Restored tea planter bungalow
The bungalow runs like an intimate country home, with tea on the lawn and dinner shared around a single long table.
What it’s good at
Notable
A restored 1870 planter bungalow retaining original Burma teak panelling and working fireplaces.
What they say
Also in The 50 Discovery.
This intimate bungalow is steeped in Sri Lanka’s tea country, set among lush rolling plantations and misty mountains, formerly belonging to a tea planter.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Walking trails lead through surrounding tea fields to the Dambatenne factory, and Haputale station is a fifteen-minute drive away.
The rooms
Burma teak panelling and four-poster beds furnish the seven suites. Bathrooms have checkerboard tiles and freestanding tubs.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
An outdoor infinity pool cantilevers over the hillside edge, looking out across the misty valley and surrounding tea estates.
At the table
Daily menus draw from the kitchen garden for curries and hoppers, served on the timber deck overlooking the hills.
How it began
Built in 1870 for a British tea planter, the bungalow stands on grounds landscaped in the 1960s by conservationist Sam Popham.
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Good to know
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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.