Fits Pavilion Margosa (Jaffna).

Jaffna’s tourism scene isn’t quite established yet, which means that the accommodation options aren’t too extensive. Fits Margosa in Chunnakam, Jaffna is an elegant refurbished 19th Century mansion about 9km away from the main town, and possibly one of the only upscale hotels at the very North.

Rooms

The rooms are tastefully appointed, with brushed cement floors, and clean white walls offset with wooden furniture and bold Barefoot-eqsue colour-blocked fabrics. The hotel has 6 rooms in total, all air conditioned and equipped with cable TVs and en suite bathrooms. The bathrooms are quite lovely, bigger than the actual rooms themselves, with a al fresco rainwater shower and a little courtyard in the middle.

The vibe is quite elegant yet somehow earthy, which we enjoyed. The one problem was that a couple of poisonous centipedes made their way inside, which is pretty impossible to avoid from the management’s side but something to watch out for nevertheless. A bird also ate some soap from the bathroom which was kind of exciting in a National Geographic sort of way. Apart from the accidental wildlife escapades, the double room had comfy queen size beds set on cement blocks, which made for some seriously good sleep. I’m not usually an A/C fan either, but in the scorching Jaffna heat it’s heaven-sent.

Premises & Decor

The hotel itself follows traditional aristocratic Dravidian architectural lines, set on about an acre of landscaped land. ExpoLanka is considering an expansion in the near future, which would be a great idea as the area develops further.

The hotel has a little courtyard featuring what may have originally been the family well, surrounded by the dining area, which is then surrounded by the rooms. It’s open and airy, and has a cosy traditional feel to it while maintaining a chic modern ambience.

Dining

The house chef makes both Lankan and continental fare, although Jaffna cuisine is a must-try. Meals are made according to your timings and preferences, which makes travelling during the day flexible. The food comes in generous portions, and has a lot of spices while not being spicy per se. We enjoyed their local fare, the thosai and hoppers came with steaming bowls of chicken curry, dhal and vegetables.

We ordered some additional bites during the evening like the classic french fries and devilled chicken combination, which were reasonable at Rs. 300 and Rs. 500 respectively.
I’d recommend going for a half board deal here – grab breakfast and then leave on your adventures around Jaffna, then return for a nice shower and good dinner spread.

Service

The service is what you’d expect from a small converted mansion-boutique hotel sort of place. The staff consists of very polite and somewhat shy local Jaffna youth. They’re helpful and very very eager, although their English isn’t spectacular, they can communicate the basics. Attentive yet not obsequious.

Conclusion

Jaffna is one of those places you need to get hot and dusty to really appreciate. Lots of walking, lots of barefoot temple expeditions, and definitely a bus experience or two. At the end of all that, a beautiful hotel with a rainwater shower and a/c is just heaven-sent. You feel like you’ve earned it. Margosa fulfills all the basic luxury expectations whilst keeping a certain earthy Northern charm.

Fair warning: It is pretty far to get around by public transport – the bus is only for seasoned travellers and takes at least 35 mins just to reach town. Tuk tuks will charge you a minimum of Rs. 700 to get to town, which is exorbitant! Most patrons at the hotel appear to be on full packages where everything is taken care of, which is less painful.

Their rates are about Rs. 13,000 for a standard triple room on B&B, although this is subject to variations. If you want the deluxe room or need to check the rates for a particular date, it’s better just to call them up.

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Beyond the Hook: Exploring Totally Hooked’s non-Seafood dishes

By Hashini Pathirana Totally Hooked CMB, as we are all aware, is widely renowned for

Kamu Yamu Guide

The Art of Fusion Cuisine at Mövenpick Hotel

By Vera Wadugodapitiya We walked into Robata Grill, Mövenpick. Instantly, what struck me about the

Highlights Kamu

A Taste of Mexico – Cinnamon Red’s Latest International Cuisine

By Shamrina Carim Every month, Cinnamon Red has come up with an exciting initiative to

Highlights Kamu

A Classical High Tea Encounter with the Coronation at Mount Lavinia Hotel

By Shamrina Carim Mount Lavinia Hotel hosted a casual evening of classic high tea encounters

Highlights Kamu

The Bento Box at Royal Thai, Cinnamon Lakeside

By Hiruni Herath When you step into the Royal Thai Restaurant at Cinnamon Lakeside, you’ll

Highlights Kamu

Totally Hooked – The Ultimate Seafood Destination

It is not a surprise that “Totally Hooked CMB", the talk of the seafood town,

Highlights Kamu

Trending.

Chef Sanjay Brings the Flavours of Our Neighbours to Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo

Colombo, Monday 05th June 2023: Despite Sri Lanka’s proximity to the Indian Sub-Continent and a

Trending

Award Winning Indian Restaurant Junior Kuppanna in Colombo

Junior Kuppanna, opened its newest international branch in Colombo on 25th May 2023. The new

Trending

Hilton Sri Lanka Unveils ‘Enchanting Beginnings’ Wedding Sale

Swoon over exclusive wedding packages in stunning venues for a lifetime of memories Colombo, Sri

Trending

Ramada Colombo’s Exclusive Limited Time Wedding Discount

Book before June 15th and enjoy 25% off Planning the perfect wedding can be an

Trending

The 30th Gratiaen Prize shortlist was announced with the launch of the Gratiaen Trust Young Writers Club

The Gratiaen Trust in association with the John Keells Foundation partnering with the Trust for

Trending

Hilton Sri Lanka is set to commemorate Mother’s Day in grand fashion

Continuing our long-standing tradition of celebrating extraordinary mothers, Hilton properties across Sri Lanka have gone

Trending

Yamu Guide.

7 Yoga Studios in and around Colombo

By Udaraa Gamage Are you looking for ways to escape from all that hustling and

Highlights Yamu Guide

Beyond the Hook: Exploring Totally Hooked’s non-Seafood dishes

By Hashini Pathirana Totally Hooked CMB, as we are all aware, is widely renowned for

Kamu Yamu Guide

7 Decent BnB spots for under LKR 7500 – Sri Lanka

We all like spending mini vacations at affordable spots to relax or stay on the

Highlights Yamu Guide

7 Places to Dine Under LKR1500 LKR per person

By Udaraa Gamage Are you a foodie looking for budget places to satisfy your taste

Highlights Yamu Guide

The Aesthetics of Club Palm Bay

Club Palm Bay is a hotel located in the heart of a charming fishing village

Yamu Guide

High Tea Affairs at L.A.B by Hilton Colombo

By Hashini Pathirana A little chit chat with your besties, while sipping onto an Iced

Yamu Guide