Perched at around 5,000 feet above sea level on the edge of Haputale Ridge, Adisham Bungalow is one of Sri Lanka's most evocative colonial-era buildings. Part country house, part working monastery, it offers a rare combination: meticulously preserved Edwardian interiors, formal English gardens, and views that stretch across the central highlands to the distant plains. Few sites in the hill country carry quite this density of history in one place.
What is the story behind Adisham Bungalow?
The house was built in 1931 by Sir Thomas Lister Villiers, an English planter and then-Chairman of George Steuart & Co, one of Colombo's oldest trading and estate agencies. Villiers was a grandson of Lord John Russell and a descendant of the Dukes of Bedford — a lineage that clearly influenced his ambitions for the property.
He chose a forested site near Haputale called Tangamalai — loosely translated as Golden Hills — and had a road cut through the forest just to reach it. The mansion was designed by architects R. Booth and F. Webster in a Tudor and Jacobean style, with steeply pitched rooflines, Burma teak shingles, and solid stone walls that have endured decades of hill-country weather without visible complaint.
Adisham Hall, as it was then known, hosted many prominent figures of colonial Ceylon. After Sir Thomas retired and eventually passed away in December 1959, the property was sold to Sedawatte Mills. In 1961 the Roman Catholic Church acquired it, and it was subsequently handed to the Subalpine Congregation of St. Sylvester, a Benedictine order. The monks renamed it Adisham Monastery and have maintained it carefully ever since.
What can visitors see inside Adisham?
A portion of the monastery is open to the public on weekends and public holidays, giving visitors access to the main hall, selected rooms, and the surrounding gardens. The interior retains much of its original character: period furniture, antique fittings, and the kind of heavy wooden joinery that was standard in well-appointed colonial houses of the 1930s. The monks also maintain a small shop where they sell produce made on the premises — jams, jellies, cordials, and local honey are among the most popular items.
The formal gardens are a particular draw. Planted with roses, dahlias, and a variety of temperate-climate species, they reflect the English country-house aesthetic Villiers was clearly aiming for. The garden layout has been preserved largely as it was during the colonial era, which gives the whole estate an unusual sense of temporal continuity.
- Tudor and Jacobean stone architecture with Burma teak roof shingles
- Antique colonial furniture and period fittings in the main hall
- Formally planted English-style garden with roses and seasonal flowers
- Monastery shop selling homemade jams, jellies, and honey
- Panoramic views across multiple highland mountain ranges
What are the views like from Adisham?
The ridge position that made the site so logistically demanding to build on is exactly what makes it so rewarding to visit. On a clear day — most likely in the morning before cloud moves in — the panorama takes in an extraordinary sweep of the central highlands. Piduruthalagala, Sri Lanka's highest peak, is visible to the northwest. Hakgala, Totapolakanda, and the Uda Pussellawa range (sometimes called the Sleeping Warrior for its silhouette) appear to the north and east. Namunukula rises to the northeast, and on exceptional days you can pick out Diyatalawa and the plains beyond.
The adjacent Thangamale (Tangamalai) forest reserve, which borders the monastery grounds, adds its own reward for those willing to walk its trails. It is a recognised bird sanctuary and shelters a good number of endemic Sri Lankan species, making it a productive destination for birdwatchers visiting the Horton Plains area.
How do I get to Adisham Bungalow from Colombo or Ella?
Adisham sits roughly 2 kilometres west of Haputale town, following a winding road through tea estates. Haputale itself is well connected by rail — the Badulla line passes through the town, and the journey from Colombo Fort takes around six to seven hours through some of the island's most scenic highland terrain. From Ella, the nearest popular tourist hub, Haputale is about 20 kilometres by road and easily managed by tuk-tuk or taxi in under an hour.
Arriving by private car or hired driver gives you the most flexibility, since the monastery's visiting hours are limited and you will want time to explore both the building and the Thangamale sanctuary trails at your own pace.
When is Adisham Bungalow open to visitors?
The monastery is typically open to visitors on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Visiting hours are generally in the morning and again in the afternoon, with a break during the midday period when the monks observe their daily schedule. It is worth confirming current opening hours before making a special trip, as these can vary during religious observances or monastery retreats.
The monastery shop tends to sell out of its most popular products — particularly the jams and honey — earlier in the day during peak season, so an earlier visit is advisable if you plan to purchase.
What else is worth visiting near Haputale?
Haputale sits at the southern edge of Sri Lanka's tea country and is surrounded by working estates. The Bluefield Tea Gardens offer an accessible introduction to how Sri Lankan Ceylon tea is cultivated and processed, with factory tours available. The Lipton's Seat viewpoint, a short drive from Haputale, provides arguably the single most sweeping panorama of the hill country and is associated with Sir Thomas Lipton, who managed his tea empire from here.
Bandarawela, about 12 kilometres from Haputale by road, is a quieter highland town with several colonial-era buildings and a slower pace than the more tourist-oriented Ella. For those with more time, the drive south from Haputale toward Koslanda and Belihul Oya opens up the less-visited southern reaches of the highlands.
Is there accommodation near Adisham?
Haputale and the surrounding area have a small but growing range of accommodation. Staying in a period bungalow — of which several former tea-estate properties have been converted into guesthouses — is a natural complement to visiting Adisham. These properties tend to share the same colonial character as the monastery itself, and several sit within or adjacent to working tea estates, giving guests an immersive experience of hill-country life.
Bandarawela and Ella are the nearest towns with a wider choice of hotels and guesthouses if you prefer more options.
