Stay
Thotalagala retreat has just seven spacious suites, divided between the original house and the seamless new wing. Each are individually decorated with polished wooden floors, antique hardwood king-size beds and study tables. Rooms do not have grand views but its high, open-beamed ceilings, comfortable sitting areas with large windows ensure colonial charm. Bathrooms have black and white tiled floors and free-standing baths as well as powerful showers.
ChildCare
Families with children of four years and above are welcome to stay Thotalagala at an extra charge. There are no extra beds, but there are sofa beds in the larger suites.
Dine
The in-house restaurant at Thotalagala serves a variety of Sri Lankan and western-style dishes at every meal. Breakfast is usually on the lawn, overlooking the mountains and includes fresh bread from the oven, homemade preserves and fruit from nearby orchards. The chef will discuss with guests, options for lunch and dinner which are served on a large, colonial-style dining room or al fresco in the gardens and may include BBQ, and assortment of curries and desserts.
Relax
Facilities at the Thotalagala include a beautiful unheated pool with sun-loungers and views of the rolling green hills. The beautiful garden is where breakfast is served and has shaded areas for relaxing during the day. There are two sitting rooms, both with fireplaces and in the surrounds, is the former residence of Sir Thomas Lipton, the Scottish tea baron, that Thotalagala guests can visit on an exclusive tour that includes the factory where Lipton’s Tea was founded.
Experience
Situated high in the Haputale Hills, Thotalagala is centrally located between the mountains and southern coast, allowing easy access to many beauty spots of this fascinating island. An interesting hike is to Lipton’s Seat, from where Sir Thomas Lipton used to survey his burgeoning empire. Other interesting sites include Diyaluma (‘liquid light’) Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Sri Lanka and to St. Benedict’s Monastery, beautifully preserved in English country-style gardens.
Location Thotalagala is located in Haputale in the Hill Country. The property sits south east of Nuwara Eliya and close to Lipton's Seat further east.
Getting there The nearest airport is Colombo Bandaranayake Airport (190km), roughly 5 hours by car but you are more likely to arrive with a driver as part of a trip around Sri Lanka. The last leg of the journey entails some windy roads.
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.
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