Kahanda Kanda

Kahanda Kanda is a chic, luxurious boutique hotel that is tucked away on a ridge overlooking the tranquil Kogalle Lake and surrounded by 12 acres of rolling tea gardens. This intimate, romantic retreat is immensely popular amongst honeymooners and is thoughtfully designed to offer superb views of the mountains as well as the lush tropical jungle beyond.

Each of the ten individually designed rooms and suites is a sanctuary in itself and is elegantly decorated using antiques collected from East Asia, period-style furniture and traditional Sri Lankan artefacts. The air-conditioned suites are spread among several free-standing pavilions in the gardens, offer maximum privacy and feature canopied beds, daybeds built into window bays, and couches for lounging about on. While Dubu, Hibiscus and Hellaconia suites feature a private plunge pool, the Peacock Suite features a pretty private courtyard garden. At Kahanda Kanda, you can eat when and where you want, and the chefs will prepare meals to suit your tastes.

The food is prepared using vegetables and herbs grown on the estate, and there is usually a combination of Sri Lankan and either Western or Oriental Cuisine. Leisure facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and a Spa.

Kahanda Kanda is only 15 minutes by tuk-tuk to the fortified town of Galle and about 40 minutes by car to Mirissa, from where you can take a boat in search of blue whales.