themselves and taking advantage of the secluded feeling Aditya creates. Guests can be found sipping tea on lobby couches, flowing through the hallways, grabbing a bite in the restaurant, or lounging by the pool. Antique puppets can be found strung up from the ceiling on the second floor, which may strike some as a bit creepy. While many of Sri Lanka's hotels are still learning what it means to provide a Western standard of hospitality, Aditya is most definitely on the right track; rooms and public spaces are spotless and stylish -- nothing is out of place, they are willing to cater to any dietary requests, food is fresh and delicious, and they have seemingly mastered small details in service. 

Hidden down a small dirt road set off a section of Galle Road that runs between the ocean and Rathgama Lake, Aditya rests against a quiet and picturesque stretch of orange sand beach. Guests here are given an opportunity to replace the chaos and cacophony of the busy Sri Lankan street with the serenity of nature and the ocean. This small escape from bustling town life can make Aditya feel much more remote than it actually is, as the bustling city of Galle is just a 20-minute drive southwest and the beach town of Hikkaduwa is only a 10-minute drive north. While it's best to take a tuk-tuk around the area, the main road is only a moderate walk away. Easy day trip excursions can include Galle Fort, Moonstone Mines, Ambalangoda's mask and puppet factory, whale watching in Mirissa, and wildlife safaris in several national parks. Colombo airport is just over two hours north.

Named after twelve Hindu solar deities, all of Aditya's suites are pleasantly huge. They have polished concrete floors, high ceilings, luxe Indo-Asian antique furnishings, rich color palettes, and dedicated sitting lounges. The suites' outdoor bathrooms are spacious with open plans, oodles of amenities in the vanity and toiletry kits, rainfall showers, dual vanity bowl sinks, and large glassless cutout windows. Convenience features are a-plenty and include things like DVD and CD players, large flat-screen TVs with lots of English channels, minibars packed with top-of-the-line snacks and drinks (and inflated prices to boot -- they were twice as expensive as most minibar items we saw elsewhere), tea and coffee facilities, bathrobes and slippers, and flip flops. Most significantly, every suite has a private outdoor plunge pool. While each suite has its own personality and decor, the 12 units are in three categories. The 700-square-foot Shanthi Suites are essentially garden-view rooms with nice-sized verandas, while the 1,200-square-foot Sagara Suites have ocean views and large balconies -- both with built-in and/or upscale wicker furniture. Inside, you'll find bold colors, natural woods, wicker, and a perfect balance of decor accents that add just the right amount of character. There's only one Surya Suite: an 1,800-square-foot, two-story penthouse with huge open terrace, fully outdoor plunge pool, and lofted bedroom area with an eye-line view through a large picture window out to sea. All rooms also have room service anytime and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms can be dim, so if natural light is important, be sure to request an ocean-facing abode. 

With only 12 rooms, Aditya's guests can take advantage of all of the resort's features without much worry about overcrowding or lack of availability. While most beachfront hotels can claim their beach area as a prime feature, the beach behind Aditya -- though exceptionally well groomed and beautiful -- is unequipped (as it is still a public beach), leaving it best left for walk, throwing down a towel, or watching the surf crash or the vivid Indian Ocean sunsets. There's a small entrance area leading up to the beach that has a few chairs, but the ground is less sandy and more dirty with a few scattered patches of greenery. Guests wanting to recline in the sun will find high-quality cushioned wooden loungers with umbrellas by the pool. During our visit we saw a half dozen adjustable loungers and one royal looking, hand-carved wood cabana with a thatched roof and colorful pillows. The pool itself is rectangular, set off the bar and lobby area, and on a raised deck above a verdant area that is a second entrance to the beach.Inside, Aditya has a large, outdoor (but covered) restaurant overlooking the patchy entrance to the beach. Here, there are high ceilings, plenty of seating on two shallow levels, and distressed concrete floors. The menu is upscale international, though the chef will prepare special requests -- and serve your meal whenever and wherever you like. The main bar next to the pool has a handful of chairs and a high-top table. Guests can also take their drinks around the corner to a sunken lounge area where they will find a few simple wicker bucket chairs and contemporary black varnished tables. For the mind and body, the resort has a corner wellness area with a small gym with three cardio machines and a yoga mat and a large open-plan spa area. The spa area focuses on Eastern-style treatments, hydrotherapy, and beauty treatments. Because of the open floor plan and simple use of dividers, shy guests may feel a bit awkward sharing the space during treatments. There are also excursions to several local sights and points of interest, free Wi-Fi throughout, a small jewelry cabinet at reception, transportation services, and an international selections of books, DVDs, CDs, and periodicals.