Pooja Kanda, Koggala, Sri Lanka

Pooja Kanda is a magnificent two-storied villa that sits proudly atop a hill in Koggala, about a 10-minute drive from the Southern capital city of Galle and roughly a mile inland from some of the best golden sandy beaches in the country. The villa was the home of celebrated American interior designer Charles Hulse, and his personal attention in designing and building the house — from its commanding hilltop location to the intimate garden spaces and the layout of the bedroom suites — is evident at every turn.

Three of the bedroom suites have their own private sitting areas leading to a private balcony, giving guests a quiet retreat within the retreat itself. The villa accommodates groups of up to eight people at any given time.

Inside the Villa

Guests enter through a wide veranda that opens into spacious sitting rooms, a hall, and dining rooms furnished tastefully with ornately carved local antiques from the Dutch period. Further inside, a TV room lined with settees and a cosy study offer quieter corners for relaxation and reading. A hidden rock terrace, accessed by a bridge from the top floor, overlooks the pool below, which is surrounded by a natural forest that borders the property.

Facilities

The villa is fully equipped with modern amenities. It has five spacious air-conditioned bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a medium-sized pool overlooking the natural forest, iPod docking stations, and Wi-Fi access. An in-house chef and steward are available at all times, and food items can be delivered directly to the bungalow. House help is provided round the clock, and a trained babysitter and nanny is on hand for families. Every guest is insured during their stay. Guests are expected to purchase food and all liquids to be consumed on the premises. The villa is completely eco-friendly.

Excursions in the Area

Pooja Kanda's location in Koggala makes it an excellent base for exploring the southern coast and beyond. Nearby highlights include the Galle Fort — with its ramparts, old Dutch and Anglican churches, the Dutch museum, and the sea museum — as well as the Martin Wickramasinghe Museum and Unawatuna Beach. Nature-oriented outings include the turtle walk on the beach at sunset, visits to turtle farms, and a day trip to the Rain Forest Botanical Gardens in Kottawa, some 10 to 12 kilometres from Galle Fort, which can be combined with a visit to a tea factory and low-grown tea plantation, a dip in a natural swimming pool, and a stop at a meditation centre. The Geoffrey Bawa gardens in Bentota are also within reach, as is a two-day visit to the animal sanctuary at Yala — where the Verahera Temple and the famous blowholes of Galle can also be taken in. For water enthusiasts, a day in Hikkaduwa offers coral gazing in glass-bottomed boats, diving, and a boat safari to a small island off the coast, complete with a cinnamon garden and temple. A personal tour guide, as well as airport pickup and drop-off in a chauffeur-driven vehicle, can be arranged for guests.