Kahanda Kanda

Much of the buzz around Sri Lanka has centered on the seaside colonial town of Galle Fort, and the beach in general. Perfectly reasonable, and all very well — but there’s more to it than that. For example, a few miles inland from Galle there’s Kahanda Kanda, formerly a private residence and still a working tea plantation, but one whose owner has turned it, to everyone’s benefit, into a small and contemporary boutique-style hotel.

Small is one of the key words — it’s got just twelve villas and suites, surrounded by shady vegetation, all within a stone’s throw of a central infinity pool, on a hillside overlooking Koggala Lake. Interiors are stylish, a blend of contemporary luxury and colonial heritage, and the bathrooms are downright indulgent, as they tend to be these days. The atmosphere could hardly be more private or tranquil, and the no-kids policy certainly doesn’t hurt in that department.

Activities are mercifully few: this is a place to get away, though not a difficult or terribly remote one. The beach is a short drive away, if you’re determined, and sporting options on-site include swimming, yoga, and a small fitness center — an emphasis on health that’s complemented by the hotel’s hybrid Thai/Sri Lankan cuisine.



How to get there:
Kahanda Kanda can be found just 8 kilometres inland from the coastal Galle Road, perched at the northeast shore of Koggala Lake.