Dating BACK TO 1908
On WTF this week, I visited my hometown Jaffna, and a place to stay was not an issue as we walked into a hotel which felt more like home. Located in Kokuvil, just ten minutes outside Jaffna town is Fox Jaffna. This historic house has an exciting past. The property was once used as the head office of the LTTE, and then claimed by the government as an office space, till the end of the war. When you visit this stunning place you get to see where the leader Velupillai Prabhakaran used to brief his team every day. Since reclaiming the property, the owners have remodelled this beauty into a luxury boutique hotel, incorporating modern conveniences while preserving its colourful past.
We stayed in the main house, it’s the heart of the property with rooms big and spacious and walking out of the room always reminded me of my home back then. Although Jaffna has faced such a bad beating with the war, people are still so warm and friendly and a smile is always guaranteed. The team who represent the hotel sure knows how to make you feel like a true “Jaffna Boy” always ready to help and so quick with excellent service.
The resort comes with the main house and more rooms as you walk down the stunning garden, the other rooms are very modern and welcoming with the majestic pool tempting you in the middle. I have been in many pools but I think it’s the hot temperature in Jaffna the water is just perfect on your skin, and getting out was a tough decision for me to make.
A major highlight of the resort are the Bunkers – when I was a kid, when the war gets really bad or when the bombs keep getting closer we had to hide in an enclosed area or a bunker, but at FOX resort this ugly and sad past has been made into something nice. It’s called the
“Bunker Galleries”
Built during the height of the Sri Lankan Civil War, when the property was under the control of Rebel Leaders, the two underground bunkers remain as a lasting reminder of Jaffna’s struggle. A decade after peace was won, these underground monuments have been restored and refurbished to exhibit some world class paintings
The Bunkers now contain works by internationally- and nationally-renowned artists which include Harry Peiris, Justin Deraniyagala, George Keyt, Ivan Peries, Richard Gabriel, Aubrey Collette, L. T. P. Manjusri, W. J. G. Beling, George Claessen and their patron, the photographer
Lionel Wendt. This private collection copies are exquisitely “The property was once used as the head office of the LTTE, and then claimed by the government as an office space, till the end of the war. When you visit this stunning place you get to see where Velupillai Prabhakaran used to brief his team every day” displayed throughout the hotel rooms, restaurant, and halls.
The second Bunker is a History Museum, displaying information on the history of Jaffna, dating from pre-historic times through the civil war era. The Gallery is home to numerous historic artifacts from the Peninsula, each telling the story of what came before. And if you are someone who wants to know places to go see in Jaffna this is ideal.
On our first day we were so tired and was waiting to crash after a good meal, and the food was just a treat – it was true Jaffna delight. The prawn curry won my heart so much we had to do 3 rounds to have had enough of it. The food only got better with every meal. Never a day of disappointment. We even tried their western menu for breakfast and the pancake was so fluffy and yummy I did not want to leave the place, we had some fun too on the side had the best
mangoes with ice cream, and some cool toddy after a hot day. What more can you ask for?
“The food only got better with every meal. Never a day of disappointment”