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 Illuketia, about
5 Kms from Galle Fort, was already placed on 19th century
British maps. The present plantation house is rebuilt on the
old foundation. There are four suites in the main house and
two suites at the separate Pond House overlooking a lotus
pond. The compound sits on 10 acres of mature garden and rice
fields.
Rice fields, tea estates and rural clusters surround the
estate. Be prepared to be part of nature and the Sinhalese
village culture reached by interwoven country lanes.
Location Map
Garden
Illuketia
plantation is a botanical wonderland. Tall trees, majestic
bamboo and giant heliconias loom over flowering shrubs,
creepers and ferns. Fruits, vegetables, rice and herbs are
organically grown in our garden. Our daily floral arrangements
are fresh cuts from the plantation. At last count there are
156 bird species, 556 tropical plants, 20 mammals, pond fishes
and a variety of reptiles, land monitor lizards and frogs
living discreetly within the boundaries.
Pool
Illuketia’s
25-meter long (75 feet) swimming pool lies a distance from the
main house. Comfortable deck chairs and cushions are placed on
the lawn.
The poolside is the place to watch the sunset.
Plants
See an abundant
variety of exotic tropical blooms and ferns at every turn.
Some local plants and herbs are medicinal or used as dyes;
others are food for humans and the wildlife. The adjacent rice
fields produce our organic red rice. We use traditional
methods for pest control and propagating.
The Cuisine
Breakfast
: Always
prepared when you are ready. Standard menu of seasonal cut
fruits and chilled juices. Ceylon tea or locally grown coffee.
Eggs as you like it with fried bacon or sausages. Must try
buffalo milk curd or yoghurt topped with palm sugar treacle.
Order typical Sri Lankan breakfast a day before. All pancakes,
breads and jams are home made.
Lunch &
Dinner :
Always prepared when you are ready. Standard menu of seasonal
cut fruits and chilled juices. Ceylon tea or locally grown
coffee. Eggs as you like it with fried bacon or sausages. Must
try buffalo milk curd or yoghurt topped with palm sugar
treacle. Order typical Sri Lankan breakfast a day before. All
pancakes, breads and jams are home made.
Verandahs
Always prepared
when you are ready. Standard menu of seasonal cut fruits and
chilled juices. Ceylon tea or locally grown coffee. Eggs as
you like it with fried bacon or sausages. Must try buffalo
milk curd or yoghurt topped with palm sugar treacle. Order
typical Sri Lankan breakfast a day before. All pancakes,
breads and jams are home made.
Drawing Room
Nine matching
carved temple doors and a two-tier roof with Balinese carvings
allow air to circulate freely. Giant bamboo furniture,
lacquered Chinese cabinets, antique porcelains, chandeliers
and paintings from Indonesia are personal touches of the
owners.
This is the grand room for weddings and other events.
Atrium with Pond
All bedroom
suites radiate from the central ornamental pool. Come monsoon,
the downpour cascading into the pond is a dramatic splashy
display.
Library &
Billiard
Upstairs room
above the kitchen area stores a collection of travelogues, art
and history tomes, novels and magazines in English, French and
German. Great views from here. Open to guests.
Accommodation
Suite 1 (Habiscus)
: Master
bedroom is located in a corner with a private balcony looking
to the rice fields and village path.
Traditional window frames and doors are recycled from old
houses. Spacious bathroom is decorated with Turkish tiles and
a wall-size mirror.
Suite 2
(Lotus) :
Possibly, the largest room with a view to tea
hills beyond. Original paintings of Southeast Asian scenes
reveal the owners’ trampling grounds. Stylish colour scheme
matches the hand-painted lotus bedspread.
Suite 3
(Citronella) :
Though smaller, the suite is compensated by a
private garden terrace to the side of the house. The en-suite
bathroom has a large closet and shower and twin vanity basins.
Air-conditioning is available.
Suite 4 (Waterlily)
: The
most intimate room has a charming four-poster bed, a
Dutch-style cabinet and antique mirror stand. The view gazes
down the heliconia walk.
It has an en-suite bathroom with shower. Ideal as a single
room.
Suite 5
(Ginger) :
King size double bed on a raised platform.
Bathroom is part garden, part indoor with tęte-ŕ-tęte
bathtubs. Bedroom is air-conditioned. Sister room to Jasmine.
Suite 6
(Jasmine) :
Two queen size beds under one cozy mosquito
tent on a raised platform. Entrance from the living room,
another door opens to the verandah and pantry. The bathroom
has a walled-in garden. Jasmine is air-conditioned.
...Room View...
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