W15 Hanthana Estate is a restored tea-estate bungalow in the Hanthana hills, just south-west of Kandy and about 15 minutes from the city. Wrapped in verandas and columns, it keeps the manner of a colonial country house, and guests who arrive by rail are met at the station in a pale-blue vintage Land Rover. There are 10 rooms and suites: Stable Suites made from the original stables, Bungalow Suites with four-poster beds and Executive Suites. Each opens onto a private garden or terrace with views of the hills and forest, and the furnishings are solid, wooden and locally sourced, with tiled bathrooms. This is tea country, so a cup is never far away, and the kitchen cooks Sri Lankan and English dishes from breakfast through dinner, with a cooking class for anyone keen to learn. Walks, bicycle rides and safari-style drives explore the estate and the country around it, and two golf clubs are within reach. Kandy's temples and streets are close, and Nuwara Eliya, Dambulla and Sigiriya are all a few hours away by road.
- Rooms
- 10 rooms and suites
Insider tip Travel to Kandy by train and have the estate's vintage Land Rover collect you from the station.
Why I choose it A small, characterful hill-country stay that breaks up a Sri Lanka journey between the cultural sites and the coast.