Kelburne Estate Cottages, Sri Lanka

The cottage on the edge of the mountain....

The Kelbourne Bungalows have been a well kept Sri Lankan secret since 1981. Slowly, the world is discovering the wonderful laid back charm of these three cottages perched on a hill near Haputale, where the land falls away 1000m to the plains below. Finding rooms available here is a now a bit of a challenge!

The views from Kelbourne seem out of this world. There is no other way of describing how majestic they are, especially in the clear light at sunrise. The service is warm and friendly from Vijay, Sedera, Stanley the cook and the rest. The cottages themselves are fantastic value and have a comfortable, functional feel with stuffed sofas and magazines to while away the evenings. There are two bedrooms in two of the cottages and three in the third.

There is a lovely mix here of formality; supper is served on lovely wooden tables in spacious dinning rooms; and laid back comfort as you lounge in the garden. There is a wonderful spot for a group breakfast outside. The emphasis is on comfort rather then luxury.

Addisham Monastary is nearby as well as the stiff climb to the Lipton’s Seat viewpoint, high up on the rolling tea covered mountains. Most of the attractions of the Hill Country can be visited easily from here, including the hill stations of Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawella, the national parks at Horton Plains and Uda Walawe and various thundering waterfalls are also accessible.

The cottages are rented out in their entirety but their cost makes it great value for one couple, a family or a group of friends. Several people have rented the entire place and got married in one the most wonderful settings imaginable, with friends and family invited along.