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 The Kandy House
is a carefully-renovated old colonial 'Walauwa' (ancestral
mansion) in the spice-growing hills that surround Kandy. Its
completion heralded what the hill-country-capital has been
waiting for so long: a brilliant small boutique hotel capable
of offering stylish and private accommodation and attentive
personal service in a beautiful natural setting. The inspired
refurbishment of the 'Walauwa', with its light white
interiors, polished hardwood floorboards, jackwood staircase,
Dutch-style antique furniture and careful injections of colour,
has been a triumph. Channa Daswatta, one of Geoffery Bawa’s
protégés and Sri Lanka’s leading modern architects, provided
the creative inspiration. The bedrooms are unquestionably the
finest in Kandy. The freshwater infinity pool in the garden
provides an irresistible opportunity to unwind and relax under
the shade of tropical trees. The wide verandas provide the
perfect place to doze-away with your favourite novel. The
Kandy House was once the seat of the king’s Chief Minister,
Ratwatte Adigar, who betrayed his king to the British in the
early 19C as Ceylon fell into colonial hands in 1815. Old
Ratwatte family photos and antique furniture still remain. The
Kandy House was added to the Conde Nast US Traveller Hot List
in 2006. Note: Children are welcome, although they must be
over 12 years.
Location
The Kandy House
is a stylish and highly sought-after colonial-style mansion
12km from Kandy's town centre, far enough away to escape the
hustle-and-bustle of this congested lakeside city, but close
enough to use as a base for seeing its most memorable sights.
Kandy House is located on the eastern hills of the town on a
spice estate, a three-and-a-half hour drive from Colombo.
Facilities
The freshwater
infinity pool in the garden provides an irresistible
opportunity to unwind and relax under the shade of tropical
trees. The wide verandas provide the perfect place to
doze-away with your favourite novel. The restaurant offers a
daily 3-course European set menu. The fusion food is
imaginative with an emphasis on sweet flavours and local
ingredients. There is also the option of a ten-course Sri
Lankan curry feast which rivals anything available in Kandy.
The hotel offers 24-hour room service, daily laundry, safe
deposit boxes and left-luggage storeroom. There is a
magnificent freshwater infinity pool in the garden surrounded
by jungle - one of the great pools in Sri Lanka. Yoga and
massage are available on request.
Excursion
Visit the
ancient Degaldoruwa Cave Temple in Gunnepana, just a walking
distance from the Kandy House through rural villages. The city
of Kandy itself is steeped in history, culture, and is
surrounded by nature. Interesting activities include a visit
to the Temple of the Tooth where a sacred tooth relic of the
Lord Buddha is enshrined; Peradeniya Botanical gardens, with
its orchid collection and formally laid-out trees; nature
walks in Udawatte Kelle Forest Reserve; and Kandy's rich
ancient arts and crafts including drum making, Dumbara mat
waving, and crafting Kandyan jewelry, and traditional Kandyan
dance and drumming. The magnificent Victoria Golf and Country
Club with its picturesque fairways, is also located nearby.
Acoommodation
Nine luxurious
bedrooms take their names from varieties of Kandyan
butterflies. They all have a colonial character updated with
contemporary silks and cottons. All have four-poster beds with
mosquito nets, ceiling fans and floor to ceiling shuttered
windows overlooking the gardens. They split into three
categories: three Deluxe Rooms, three Super Deluxe and three
Ultra Deluxe.
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Deluxe Room :
Monkey
Puzzle: This is a small
twin-bedded garden room, the smallest in the house, situated
on the lower level of the courtyard. The bedroom has low
ceilings and the bathroom has shower and single basin. As it
adjoins the Garden Suite, the two rooms can combine to offer
excellent family accommodation.
Sunbeam
and Lime Butterfly:
These are two gallery rooms, both doubles. The Sunbeam Room
has an appealing bathroom with double basin, a vintage
cast-iron bath tub and shower. The bedroom has ceiling fan
and four-poster bed with mosquito net. The room overlooks
the swimming pool and overlooks the courtyard. The Lime
Butterfly Room is very comfortable and also has a lovely
bathroom, double basin, with old cast iron bathtub and
shower. Ceiling fan and 4 poster bed with mosquito net.
- Super Deluxe Room :
Indian Red
Admiral and Cornelian:
These are both gallery rooms on the upper floor and overlook
a large courtyard. These double-bedded rooms open onto a
private verandah complete with chaise longue where you can
settle back and gaze upon the pepper trees and jungle views.
An extra bed can be added to the Indian Red Admiral, for
appropriate surcharge, to create a triple room.
The Pioneer is a garden room with
its own verandah in a beautiful garden. The bathroom has a
shower, but no bath. A double swing-hammock is installed by
the verandah. An extra bed can be added to The Pioneer, for
appropriate surcharge, to create a triple room.
- Ultra Deluxe Room :
Black
Rajah Garden Suite: This
is an Ultra Deluxe Room and the only suite in the house. It
has arched doors opening out from the large living area onto
garden below. This is an Ultra Deluxe room with arched doors
opening out from a large living area onto the garden. The
bedroom has a low king-size bed and a romantic bathroom with
a tiled, octagonal two-person bath and massage area. A new
double swing hammock is installed in the garden by this
suite.
Peacock Royal and Red Spot Duke:
These two verandah rooms are the most spacious and are also
classified as Ultra Deluxe. They open out onto a wide
wrap-around verandah, dotted with cane chaises longue,
reading chairs and antiques. All the bedrooms have
four-poster beds with fitted mosquito nets. The bedrooms are
not air-conditioned, but the cooler hill-country air and
ceiling fans anyway make this unnecessary. Stylish
concrete-washed ensuite bathrooms have private bathtubs and
shower and twin washbasins.
...Room View...
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