Location

Lunuganga, a unique and intriguing country estate house, is a 15-minute drive inland from the beach resort of Bentota on the west coast of Sri Lanka. Set in rolling, Renaissance-inspired tropical gardens, Lunuganga is on a peninsular edged by the picturesque Dedduwa Lake. The historic city of Galle is about 1.5 hours away and the journey from Colombo’s international airport will take approximately two hours via the southern highway.

Why you should book with us

Lunuganga is the former country residence of the world-renowned Sri Lankan architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa. Lunuganga, not as much a staple boutique hotel as a living piece of history, offers guests a rare opportunity to step inside the private life of one of the world’s most celebrated architects, a man dubbed “the father of Asian architecture”. Once within the 25-acre estate, after a bumpy ride down winding lanes, it is not difficult to understand why in 1948 Bawa bought this former rubber estate to craft into his garden idyll. After decades of careful, exquisite, creative thought and design Bawa’s legacy and perhaps most personal life’s work is today a wondrous and inspiring place to visit and savour. With astonishing views and beautiful interiors, with many original Bawa artwork and blueprints on the walls, a stay in one of Lunuganga’s six fine suites is guaranteed to be a highlight of any holiday. Dining is at the edge of the tranquil Dedduwa Lake. The golden beaches of Bentota are just three kilometers away.

Lunuganga comprises of six bedrooms of which three are located in the main plantation house; one is housed in Geoffrey Bawa’s former art gallery/studio; and two rooms are in a separate house located at the edge of the cinnamon plantation. The whole property can be rented in its entirety or on an individual room basis. Each of the rooms is filled with character and Bawa touches making them unique and inspiring. Carefully crafted views of the gardens and the lake beyond, instills a sense of tranquility and calmness.  All rooms have a/c, overhead fans and ensuite bathrooms with h/w showers.

Guest Room - Located in the main house and accessed from the main entrance hall, this double room is spacious and has sleeping and a lounging area opening out to an outdoor private courtyard where meals are served upon request. The bathroom has a bath with dual showers, and hot and cold water. The room is elegantly furnished with a comfortable king sized bed fitted with mosquito netting. The walls are adorned with paintings and objects d’art carefully placed, giving this room a sense of charm.

Gallery Suite:Originally a cowshed that was used to house farm animals; this area was converted over 20 years ago into Geoffrey Bawa’s private art gallery/studio. A stay in this large Studio suite is a fantastic experience where stairways leads to a dramatic downstairs sitting room and doors adorned with art, lead to the bathroom. The Gallery Suite is filled with Bawa’s collection of special pieces of furniture, sculptures and artifacts from around the world. The walls of the living room downstairs are adorned with architectural blueprints of his works such as the Heritance Kandalama hotel located in the Cultural Triangle. There is a king size antique four-poster bed fitted with mosquito netting in the main area and the ensuite bathroom has a Victorian bathtub and h/w shower.  An outdoor private courtyard surrounded by ochre coloured walls is ideal for dining under the stars.

Glass Room: This is a long narrow room, edged on either side by large glass windows that gives it a feel of a glass room and is set on the upper level over the entrance to the main plantation house. This is a magical room beaming with sunlight and wonderful views, which over the years have been the home of many artists in residence at Lunuganga. The front door to the room opens out to the beautiful gardens. Interior is furnished with Dutch period antiques including a queen-sized four-poster bed, planter’s chairs, and a work desk.

Gatehouse Suite:  Once the gatehouse of the plantation bungalow, this suite overlooks the northern part of Cinnamon Hill.    The upper floor has now been converted into a comfortable suite with alcove windows looking out into the gardens; living and sleeping area; and an ensuite bathroom with h/w shower and twin vanities.  The suite is furnished with a double bed.  A beautiful batik mural hangs over the bed which was created by the famous artist – Ena de Silva.

Cinnamon Hill House: Set away from the main house at the southern edge of the gardens, Cinnamon Hill provides for much privacy and is ideal for a family or friends travelling together.  This spacious suite consists of two bedrooms furnished with king size beds; ensuite bathroom with h/w shower, indoor and outdoor living areas, and separate pantry and staff room.  Meals can be arranged in the privacy of your own garden. The Cinnamon Hill House comes complete with its own butler.

The main house has living and dining areas - personal space that was cherished by Geoffrey Bawa and is filled with his favourite pieces of art and antiques. This area opens out to panoramic views of the Dedduwa Lake. There are several outdoor areas scattered around the estate - overlooking the lake, jungles, ponds or paddy fields that is ideal for hours of inspired work or just relaxing. Lunuganga chefs take pride in their cuisine and are ever willing to serve meals where ever you wish – under a tree, in your own room, or even a picnic lunch or high tea to be enjoyed on a boat on the Lake. From contemporary gourmet cuisine with Asian and Mediterranean influences, to delicious Sri Lankan rice and curries are served using fresh ingredients purchased from the local market each day. The finest Sri Lankan teas with freshly baked scones are served throughout the day. Lunuganga’s restaurant is open to non-resident guests with prior booking. Garden tours are also conducted for non-resident guests daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Although Lunuganga doesn’t have a swimming pool, the beautiful beaches of Bentota and Hikkaduwa are just a short drive away offering numerous water sports and safe swimming. Guests are also welcome to use the swimming pool and dine at the nearby Club Villa – another Geoffrey Bawa creation.

Explore the gardens of Lunuganga where bird watching is utterly rewarding. Go on a boat ride along the tranquil Dedduwa Lake that fronts the property. Enjoy the sunkissed beaches of Bentota just a short drive away. Visit Galle’s 17C Dutch Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site with a maze of narrow streets lined with Dutch and British period buildings still in use, sturdy ramparts looking out to sea, and a growing collection of art galleries, museums, shops, cafes and restaurants.

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Important note on prices : Red Dot prices include all government taxes and service charges. Some properties and websites exclude these charges from their direct quotes, which adds 24-26 per cent to your bill, so please check carefully before booking. Red Dot also guarantees to beat any lower published prices from other agents. Some property owners also request that we do not display our prices online. Please ask us for a quote - and tell us if we do not offer the best value.

Why you should book with us