Corbets View, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Corbet's View sits within the Knuckles National Heritage Wilderness Area, a protected expanse of spectacular peaks overseen by the Forestry Department. Nestled in the "Dumbara Hills" between Kandy and Matale, it offers panoramic mountain vistas alongside caves, rivers, and a rich variety of fauna and flora — making it a compelling destination for those drawn to Sri Lanka's wilder interior.

The hotel occupies the eastern slopes from Corbet's Gap, at an elevation of 3,250 feet. Corbet's Gap lies in the southern part of the mountain range, and the name itself honours the British surveyor who mapped the area during the 19th century. Locals have long known this terrain as the "Dumbara Kanduvetiya", while British surveyors christened it "The Knuckles Range" — both names still in common use today.

Getting There

Corbet's View is roughly 55 km from Kandy. The route winds through Kundasale, Digana, Teldeniya, Medamahanuwara, Hunnsagiriya, Kobonilla, and Knuckles, passing through some of the most scenic countryside in the central region. The mountains Kobonilagala and Dumbangala rise in the immediate surroundings of the property.

Accommodation and Sustainability

The retreat offers three comfortable accommodation units, each enjoying fine views of the surrounding peaks. In keeping with its natural setting, the hotel runs entirely on solar power for lighting, and its water supply comes from a natural spring on the land. There are no diesel generators or mains connections — the property is as self-sufficient as the wilderness around it.

Food and Local Produce

Meals are home-cooked and prepared by the resident caretaker, with fresh ingredients sourced from nearby organic farms. The food is simple, wholesome, and rooted in the produce of the region — a fitting complement to the unhurried pace of life at this altitude.

A Haven for Nature Lovers

Whether the appeal is the dramatic ridgeline scenery, the chance to explore caves and river courses, or simply the quiet of a landscape protected from heavy development, Corbet's View offers a rare kind of retreat in Sri Lanka's beautiful central region. It is, by nature and design, a place for those who prefer birdsong to traffic and starlight to streetlamps.