Dream Cottage, Habarana, Sri Lanka

Tucked into a quiet corner of the Habarana jungle, Dream Cottage is a small eco-friendly retreat made up of two cottage houses named Ramya and Suramya. Reached along the Anuradhapura road, roughly 2.5 kilometres from the Habarana junction, the property sits within the famous Habarana Elephant Habitat and is designed to give holiday makers the genuine feeling of being deep in the wilderness, far from the noise of city life.

Despite belonging to a dry climatic zone, the grounds are so densely filled with trees and bushes that guests often feel a cool, breezy atmosphere throughout their stay. Both cottages, along with their tree houses and open surroundings, make the property particularly well suited to bird watchers and those planning safari outings in the region.

Location and Surroundings

Dream Cottage lies 23 kilometres from Dambulla and sits close to the Elephant Bath. Ritigala Forest Reserve is approximately 15 kilometres away, while Aukana, Minneriya, Kaudulla National Parks, Sigiriya, and Dambulla are all within roughly a 20-minute drive. The two most common routes from Colombo are via Kurunegala — covering 93 kilometres to Kurunegala, then 55 kilometres to Dambulla, and a final 23 kilometres to Habarana — or via Kandy, passing through Matale and Dambulla before reaching the property.

The Cottages

Each cottage contains two bedrooms with attached bathrooms and hot water, open sleeping areas fitted with mosquito nets, an outdoor shower area, a tree house, bed linen, towels, pillows, refrigerators, and a pantry. Both cottages can accommodate up to 10 guests and include the services of a live-in cook and caretaker family. Guests are advised to bring their own drinking water and provisions, which the cook will then prepare into meals to order. Bicycles are also available, subject to an additional charge.

Ramya

Ramya is the air-conditioned option. Its two bedrooms are fully air-conditioned, each with an attached bathroom and hot water. All other shared facilities — the tree house, outdoor shower, open sleeping area, and kitchen provisions — are included as standard.

Suramya

Suramya offers a more open-air experience, with fan-cooled bedrooms in place of air conditioning. It also includes a BBQ grill, making it a popular choice for guests who enjoy outdoor cooking. Like Ramya, it features a tree house, outdoor shower area, and a fully equipped pantry.

Safari Arrangements

For guests wishing to explore the surrounding national parks and wildlife areas, safaris can be arranged directly by speaking with the in-house manager at Dream Cottage, who can tailor excursions to individual needs and schedules.