Bentota, Sri LankaDedduwa
Lunuganga by Teardrop Hotels
Tropical modernist country estate
Dedduwa Bentota, Sri Lanka
Opened
2003
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage LocalOutside the door
The house
Teardrop HotelsTropical modernist country estate
Life on this country estate unfolds outdoors, from breakfast on breezy verandas to sunset drinks beside Dedduwa Lake.
“Buildings pop-up, plant-like, across the grounds, offering sumptuous suite accommodation. The intimate stay – run by the Teardrop Hotel brand – only has a handful of rooms.”
What it’s good at
Exceptional
Geoffrey Bawa's living laboratory erases boundaries between courtyards, suites, and lush gardens.
Remarkable
Original country pavilions anchor the grounds beside a reconstructed 1962 courtyard villa.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in The 50 Discovery.
Geoffrey Bawa acquired this disused rubber plantation in the late 1940s and spent five decades reshaping it into one of South Asia's most extraordinary private gardens: rice paddies, frangipani groves, Greco-Roman statues, and tree-framed views to the lake.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
On the banks of Dedduwa Lake, set across fifteen acres of country estate near Bentota.
The rooms
Standalone pavilions house the guest suites, finished with whitewashed walls, original artwork, and courtyards open to the gardens.
The plunge pools
Bring a swimsuit.
Tiled plunge pools sit in secluded courtyards of weathered walls and stone paving, sheltered by dense tropical foliage.
At the table
The covered veranda looks past frangipani branches toward the lake. Dinners bring grilled barramundi and dishes made from local produce.
How it began
Geoffrey Bawa abandoned plans for an Italian villa in 1947, purchasing this neglected rubber plantation to landscape over five decades.
Good to know
Stay here
Lunuganga by Teardrop Hotels
Choose your dates to see every room and rate, and book in a few steps.
Add dates to see the price for your stay.
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.