Palmyrah House is the leading boutique hotel in Mannar with plenty to discover around the Mannar Island surrounds and beyond.
There is an abundance of things to do and attractions in Mannar. Whether nature inspired, a bird watcher, active relaxer or culture seeker, the relatively undiscovered Northern part of Sri Lanka has offers much to be explored and memories to be made.
Palmyrah House is the ideal base for bird watching in Mannar.
A large open wetland and a refuge and sanctuary for water birds during the migratory season. This sanctuary is being rapidly destroyed by human Encroachment. Located 8 kms from the hotel.
The salt pans are home to hundreds of Greater Flamingos that arrive in Mannar by early November and depart by late March. The Beach Road makes for excellent birding, particularly during the migratory season, and is a pleasant drive. This coast line makes for excellent sea-bathing, particularly between November to April. Located only 14-16 kms from the hotel.
Located on the north-eastern arm of the island of Mannar, home to thousands of waders and shorebirds during the migratory season is also the largest repository of mangroves in Mannar. Located 7 kms from the hotel.
Trek the gravel track through Acacia shrub forests to the sleepy fishing hamlet of Ranapadu and the walk the Pudukudyirrippu Lagoon for some fantastic birding during the migratory season. Only 2kms from the hotel.
The main and only cause/road/bridgeway linking Mannar Island to the mainland of Sri Lanka, home to thousands of migratory birds during the months October through to April. Located 13-20 kms from the hotel.
A prime location for rare ducks and other water birds. Only 20 kms from the hotel.
These two ponds are home to many duck speciesand other water birds during the migratory season. Only 16.5 kms from the hotel.
Another fantastic site for thousands of waders and Flamingos during the season – 17 to 21 kms from The hotel.
A unique area of the Island of Mannar, this is the terrestrial gateway to the Adam’s Bridge, the chain of islands that span the tip of Mannar to Pamban Island in India. – 21 kms from the hotel.
Built in 1520 AD by the Portuguese, it was in succession a Dutch and a British Fort as the fortunes of the colonials rose and fell. – 12 kms from the hotel.
Crumbling 300-year old ruin of an old fort of the Portugese, Dutch and the British, respectively. - 38.0 kms
The century-old crumbling ruin of the Bungalow of the then Governor of Ceylon Sir Frederic North, used in supervising the pearl fishery. - 40.0 kms
A massive Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) with a circumference of 20.8 meters, the largest in Sri Lanka. There are also many large Baobab trees dotted around the island. – 13 kms from the hotel.
Visit the historic Pier, now a derelict reminder of better times, the new lighthouse and the old and rusting oil-fired lighthouse as well as “Adam and Eves’ Graves” – 17-20 kms from the hotel.
01 km away from the turn-off to Madhu Shrine is a gravel road that takes you to the diversionary canal of the Malwathu –oya taking water to the Giant’s Tank, built by the British Colonials, and the Suspension Bridge spanning the Malwathu-Oya, that was used by the villages prior to the establishment of a modern bridge. – 52 kms from the hotel.
An ancient 1,500 year old irrigation tank (lake) of scenic beauty, constructed by the ancient Kings of Ceylon. - 32.5 kms
Abandoned in 1984, it is now a crumbling derelict of the times when a ferry service ran between India and Sri Lanka. - 18.0 kms
The chain of 16 sand-banks connecting Sri Lanka Thalaimannar), to India (Rameswaram) -20.0 kms
Experience the rare opportunity to physically interact and touch-feel-pet a donkey at this wonderful center caring for donkeys in need. – 3 kms from the hotel.
A 2,000 yr old Hindu temple, one of the five Shivan (Pancha Eeshwaram) Kovils in Sri Lanka dedicated to Lord Shiva – 20 kms from the hotel.
A catholic shine dedicated to the 700 catholic souls that were slaughtered by the King of Jaffna in the 1540’s - 4.5 kms from the hotel.
The original home of the Statute of Virgin Mary, now in the Madu Shrine – 20 kms from the hotel.
A fully self contained organic farm, a source of produce for the Hotel, run by an enterprising local – 26 kms from the hotel.
Home to hundreds of fishing trawlers, this are of Mannar is always a hive of activity for the fisherfolk as well as a favourite hang-out for thousands of gulls and terns during the migratory season. – 4 kms from the hotel.
One of the two holiest Catholic Shrines in Sri Lanka, this shrine has a nearly 400yr history – 59 kms from Hotel