Negombo

Though situated just a few kilometers from the airport, The Wallawwa feels nothing like a transit hotel. Sitting in acres of beautifully mature gardens, this charming boutique hotel is a sanctuary of serenity and style where the old merges beautifully with the new. Built over 200 years ago in the traditional “Dutch warehouse’ colonial design, The Wallawwa is the most ancient manor house in the entire province and was an ancestral home for many years.

With its completely secluded location, The Wallawwa is a luxurious private hideaway whose 17 boutique bedrooms, exquisite food and wonderfully oversized Z Spa are the perfect ingredients for a relaxing and memorable stay. The hotel’s signature swimming pool sits in the garden a short distance from the main house, while a yoga garden is peacefully located beside the spa.

Dambulla

Conceptualized by Geoffrey Bawa, world renowned architect, the Heritance Kandalama, described by one as a giant belvedere, is not a building to look at, but rather a building to look from.

Built in a minimalist and contemporary style, the hotel sits on a rocky outcrop on the edge of an ancient reservoir and enjoys sweeping views of the surrounding countryside including two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the 1st Century BC Dambulla rock temple and the 5th Century AD Sigiriya Rock Temple. The hotel itself is surrounded by beautiful naturally landscaped gardens, and is a haven for over 160 species of migratory birds.

The Heritance Kandalama has 152 rooms divided into 8 categories along with 15 suites located in the Sigiriya and Dambulla wings.

Activities during your stay

• Sigiriya
• Polonnaruwa
• Pinic with primates
• Minneriya
• Ritigala

Kandy

The grand ancestral home of one of Kandy’s most influential aristocratic families, the Kandy House sits on 6 acres in a quiet village area close to Kandy.

Originally built in 1805, the Kandy House was restored in a style that combines classical Kandyan period architecture with Dutch colonial furnishings and a soft, colorful and elegant finish. Large shady verandas, double-hammocks and tropical lawns encourage one to find a comfortable and quiet corner to relax or read. The ambalama overlooking the paddy fields is perfect for private dining, spa treatments and even yoga sessions.

The Kandy House has 9 luxurious bedrooms categorized into Deluxe and Ultra Rooms, each individually designed and named after butterflies found in Sri Lanka.

Activities during your stay

• Dambulla en route. Sundown tea with an artist
• Temple of the Tooth
• Botanical Gardens

Bentota

No place reveals the soul of Geoffrey Bawa, the acclaimed Sri Lankan architect, better than his country home, Lunuganga. Lunuganga is the former country residence of the internationally-renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Set in rolling, Renaissance-inspired tropical gardens just inland from the west coast resort of Bentota, it is on a peninsular edge by the picturesque Dedduwa Lake. Not as much a staple boutique hotel as a living piece of history, it offers guests a rare opportunity to step inside the private life of one of the world’s most celebrated architects, a man dubbed “the father of Asian architecture”. Once within the 25-acre estate, after a bumpy ride down winding lanes, it is not difficult to understand why in 1948 Bawa bought this former rubber estate to craft into his garden idyll. After decades of careful, exquisite, creative thought and design, Bawa’s legacy and perhaps most personal life’s work is today a wondrous and inspiring place to visit and savour. With astonishing views and beautiful interiors, with many original Bawa artwork and blueprints on the walls, a stay in one of Lunuganga’s six fine suites is guaranteed to be a highlight of any holiday. Dining is at the edge of the tranquil Dedduwa Lake. The golden beaches of Bentota are just three kilometres away. The whole property can be rented in its entirety or on an individual room basis.

Activities during your stay

• Gardens of lunuganga
• Brief gardens by Bevis

Tangalle

With its incredibly private location on one of Sri Lanka’s most unspoilt and picturesque beaches, this stylish villa is the perfect escape. Aptly named, it is the architectural swan song of eminent Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. The villa consists of five beautiful bedrooms that overlook the glittering Indian Ocean or the small adjoining lagoon visited by exotic birds such as kingfishers and herons. The layout of the villa is shaped like a horseshoe and divided into a number of wings with kitchen, living rooms and courtyard bedrooms on either side of an inviting emerald green swimming pool designed to offer privacy to groups of friends and generations of families. The interior of this villa is striking; whitewashed walls contrast with distressed blue window and door frames that give it even more of a ‘beach house’ appeal. Bright cushions, vivid bedspreads and temple wall hangings enhance the cream-washed arches while large glass and teak tables are placed atop rush mats. Bawa’s influence is reflected in the cool cement floors and pillared verandahs that frame intriguing views of the sea. The in-house staff of five will pamper you with ease and provide for any need you may have. The cuisine is particularly fresh and delicious. The swimming pool is privately situated to the back of the house while the elegant two-acre gardens have grassy ‘child-friendly’ lawns. A little gate opens from the garden onto the long, beautiful stretch of sandy beach which is enhanced by coral pools that offer safe swimming year-round. As the villa is so magically secluded and spacious it is ideal for family gatherings and friendly reunions.

Activities during your stay

• Galle Fort tour with a local
• Leisure by the beach

Colombo

Residence by Uga Escapes is a charming 200 year old manor house now turned into a characterful 11-suite boutique hotel located down one of the quieter parts of central Colombo. A haven of luxury and relaxation, and a perfect choice for those wanting a homely atmosphere within the city Residence by Uga Escapes is a welcome option to Colombo’s larger city hotels.

Residence by Uga Escapes was the one time original abode of Sheik Salehbhoy Moosajee, who belonged to a prominent family who first arrived in Sri Lanka at the turn of the century. The property has been caringly refurbished, maintaining its old-world charm while creating a contemporary and informal ambience. The Residence by Uga now consists of a ‘Main House’ which houses a lounge, a Master Suite, library and a characterful bar. The 10 Suites are housed in what used to be an extensive warehouse located at the rear of the bungalow.

The elegant interiors are decorated with period furniture, local art and colonial period photography. The swimming pool is set between the Main House and the Suites.

Activities during your stay

• The life and works of geoffrey bawa