The Mansion, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Surrounded by lush green paddy fields, exotic scenery, and wildlife that seems to come alive at night, The Mansion offers a rare kind of seclusion in the hill country of Sri Lanka. Set in Aldeniya — approximately 8 km from the ancient city of Kandy — this Colonial property carries the ambience of a quieter, more graceful era while remaining within comfortable reach of the city.

The drive from Colombo takes roughly three to three and a half hours, while the journey from Kandy itself is a mere twenty to thirty minutes. Airport transfers can be arranged by the property with prior notice.

Setting and Character

The Mansion is considered one of the most elegant Colonial hotels in Sri Lanka, situated majestically in a secluded spot among groves of trees. Its beautifully manicured gardens contain a wide variety of trees, and the surrounding landscape brings an atmosphere that evokes the Colonial style of the 1920s. For those seeking distance from busy city life — honeymooners and leisure travellers alike — the property is regarded as something of a romantic hideout.

Accommodation

Guests are offered ten spacious and comfortable rooms, each furnished with a range of antiques that lend an appropriately historic character to the stay. All rooms are air-conditioned and well equipped, and the bathrooms throughout are fitted with modern facilities. The staff maintain the guestrooms to a careful standard.

Facilities

The property boasts an outdoor swimming pool alongside ample space for cycling and jogging within the grounds. Dining facilities serve delicious local cuisine of excellent standard. The Mansion is also well suited to exclusive conferences and wedding receptions, with the scale and elegance to accommodate large gatherings.

A visiting Masseur is available to assist guests with Ayurvedic treatments — including full body massages to improve blood circulation and relieve tension, head massages, and reflexology using natural herbal therapy oils. Bookings for these treatments should be made in advance. During the Kandy Perehara season, The Mansion organises tickets to viewing galleries offering the best vantage points for the Esala Perehara.

Excursions

The Mansion arranges tour packages taking guests to some of the island's most celebrated attractions. A Kandy city tour typically includes visits to the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. A visit to the elephant orphanage brings guests close to a large number of elephants, and elephant back rides are also available.

Further afield, excursions cover the 5th century Sigiriya Rock Fortress as well as the ruined ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, where Buddhist replicas still stand. These itineraries make The Mansion a practical and atmospheric base for exploring the cultural heart of Sri Lanka.