|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Dining Pavilion |
Master Bedroom |
Site |
Sitting Pavilion |
Lily Pond |
Style
Turn off the main road just outside Galle and for 15 minutes drive through
rural SL. Beaches are beaches anywhere in the world but it is often said
that the interior of a country is where the true spirit lies. Sri Lanka
is no different. This final 15 minutes of your journey takes you along a
narrow road through paddy fields; past temples and a huge colourful-seated
Buddha meditating amongst the trees; through small villages; and into the
very heart of this tropical Eden. Kahanda Kanda (Yellow Moon Mountain) is
a 10-acre tea estate perched high above Koggala Lake with stunning views
across the lake and jungle. The collaboration of the owner, a leading English
interior designer, and the architect, an Australian whose credits include
several highly acclaimed private houses, has produced a villa that stands
alone in SL in terms of ethnic luxury and style. The backbone of this spectacular
villa is an 80 metre saffron wall that runs along the length of the property
and acts as a divider between views across Koggala Lake from those across
the tea and jungle. Glassless windows in the wall provide frames for the
jungle beyond and accentuate the creative flare that has conceived this
villa. Accommodation is offered in terraced stand alone ensuite pavilions
whilst the living and dining areas are also housed in their own pavilions
as if to emphasise that in SL, doing one thing at a time is the preferred
path. Each pavilion features polished cement flooring and exposed timber
ceilings with tiled roof. There are large lily ponds either side of the
sitting pavilion and a floating stepping-stone path provides access to the
dining pavilion. These lily ponds spring to life as day melts into night
with an orchestra of tropical song. Kahanda Kanda is a working tea estate
and is well managed undergoing a revival employing 9 workers. True to tradition
the men carry out the heavy work whilst the women are responsible for the
delicate task of picking the leaves. Join them if you wish, Mahenda (Estate
Manager) will be delighted to show you around, or simply lie back and watch
others at work. Kahanda Kanda is an oasis of style set within a Garden of
Eden that enables you to live the life of rural SriLanka. Enjoy the experience. |
Location
15 minutes inland from Galle. |
No
of bedrooms
The 5 double bedrooms are divided into 4 free standing pavilions. The master
bedroom has a private garden and floor to ceiling shutters facing south
that look across jungle and Koggala Lake. Getting up for dawn is to some
so much more enjoyable when you don't have toactually get out of bed. The
open shutters give the feeling of being able to touch nature whilst you
watch her cast her magic spell over the tropical scenery laid before you.
Two pavilions have private terraces overlooking the tea estate whilst the
other bedrooms enjoy the privacy of a landscape garden flooded with fragrant
flowers and plants. |
Bath
/ shower rooms
Knowing there are very few places to enjoy complete privacy the master bedroom
has two bathrooms, each with an outdoor shower that gazes up to the sky.
Two other bedrooms have outdoor showers set in a private terraced garden
whilst the other two bedrooms have bathrooms with twin showers. All bathrooms
are ensuite. |
Sleeps
10 peoples |
Sitting
area
Laid out in its own pavilion with views across Koggala Lake, the tea estate,
and the jungle beyond you can lie or sit in divine comfort whilst listening
to the roar of the Indian Ocean in the distance. This pavilion is stylishly
decorated in Asian antiques that somehow seem to encapsulate the spirit
of surrounding scenery. There is a platform along one end of this open area
with views over Koggala Lake that encourages you to lie or sit and watch
the passing day . Lily ponds on either side ensure the air around you is
cool as well as providing an alternative to your CDs as dusk sets in and
the noise of the tropical night wraps you in its warm and entertaining sounds. |
Dining
area
Perched along the ridge adjacent to the sitting pavilion sits the open sided
dining pavilion. A teak table set for 10 that can be divided to accommodate
smaller parties lies in the centre. With stunning views similar to those
of its 'sitting' neighbour the dining pavilion is responsible for a feast
of all the senses. |
Kitchen
/ Staff
Should you ever go near it you will find a fully modern kitchen enjoying
the solitude of its own pavilion. There is a resident chef, an assistant
chef, 2 houseboys and a maid who are there to look after you. In addition
there are 9 workers on the tea estate who's smile grows should you greet
them with a 'kohomada' (Hi, How are you?) and two night watch man to ensure
that the monkeys do not become too inquisitive. |
Meals
Breakfast of local delicacies, an abundance of fruit, bread, organic jams
and honey combs, tea (of course) and coffee is provided. The chef (Nihal)
speaks fluent English and specialises in Western, Thai, and Sri Lankan dishes.
A menu awaits your your consideration and he will discuss with you when
you are free, a selection for every meal either on a day-to-day basis or,
for the whole of your stay if you prefer not to have to think about such
things every day. All herbs are grown on the estate but he will require
cash for all other purchases. Keeping an account book he will present the
details to you at a convenient moment during the day. Staff take their own
meals separate from the food you purchase.Whilst wine is not readily available
near the villa it can be bought on this web site and delivered to you.
|
Pool
A 21 by 9 metre pool with a dark green polished cement finish allows the
energetic to do 'lengths' and the others to simply float around. On one
side is an infinity edge that runs off into views of Koggala Lake and the
jungle. A cascade at the deep end falls from a carved opening in the end
wall. |
Area
Kahanda Kanda rests approx 9 kms from the historic town of Galle containing
two of Sri Lankan's famous sites. The World Heritage 300 year old Galle
Fort largely built by the Dutch, and the Galle International Cricket Pitch.
The Fort, one of the largest living Forts in the world, is a fascinating
look at how life can be in Sri Lanka. A Buddhist Temple; a Mosque housed
in a converted Church; an Anglican Church; and a Dutch Reform Church all
lie within a bell or chant of each other proving that peace is the desired
and easily possible course for this island. The Muslim community have passed
their jewellery manufacturing skills from generation to generation and the
Fort, and indeed the whole of Galle, contains an abundance of Gem stores
that like their 'tailor' cousinsof HK will help you select, design, and
manufacture a suitable 'rock' for your finger in a matter of days. When
an international cricket match is being played the Fort Ramparts provide
you with as close to a bird's eye view as possible, played against a backdrop
of tropical scenery. It is possible, if you have brought the required number,
to hire the pitch for a nominal sum should no other matches be booked and
with enough notice we can arrange this for you. Closer to Kahanda Kanda
- approx 5 kms - lies 'one of the world's top 10 beaches' at Unawatuna.
With a Buddhist temple at one end the beach leads a charmed life but if
a less well know, but equally beautiful beach is your preference we will
tell you where they are when you get here. PADI sub aqua courses can be
arranged in this area. Nihal will prepared a picnic hamper. If all of this
sounds too much then simply lie back, watch migrating birds return to the
Lake for the evening and let the distant chants of Buddhist monks carry
you away to a different world. |
|
|
|
