The Kandy House, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Tucked away in Gunnepana, Kandy, the Kandy House is an intimate hideout set among the rolling Kandyan hills. With only eight rooms spread across a heritage property, it offers a sense of seclusion and calm that larger hotels rarely can — making it a particularly appealing escape for those seeking a romantic or restful retreat.

The grounds invite quiet exploration: guests can wander the gardens, linger in the courtyard, or cool off in the infinity pool while watching the variety of birds that visit the property. The kitchen draws on both local and international influences, and the food has earned considerable affection from those who have stayed here.

Getting There

The Kandy House sits in Gunnepana, roughly a three to three-and-a-half hour drive from Colombo, depending on the time of day. The distance between Kandy and Colombo is approximately 116 km. For those travelling without a private vehicle, trains and buses run daily between the two cities, and taxis as well as tuk-tuks are readily available in Kandy town.

The Ultra Rooms

Four of the eight bedrooms are classified as ultra rooms, each named after a butterfly: the Black Rajah, the Indian Admiral, the Peacock Royal, and the Red Spot Duke.

The Black Rajah is the only suite in the house. Its arched doors open from a comfortable living room onto a secret garden below, and the room features a luxury octagonal bath and massage area within a beautiful inner sleeping sanctum. The attached bathroom has a shower and double basins, and a double swing hammock hangs in the secret garden outside.

The Indian Admiral occupies the upper floor, overlooking paddy fields and the spacious inner courtyard. It is fitted with ceiling fans, a four-poster bed, mosquito nets, a bathtub, a separate shower, and double basins.

The Peacock Royal and the Red Spot Duke are the two most spacious bedrooms in the house, each opening onto a wide veranda furnished with cane chaise lounges, reading chairs, and antiques.

The Deluxe Rooms

The four deluxe rooms — the Monkey Puzzle, the Pioneer, the Sunbeam, and the Cornelian — each carry a distinct character.

The Monkey Puzzle is a twin bedroom with a mosquito net, fan, and an attached bathroom with a shower and double basins. An arched stairway leads directly out to the garden, and the room adjoins the Black Rajah suite.

The Pioneer is a garden room with its own private veranda, a canopied bed, mosquito net, ceiling fan, bathroom, drench shower, double basins, and a double swing hammock just off the veranda.

The Sunbeam overlooks both the pool and the courtyard, and is appointed with a luxury four-poster bed, mosquito net, ceiling fan, an old-fashioned bathtub, and a separate shower room and toilet.

The Cornelian is a double room on the upper floor overlooking the courtyard, with a veranda offering views of the jungle, a four-poster bed, and a beautiful bathroom featuring a large bathtub.