Kahanda Kanda is an award-winning boutique hotel, set on Sri Lanka’s southwesten coast near Galle. Once a private tropical villa of owner George Cooper, a British interior designer, it was transformed by the Australian architect Bruce Fell-Smith into one of the most stylish and romantic boutique hotels in Sri Lanka. Perched on a ridge overlooking Koggala Lake and surrounded by 12 acres of a working tea estate, the hotel now provides a luxurious, wellness escape for discerning travellers.
The Kahanda Kanda complex now comprises of 10 villas. All have colonnaded verandas overlooking the tea plantation, each of which are nicely isolated from one another by tropical vegetation. The living pavilion is a majestic 12-metre square, with a banquette that runs the full length of one side of the room. The dining pavilion is smaller, (most meals are taken outdoors) with white-painted brick columns, and there are two man-made lily ponds, with stone carved figures standing on plinths.
Located close to Koggala Lake and surrounded by the lush greenery of a working tea estate, Kahanda Kanda enjoys a peaceful, tropical ambience. In the surrounds is the Udawalawe National Park, home to water buffalo, sambar deer, elephants and the occasional leopard. On the coast is Unawatuna beach, crescent-shaped and complete with a Buddhist temple at its far end, and once a big hippie hangout in the 1970s. Back at the hotel is a swimming pool with facilities for yoga and spa.
Amenities
Bar/PubConciergeCribs/Infant Beds AvailableFamily RoomFitness CentreGardenLibraryMultilingual StaffOutdoor PoolRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesSpa/SaunaWi-Fi AvailableYoga Classes/Instruction On SiteStay Kahanda Kanda has just 10 spacious air-conditioned villas. All are tastefully furnished with authentic antiques and canopied king-size four-poster beds draped in crisp white linen, harking back to the lavish colonial days gone by. Sweeping wraparound veranda overlook the gardens, the tea estate or the the Koggala Lake at a distance. Three villas have their own pools including the Dubu Suite, set on a hillside, with its own large lawn, that is ideal for honeymooners.
ChildCare Families with children of 12 years and above are welcome to stay at Kahanda Kanda, but there are no specific facilities available for children.
Dine Dining at Kahanda Kanda is a personal experience, where you can eat when and where you want. The house chef will consult with you about your choice and will prepare meals to suit your tastes. Alternatively, enjoy a daily-changing menu with Sri Lankan, Western and Thai influences, prepared with fruits, vegetables and herbs grown on KK’s estate. Pre-dinner drinks and meals are served in the living pavilion, situated amidst lotus filled ponds with sweeping views over the estate.
Relax Facilities at the Kahanda Kanda include a living pavilion and a 20-metre long, infinity edged pool, shaded by white bougainvillea and overlooking the tea bushes and rolling hills. There is also a yoga pavilion with resident yoga teacher and an air-conditioned gym. Set in the pretty gardens is the spa pavilion, offering complimentary head, body or foot massage. All therapists are male, but if you prefer a woman's touch, a female therapist can be arranged (at an extra cost).
Experience Sri Lanka’s southern coast is known for beaches and water sports. Kahanda Kanda can easily arrange short tours to the nearby historical and cultural sites. Visit the 17th-century Koggale Fort and its narrow streets lined with boutique shops, the nearby Koggala lake which features a Buddhist temple and the sea turtle hatchery on the coast. Activity enthusiasts can visit Unawatuna beach for surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving or just chill out on the beach which is also perfect for families.
Location Kahanda Kanda can be found just 5 kilometres inland from the coastal Galle Road (as the crow flies), perched at the north east shore of Koggala Lake.
Getting there Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is the sole international airport in Sri Lanka and is located about 30km north of the city. The journey time is 4-hours from Colombo. You may also take the seaplane, which lands on Koggala Lake, cutting the journey time to 45-minutes from Colombo.
When to go Sri Lanka is a year-round destination with consistently warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. There are two monsoon seasons but they only bring rain to the west and south-west coasts from May to September; and the east coast and northern region between October and February. The rest of the year is sunny and dry but the months of December to April are probably the best time to visit. Colombo and the low-lying coastal regions have an average temperature of 27°C.
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