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Jetwing Warwick Gardens

Jetwing Warwick Gardens

Jetwing Warwick Gardens lies 5782 feet above sea level. It is gifted with all natures’ boundaries and is cradled amidst green clad mountains enriched with tea estates that can be witnessed on the narrow and winding road up to the bungalow. This unique Edwardian style bungalow which was once the dwelling of a Scottish tea planter was restored to its original old charm and warmth. The bungalow consists of five well appointed rooms, library, dining hall, open terraces and gardens, with the comfort of every modern convenience alongside the more traditional delights.

Accommodation

Once home to a Scottish tea planter in Ceylon, Jetwing Warwick Gardens has embodied the spirit of luxurious hill country hospitality for over a century. Characteristic of colonial bungalows in Nuwara Eliya, five lavish rooms overlooking the valleys of our central highlands have been meticulously restored to retain their old world enchantment.

Each of the rooms at Jetwing Warwick Gardens are designed to ensure your stay with us is as comfortable as one at home. For instance, the tailor-made amenities such as individual heating units to keep you warm in the cool climes of Ambewela are a staple of our legendary hospitality.

The spacious and solitary Master Room named Warwick is the epitome of colonial luxury living with a bathtub and wood burning fireplace, while the pristine and private White Room named Netherleigh is dressed in the elegant colour that lends the space its name. Finally, the three Deluxe Rooms named Breamear and Glenoch on the first floor, and Oakleigh on the ground floor complete the five plush spaces available for your upcountry getaway. In addition, all rooms also feature a standard selection of contemporary essentials to complement your modern lifestyle with the finest of Sri Lankan hospitality in the hills.

Finally, as a specialty of our highland culture, the fringes of the Jetwing Warwick Gardens premises also host Meena Amma’s Tea Experience. Once the original labour accommodation of tea pluckers in the area, these spaces have since been refurbished for you to experience the simple pleasures of upcountry living with the warm hospitality of Meena Amma.

Please note that due to the nature of Jetwing Warwick Gardens, we are unable to provide accommodation for drivers and/or guides at this time.

Master Room

The Master Room is the epitome of luxury accommodation at Jetwing Warwick Gardens. Sharing a name with our historic bungalow itself, the Master Room is a spacious colonial dwelling fitted with antique furnishings such as a king-size four-poster bed and a wood-burning fireplace, along with the modern amenities of a electronic safe, and facilities to prepare a hot cup of coffee or Ceylon Tea as you look out into its plantations below. As a standard of all holiday bungalows in Nuwara Eliya, the Master Room also features an individual heating unit to provide you with warmth in our cold climes – second only to the warmth of our legendary Sri Lankan hospitality.

White Room

Dressed in a pristine coat of white, the aptly named White Room is fondly known as Netherleigh around our home. With a separate entrance and living area, this spacious option of accommodation at Jetwing Warwick Gardens is the most private and exclusive upon our mountain estate. The whitewashed walls flawlessly complement the antique wooden furnishings of Netherleigh, in a comforting ambience of luxurious colonial modernity. Fitted with an individual heating unit, as well as an expansive bathroom with hot and cold water, our olden bungalow in Nuwara Eliya is also complete with modern amenities to serve you at our highland home of Sri Lankan hospitality.

Breamear

Aptly named after a rustic villa in Nuwara Eliya, Breamear overlooks our organic garden as a twin room, warmed by a wood-burning fireplace which adds the charm of a bygone era. Adorned in dark red interiors, Breamear retains the old-world charm with the original furniture of the bungalow and is replete with an en-suite bathroom and other amenities for a comfortable respite in the hills.

Oakleigh

Tucked away in a cosy corner of Jetwing Warwick Gardens, Oakleigh is an intimate space that overlooks the lush rear garden. Warmed by a crackling fire and the touch of true Sri Lankan hospitality, Oakleigh welcomes you to a double room that is inspired by the architecture of a colonial villa in Nuwara Eliya, replete with a spacious queen bed and an en-suite bathroom. The ground-floor location of Oakleigh makes it the ideal room for those with difficulty climbing stairs.

Glenoch

A testament to colonial elegance of a bygone era, Glenoch shares the first floor of Jetwing Warwick Gardens with Breamear. Named after the boundary of our estate, Glenoch is the ideal space to spend a chilly Ambewala evening in the care of the attentive hospitality of our team. A quaint fireplace will keep you warm and snug in your antique four-poster bed while an en-suite bathroom with an elegant bathtub will elevate your stay at our luxurious villa.

Location

Sprawled over a 30-acre mountain estate in Sri Lanka’s central province, Jetwing Warwick Gardens serves as a cool escape from the sunny warmth that dominates the rest of our island. With temperatures dropping as low as 5°C in the nights, it is not a rarity to spot a speckle of frost when you wake up in the mornings of our tropical winter months. Surrounded by a region of tea plantations, waterfalls and scenic mountain landscapes, our luxuriously restored colonial home is nestled away from bungalows in Nuwara Eliya, and in an exclusive pocket of our majestic hill country.

Jetwing Warwick Gardens is located in the upcountry meadows of Ambewela. Fondly referred to as ‘Little New Zealand’, our highland home of Sri Lankan hospitality is a 5-hour drive away from the capital of Colombo, on picturesque roads through rolling hills of tea plantations on either side.Commence your tea plantation experience with the latter part of the drive leading up to the bungalow, through a narrow road surrounded by verdant tea bushes of the Warwick Estate. Originally built in the 18th century by Scottish planters, the drive through the bridleway will surely be an adventure in itself. With a neighbourhood reputed as the highest grassland in Sri Lanka, your stay in our hills will be nothing short of spectacular.

Unlike most luxury bungalows in Nuwara Eliya, Jetwing Warwick Gardens features an organic farm with not only fresh ingredients for your salad, or garden herbs as exotic condiments, but also Daisy, our bungalow cow, and her clucking feathered friends who are responsible for the milk and eggs on your breakfast table every morning.

Be it global favourites or local specialties, our chef is always happy to discuss your particular meal preferences that we will accommodate at our historic home in Nuwara Eliya. Dining at Jetwing Warwick Gardens is best experienced in two forms. Firstly, the resplendently restored Dining Room, fitted with an antique mahogany table under a glimmering chandelier. And secondly, with the finest of our Sri Lankan hospitality in a selection of Signature Dining options that feature personalised menus across six distinct experiences. Choose to savour your meals with the simple pleasures of a picnic or campfire, to the lavish luxuries of high tea and alfresco dining on our manicured lawns. If it is privacy you desire, the comforts of your own room are also an intimate dining option to consider.

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Jetwing St. Andrews

Jetwing St. Andrews

Jetwing St. Andrew’s sits 6,182 feet (1’884 meters) above sea level cradled amidst the mist covered mountains of Sri Lanka. This stately Georgian style mansion, which was converted in to a Scots Club in 1875, still preserves the charm of the colonial era with its distinctive English country ambiance. Steeped in charm and history Jetwing St. Andrew’s stands an icon of the Sri Lankan highlands.

Accommodation

Over the course of history, Jetwing St. Andrew’s has transformed from a 19th century colonial mansion to a magnificent hotel in Nuwara Eliya, all the while staying true to the core value that gives us our charm – the welcoming nature of a home. Intricately refurbished, all rooms at Jetwing St. Andrew’s feature the nostalgia of traditional bedchambers fitted with modern amenities to suit your lifestyle for a memorable stay at our hill country home of Sri Lankan hospitality.

Luxury accommodation at Jetwing St. Andrew’s is a pleasure of our hospitality, and is offered to you in the form of four distinct rooms, each with their own charming characteristics. While our Superior Rooms serve as the ideal intimate getaway in our hill country, the Deluxe Rooms come with a separate timber attic that hosts two single beds for larger groups on holiday in the mountains. For an even more generous offering of space, our Suites embody the grandeur of Nuwara Eliya luxury rooms, with the exclusive Gem Suite living up to its name as the jewel of our stately home. Naturally, all rooms also feature an individual heating unit for a welcome warmth in these cooler climes – second only to the warmth of our legendary Sri Lankan hospitality.

Superior Room

The Superior Rooms at Jetwing St. Andrew’s offer a reassuring combination of old world charm and modern amenities. With antique furniture set upon gleaming timber floors, these chambers embody the best of Nuwara Eliya accommodation in our luxury hotel.

Dressed in pleasant tropical hues that contrast the lavish white walls of our colonial home, each Superior Room has been designed to ensure your absolute comfort at our hill country home of Sri Lankan hospitality. Ensuite bathrooms with hot and cold water, along with tea and coffee making facilities are available in every room, as well as an individual heating unit to keep you warm from the mountain chill of our central highlands.

Deluxe Room

The seven Deluxe Rooms at Jetwing St. Andrew’s are the ideal mountain respite with ample space for comfort and relaxation on your holiday in the central highlands of Sri Lanka.

In the Deluxe Rooms of Jetwing St. Andrew’s, hotel amenities are the simplest of pleasures. Earthen tones adorn the décor with timber floors and ceilings that house charming vintage furniture, but the gift of our hospitality goes beyond – with signature luxuries such as a separate attic area with two single beds in addition to the king-sized bed below, complete with an individual heating unit for warmth in our cool climes.

Suite

Perhaps one of the most spacious accommodation options in a Nuwara Eliya hotel, the four elegant Suites at Jetwing St. Andrew’s are a testament to the colonial legacy that we carry forward in our luxurious mansion today.

Designed with its preserved charms from bygone centuries, each Suite features a classic four-poster bed among antique furnishings that give the rooms a nostalgic ambience befitting for our highland hotel. The ample space also allows for a separate sitting area with large windows that let in the pleasant mountain sunshine, a mini bar for refreshments, and an individual heating unit to provide you with warmth on the cool Nuwara Eliya nights.

Gem Suite

The solitary Gem Suite at Jetwing St. Andrew’s is aptly named as the luxurious centerpiece of our accommodation in Nuwara Eliya. Designed with the best of all our rooms, the Gem Suite features an upper floor, a ground floor living area, and even a plush luxury bathtub within the ensuite bathroom.

A stately four-poster bed dressed with woolen blankets dominates the spacious atmosphere of the Gem Suite, as it complements the intricate carpets that adorn the wooden flooring, the vintage writing table, and a dedicated round table for private in-room dining. As an added pleasure of our highland luxury, a special charcoal heater is also available to keep you warm in our hill country home of Sri Lankan hospitality.

Location

With an intimate location in a private pocket of Sri Lankan hill country, Jetwing St. Andrew’s naturally distinguishes itself from other hotels in Nuwara Eliya. Although situated in the heart of the city, our home is set upon six acres of highland luxury in an exclusive environment within the Central Province of our island, and offers convenient access to our quaint neighbourhood of ‘Little England’ as well as several other picturesque hill stations beyond. From our capital city of Colombo, a brisk 5-hour ascent past verdant tea estates and rushing waterfalls leads to our home in Nuwara Eliya. Take in the mountain air when you drive with the windows down, or opt for the slower but far more adventurous upcountry train ride on what is often considered one of the most scenic railway lines in the world.

Staying true to the standards of luxury hotels in Nuwara Eliya, dining at Jetwing St. Andrew’s is a welcome indulgence of our colonial heritage and culinary delights.

The Old Course, our main restaurant, specialises in fine dining within a nostalgic atmosphere that is inspired by the antique opulence of our historic home. With the freedom to enjoy your meals à la carte or even as a five course dinner, the Old Course is an ideal spot to let our chefs treat you to an array of local and international cuisines.

To ensure you remain in high spirits throughout your hill country holiday, the Road Hole Bar is our rustic watering hole designed in the style of a traditional British pub. The comforting space features plush seating that complements the vintage décor, all within a charming escape at Jetwing St. Andrew’s.

Should you wish to have your meals served with a unique touch of our legendary hospitality, Jetwing St. Andrews also offers four Signature Dining experiences across various settings in our hill country home. For an authentic English upcountry experience, opt for a charming High Tea on our terrace or in our lobby. Our lush gardens also serve as a wonderful backdrop for alfresco dining or a mountain BBQ, while the comforts of your own room are also an option if you prefer to dine in privacy.

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Camellia Hills

Camellia Hills

Overlooking a mirror-still reservoir in Sri Lanka’s verdant hill country, Camellia Hills sits on a mountainside amidst emerald tea bushes and pine forests. A contemporary interpretation of a tea planter’s bungalow, the 5 luxurious bedrooms, living and dining areas are located across a series of levels, allowing guests to drink in the stunning panoramas while relaxing on cushy sofas warmed by an open fire, dining in the semi open air or swimming lengths in the refreshing garden pool.

Accommodation

There are just five very individual timber-floored bedrooms at Camellia Hills. Each gazes through picture windows over the Castlereagh Reservoir or the lush surrounding hills. Bedrooms are all distinct in design and layout yet equally comfortable and luxurious. The cosiest are our two Camellia Bedrooms while the three roomier Lakeview Bedrooms boast far-reaching views of the entire Castlereagh Valley from private furnished garden terraces.

Bedrooms are usually booked individually, however our boutique bungalow is small enough for groups and families requiring privacy to take the whole house for themselves on an exclusive basis too.

Camellia Bedrooms

Our two stylishly-furnished Camellia Bedrooms are unique in layout and position, yet promise an indulgent stay in the hills. Both bedrooms are equipped with wardrobes, armchairs, desks and ceiling fans, and have private white-tiled ensuite bathrooms with strong showers.

Norton, to the front of the bungalow, is a Castlereagh Lake-facing room with king-sized four-poster bed, sitting area and ensuite bathroom. Twin-bedded Maskeliya gazes south easterly across a lush jungly hillside, and is an elongated room with a private garden-view terrace.

Lakeview Bedrooms

Our three Lakeview Bedrooms are contemporary in arrangement, and are luxuriously furnished with king-sized beds for indulgently gazing over the Castlereagh Valley and lush tea hills. Each bedroom is equipped with wardrobes, armchairs, desks, and ensuite bathroom with a powerful shower and twin wash basins. Two of the three bedrooms also come equipped with a bathtub. Lakeview Bedrooms also directly access the garden from their private furnished terrace.

Dickoya is a big family-friendly bedroom bathed in light. It’s ensuite bathroom, with bathtub, connects it with a second single room with pull-out trundle bed, making it suitable for families of four. Osbourne is unique for its twin aspect mountainside and lake-facing views, and has a private decked terrace and big ensuite bathroom with rain shower and bathtub. Warleigh, on the lower ground floor, opens directly onto the lawn through three sets of French windows. It’s roomy and secluded, and a favourite with honeymooners.

Location

The Castlereagh Valley, near Dickoya, is a country standout for its absorbing scenery – an arresting panorama of rich greens and blues. At its heart is a mirror-still reservoir dotted with islands that floods seven kilometers of a long, deep valley. Flanking Castlereagh Reservoir on either side are steeply rising hills sporting acres of neatly manicured tea estates topped by thick manes of trees. Whether the sun is shining in a cornflower blue sky or the clouds are descending into the mountains en masse, the views from the bungalow are always dramatic.

The closest town to Camellia Hills is Dickoya, a bustling settlement standing at an elevation of 1,200-metres, notable for its colonial-era clubhouse, the Castlereagh and Dickoya Cricket Club (formerly the Daramulla Club) whose ageing timber-panelled interiors take you back in time. Enroute to Dickoya is Warleigh Church, a bijou British-era lake-facing chapel whose graveyard is littered with tombstones engraved with European names – testament to the region’s colonial history where European planters crossed oceans to carve out a future in Ceylon Tea.

One of the best ways to travel into and within the Hill Country is by train, and the closest railway station to Camellia Hills is Hatton, a busy provincial town with a lively local market. Alternatively, swoop in on a seaplane, landing in Castlereagh Reservoir, and transported up to the bungalow along the tea lined estate roads.

Camellia Hills is your home-from-home in Sri Lanka’s emerald hills. Butlers are poised to pamper guests and dining here is relaxed, personalised and atmospheric. The views take centre stage too; sip sundowners beside the crackling fireplace in the convivial high-ceilinged sitting room while gazing at the far-reaching valley views or feast on delicious contemporary dishes from a curated Sri Lankan and international menu from a breezy lake-facing terrace.

Guests will dine on an All-Inclusive basis which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, complimentary soft drinks, beer and house wine, alcohol with mixers and tea or coffee throughout the day.

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Ceylon Tea Trails – Tientsin Bungalow

Ceylon Tea Trails – Tientsin Bungalow

The bungalow at Norwood commands a fine view of the eastern end of the Bogawantalawa valley and rests in the shelter of one of the finest bamboo stands to be found anywhere. The suites are oversized with imposing heritage style furniture, some with four-poster beds and very elegant bathrooms. A spacious lounge and billiard room lead out to a croquet lawn, a large swimming pool and sun deck. It is here where planters of the past invited friends to enjoy the pristine air and glorious outlook. You too can wander the gardens unchanged since yesteryear, soaking up the atmosphere of a time gone by.

Accommodation

Irvine Stewart Master Suite

91 sq.m – king bed, separate living room, bath, walk in rain shower, view across valley & tea fields

Bretherton Garden Suite

45 sq.m – king bed, bath with rain shower, private verandah with garden view

Moir Garden Suite

43 sq.m – king bed, bath with rain shower, private verandah with garden view

Fraser Garden Suite

36 sq.m – king bed, bath with rain shower, private verandah with garden view

Bremer Luxury Room

44 sq.m – king bed, bath with rain shower, garden view

Meares Luxury Room

40 sq.m – twin beds, bath with hand shower, garden view

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Ceylon Tea Trails – Norwood Bungalow

Ceylon Tea Trails – Norwood Bungalow

The bungalow at Norwood commands a fine view of the eastern end of the Bogawantalawa valley and rests in the shelter of one of the finest bamboo stands to be found anywhere. The suites are oversized with imposing heritage style furniture, some with four-poster beds and very elegant bathrooms. A spacious lounge and billiard room lead out to a croquet lawn, a large swimming pool and sun deck. It is here where planters of the past invited friends to enjoy the pristine air and glorious outlook. You too can wander the gardens unchanged since yesteryear, soaking up the atmosphere of a time gone by.

Accommodation

Hazel Master Suite

62 sq.m – King bed, separate living room, bath and walk-in rain shower, view of private garden and tea fields.

Irvine Garden Suite

45 sq.m – King bed, bath and walk-in rain shower, view to private garden.

Andrews Garden Suite

46 sq.m – King bed, bath with rain shower, view to private garden.

Trevldwyn Garden Suite

39 sq.m – King bed, bath and walk-in rain shower, view to private garden.

Jeffery Luxury Room

31 sq.m – King bed, bath with rain shower, garden view, direct garden access.

Wyatt Luxury Room

30 sq.m – Twin beds, bath and walk-in rain shower, garden view, direct garden access.

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Ceylon Tea Trails – Summerville Bungalow

Ceylon Tea Trails – Summerville Bungalow

High above the lake at the edge of a tea plantation, Summerville stands sentinel. This five-room bungalow enjoys magnificent views of the water and beyond to tea planted mountains in the distance. Some suites open to private gardens and all accommodations have easy access to the cozy lounge where picture windows provide a backdrop to a roaring fire as the evening mist draws in. Summerville offers individual accommodation, or the entire bungalow can be booked for a group to enjoy the very personal atmosphere of this great house.

Accommodation

Shuttleworth Master Suite

70 sq.m – King bed, separate living room, bath & walk in rain shower, private garden.

Garnet Garden Suite

45 sq.m – King bed, bath with rain shower, view of private garden.

Goddard Garden Suite

47 sq.m – King bed, bath with rain shower, view of private garden.

Cosby Garden Suite

45 sq.m – King bed, bath & walk in rain shower, view of private garden.

Middleton Luxury Room

38 sq.m – Twin beds, bath with rain shower, garden view.

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Ceylon Tea Trails – Dunkeld Bungalow

Ceylon Tea Trails – Dunkeld Bungalow

Poised high above Castlereagh lake, the Dunkeld bungalow looks down on the verdant tea fields of Dunkeld estate and the tea factory, with spectacular views of the Great Western mountain range. The infinity-edge swimming pool offers awe-inspiring panoramic views, whilst the hot tub seemingly floats above the lake surface. The secluded ‘Owner’s Cottage’ offers a romantic one-bedroom residence hidden privately in the tea fields.

Accommodation

Taylor Owners Cottage

145 sq.m – standalone bungalow with lake views, heated outdoor Jacuzzi, master bedroom with king bed, living room and verandah

Greig Master Suite

81 sq.m – king bed, separate living room, bath, walk in shower, garden and mountain view

Anderson Garden Suite

48 sq.m – king bed, bath, walk in shower, private verandah, garden and mountain view

Clark Garden Suite

48 sq.m – king bed, bath, walk in shower, private verandah, garden and mountain view

Allen Luxury Room

48 sq.m – twin beds, bath, walk in shower, garden and mountain view

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Ceylon Tea Trails – Castlereagh Bungalow

Ceylon Tea Trails – Castlereagh Bungalow

Travellers approaching Castlereagh from the road can glimpse tantalising views across the lake of this magnificent symbol of the glory days of colonial life. Nestled in a wooded dell close to the water, this century-old bungalow offers unrivalled water views and superb garden suites to suit every taste. Elegant parquet floors all around with open fireplaces in the dining and drawing rooms, evoke recollections of the life and times of the tea planters who once lived here. In the extensive grounds, summerhouses can be found where tea is served, and a good book enjoyed until the sun goes down over the water and it’s time for sundowners on the terrace overlooking the lake.

Accommodation

Baker Garden Suite

45 sq.m – king bed, bath and walk-in rain shower, view of tea fields & mountains, private verandah & garden.

Alston Garden Suite

46 sq.m – king bed, bath and walk-in rain shower, view of tea fields, private verandah and garden.

Palmer Garden Suite

36 sq.m – king bed, bath and walk-in rain shower, view of tea fields and private garden.

Jamieson Garden Suite

40 sq.m – king bed, bath and walk-in rain shower, view of lake & tea fields, private garden.

Tate Luxury Room

41 sq.m – twin beds, bath and walk-in rain shower, view of tea fields.

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Nine Skies

Nine Skies

Promising far-reaching hill country views, our stylishly refurbished five-bedroom tea bungalow hotel is majestically perched on a tea-fringed hill near Ella. Dating back to the colonial era, the bungalow epitomises its legacy yet indulges discerning guests with contemporary facilities and high-end personalised service – be pampered by our butlers, feast on gourmet food and dip into a garden pool with stunning views across the valley and famous Demodera Loop.

Bask in the heady atmosphere of Sri Lanka’s tea country in one of our five bedrooms and suites, which open onto garden terraces blessed with wonderful views. All rooms are stylishly furnished and have en-suite bathrooms with tubs for soaking in after scenic strolls around the tea plantations.

The homely bungalow has three rooms types. Our magnificent Ella Rock Suite has a private sitting room, direct garden access and is decadently spacious while our three double Demodera Bedrooms proffer private luxury in a setting redolent of days gone by. Nine Skies Bedroom is equipped with twin beds, and since this cosy room interconnects with a Demodera Bedroom, it is ideal for families.

Accommodation

Bask in the heady atmosphere of Sri Lanka’s tea country in one of our five bedrooms and suites, which open onto garden terraces blessed with wonderful views. All rooms are stylishly furnished and have ensuite bathrooms with tubs for soaking in after scenic strolls around the tea plantations.

The homely bungalow has three rooms types. Our magnificent Ella Rock Suite, has a private sitting room, direct garden access and is decadently spacious while our three double Demodera Bedrooms proffer private luxury in a setting redolent of days gone by. Nine Skies Bedroom is equipped with twin beds, and since this cosy room interconnects with a Demodera Bedroom, it is ideal for families.

Nine Skies Bedroom

An atmospheric, timber-floored bedroom with twin beds that promotes long, restful sleeps, and offers direct access onto a private garden terrace. The bedroom interconnects with a Demodera Bedroom, and has a private ensuite bathroom.

Demodera Bedroom

Gaze at the garden from a beautifully-dressed king-sized bed in these indulgent double bedrooms, which also have private furnished sit outs for surveying the surrounding tea estate. They have sitting areas and ensuite bathrooms with rain showers and bathtubs.

Ella Rock Suite

Our master suite is an indulgent room offering a plentiful private space for you to relax and soak in the peaceful surroundings. Stylish and very comfortable, the room offers a king-sized four-poster bed, large private sitting room and French windows opening onto a private terrace.

Location

Nine Skies is a 10-minute stroll from Demodara Railway Station and 15-minutes’ drive to Ella. A train to Demodera Railway Station on the Hill Country’s scenic Main Line, is the best way to reach the hotel. Kandy is four hours away and Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya) is 90 minutes.

The Main Line links Colombo Fort to Badulla, in the eastern Hill Country, and winds through picturesque hills, cloud forest, market gardens, tea estates, waterfalls and valleys. Designed by the British to transport tea to the capital, the Main Line started operations in 1864, reaching Kandy in 1867 and Nanu Oya in 1885 before the Badulla stretch finally opened in 1924. The line rises as high as 1,890-metres, and was expertly engineered with a unique 360-degree loop of track that winds around the Demodara Railway Station.

The stretch between Ella and Demodara is significant for its nine-arched bridge locally known as “Ahas Navaya” (Nine Skies) so named for the nine skies one sees framed by the arches of the viaduct.

Nearby Ella is a view-blessed village that stands on the edge of the south eastern hills. Views from Mini Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock – two great hikes – peer down the valley, through the Ella Gap towards the southern plains. Ella is a great outdoorsy destination with the undulating forest-edged terrain sprinkled with tea estates, rice fields and vegetable patches.

Dining in Ella reaches new heights at our atmospheric restaurant which overlooks our landscaped garden. Our butlers are poised to pamper you in a home from home setting, mixing your favourite drinks for sipping in the sitting room, and serving afternoon tea and freshly cooked gourmet meals to tables inside the bungalow or out on the garden veranda.

Rates are all inclusive, so expect to tuck into a hearty breakfast, a ‘Planter’s Lunch’ – a selection of daily curries – afternoon tea and later, an a la carte dinner.

Snacks and drinks, including your favourite alcoholic tipples – best enjoyed on the covered terrace or in the cosy sitting room – are also included in the daily rate.

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Goatfell

Goatfell

Perched amongst tea bushes amidst the Concordia Estate, high up on a hill near Nuwara Eliya, Goatfell is a luxurious, recently renovated four-bedroom tea bungalow hotel. This former estate manager’s bungalow still resonates with the warmth and up-country charm of a bygone era. With gourmet food and Butler service, guests can relax on covered verandas, in the warmth of the log fired sitting room or enjoy tea field views from the infinity swimming pool.

The bungalow sits at an elevation of 2,000-metres above sea level, on the outskirts of Kandapola and a 25-minute drive from the colonial-era hill station of Nuwara Eliya. The surrounding hills, marked by concentric circles of neatly trimmed tea bushes, are linked by winding, ascending estate roads promising jaw-dropping vistas at every turn.

Accommodation

Formerly home to the Managers of the Concordia Estate, this century-old bungalow is now a boutique hotel in Kandapola with four atmospheric bedrooms styled for the discerning modern traveller. Furnished with a mix of hand-sourced antique and custom-designed contemporary pieces, bedrooms have plush beds, sitting areas, private garden and estate-view terraces and ensuite bathrooms with bathtubs for warm relaxing soaks.

The three spacious Concordia Double Bedrooms, each with king-sized beds, encourage you to sleep serenely, and wake up to stunning tea garden views. The Concordia Twin Bedroom is furnished with cosy twin beds and may be interconnected with a Concordia Double Bedroom to form a Family Suite. Bedrooms are equipped with heaters, rugs, blankets and hot water bottles for cooler Kandapola nights.

Concordia Double Bedrooms

The three double bedrooms are stylish and indulgent, with dreamy king-sized four poster beds dressed in warm duvets, armchairs for restful lounging and French windows opening onto private furnished terraces gazing across the garden and surrounding estate. Bathrooms have bathtubs and separate showers.

Concordia Twin Bedroom

A charming bedroom with twin single beds and a sitting area for curling up with a book and absorbing the heritage atmosphere of this sensitively refurbished bungalow. The bedroom directly accesses the front garden and has an ensuite bathroom with bathtub.

Location

Located amidst the Concordia Estate, and within strolling distance to Finlay’s Tea Factory, our bungalow hotel in Kandapola’s elevated surroundings basks in glorious hill country views. The enveloping tea hills, waterfalls and heart-stopping panoramas are a walkers’ paradise.

Nuwara Eliya is a market town carved out of a bowl-shaped valley beneath the dramatic Pidurutalagala Mountain, Sri Lanka’s loftiest peak. Often referred to as Little England, the town dates back to the mid-19th century and is where British tea planters would converge to socialise, relax and indulge in cooler-climate country pursuits such as deer hunting, golf, polo and cricket. Many of Nuwara Eliya’s buildings, such as the Post Office, stay true to their colonial heritage while the Nuwara Eliya Race Course still hosts meetings a few times a year. Sights in Nuwara Eliya’s outskirts include Hakgala Botanical Gardens and the Sita Ella Hindu Kovil.

Although Nuwara Eliya is a prime tea-producing region, this is also Sri Lanka’s garden city. Surrounding the town, on terraces and in small home gardens, are neatly arranged vegetable plots sprouting leeks, carrots, beans and cabbages for consumption across the island. This is also the island’s prime milk producing region. Ambewela’s vivid green mist-cloaked pastures are sprinkled with grazing Friesian herds.

The kitchen at Goatfell promises locally sourced, freshly cooked food, served to you in an upcountry tea bungalow atmosphere. Our butlers make you feel at home by mixing your favourite drinks, serving afternoon tea in the garden and gourmet meals in our cosy indoor dining room or outside on the veranda.

Rates are all inclusive, so expect to tuck into a hearty breakfast followed by a ‘Planter’s Lunch’ – a selection of daily curries – before moving onto afternoon tea and later, an a la carte dinner.

Snacks and drinks, including your favourite tipples, best-enjoyed beside the warm crackling fireplace of our comfortable sitting room, are also included in the daily rate.