The Kandy House is an ancestral manor house, set in the hills on the edge on the historical city of Kandy. Built in 1804 by the Chief Minister of the Kandyan Kingdom, this palatial villa has been converted into a designer boutique hotel incorporating modern facilities for 21st-century guests. Situated outside Kandy's town centre, it is well placed for guests to explore a broad selection of Sri Lanka’s primary destinations in and around Kandy, the Cultural Triangle and Tea Country.
Set within a delightful jungle garden, the Kandy House has only nine rooms. All are spacious and luxuriously decorated with antique furnishings, air-conditioning and spacious modern bathrooms. Expect ancestral four-poster bed, octagonal stone bath, double swing hammock in a secret garden or an original mahogany veranda. With high-roofed beamed ceilings and a sloping tiled roof, once reserved only for royal residences, there is a distinct colonial charm and royal elegance.
Dining at the Kandy House is a gourmet affair where expertly trained chefs serve a fusion of traditional Sri Lankan delicacies with modern international dishes, using the freshest ingredients from local markets. Tucked within the gardens, home to 60 different species of birds, is a yoga pavilion and an infinity pool with stupendous views. Kandy House can arrange trips to the historical sites in Kandy, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens or the Udawattekele Rainforest.
Amenities
Bar/PubConciergeCribs/Infant Beds AvailableFamily RoomGardenLibraryOutdoor PoolRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesWi-Fi AvailableStay The Kandy House features just eight spacious rooms and one suite. All are decorated in minimalist traditional style and elegantly furnished with antique-style hardwood furniture and floors, four-poster beds, and large windows that open out onto the surrounding courtyard and gardens. Most rooms have air-conditioning and equally spacious bathrooms with bathtubs but no TVs, so you’re forced to engage with your environment or survey the grounds of the estate.
ChildCare Families with children of 12 years and above are welcome at the Kandy House and can stay with parents or in separate rooms (there's no single room occupancy rate). Extra beds for older kids can be added to Ultra rooms Indian Admiral or Black Rajah for under-16s at a small charge.
Dine Expertly trained chefs at the Kandy House, serve top-notch food on a relaxed veranda. There is a set daily menu with one starter, a choice of 2 main courses and a dessert. The rotating menu includes International cuisine and twice-weekly Sri Lankan curry feasts which may include 10 different dishes followed by fresh mango and homemade kulfi. The hotel bar offers a wide choice of drinks including champagnes, interesting wines and cocktails blended with lemongrass, vanilla or ginger.
Relax Facilities at the Kandy House include a swimming pool with sun loungers surrounded with lovely gardens. There is a massage room with a masseur and yoga classes can be arranged. Within the hotel are ample places with comfortable sitting areas and the beautiful gardens have shaded places to relax. Guests at the Kandy House can also use tennis courts in the nearby hotel and there is golf at Victoria Golf Club.
Experience The Kandy House offers complimentary nature and birdwatching hikes where you can see over 60 species of birds. Local attractions include the historic Temple of the Tooth, the Peradeniya Gardens – the Botanical "Kew" of Kandy, the glass murals in the serene, open-air, hill-top Trinity Chapel and the beautiful sanctuary forest of Uddawattakale. Further afield (2 hours north by car), you can climb the famous Sigiriya rock; and don’t miss Dambulla for its magnificent Golden Temple.
Location The Kandy House is located 20-minutes outside Kandy's town centre, close to the geographic centre of Sri Lanka.
Getting there The nearest airport is Colombo Bandaranayake Airport (10-hour 30-minutes direct flight), roughly 3-hours away by car but you are more likely to arrive with a driver as part of a trip around Sri Lanka.
When to go Sri Lanka is a year-round destination with consistently warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. However, it barely gets unbearably hot in the Hill Country. The months of December to April are probably the best time to visit, when days are warm (around 28C) with cool nights. During the monsoon season from October to December you can expect heavy downpours. June to September are the driest months here when there’s almost no rain at all.
Destination
Central, Sri Lanka
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