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Location:
Inland Hills, perched on a hill in Karapitiya with scenic views,
is a refurbished mid-19C manor house. This spacious home is
located behind a Buddhist temple at Karapitiya Junction, about
three miles from Galle. Once within the three-acre estate of
Inland Hills, the hustle and bustle of the town gives way to
a secluded and peaceful setting. The drive from Colombo to Galle
is approximately 3 ½ hours.
Description: Inland Hills is full of history
as it was once the family home of the notorious Nesta Brohier,
who held sway over the New Oriental Hotel in Galle Fort (now
Amangalla). The manor house -- or walawua -- is now the family
home of Rory and Yvette Spowers who have supervised its restoration.
Rory is a keen environmentalist and has sought to minimise the
‘ecological footprint’ at Inland Hills, by using
solar hot water tanks, salt-water chlorination for the pool,
non-toxic paints and organic compost. Original architectural
features such as courtyards and verandhas, spacious rooms and
hallways, high roofs and cooling cement floors have all been
retained and enhanced with photographs and art works from around
Asia, antiques and casual furniture. A three-acre garden is
filled with fruit, flowering plants and herbs The gardens attract
numerous birds, butterflies, as well as monkeys. Children are
welcome and will be particularly delighted by the swimming pool
with waterslide. Rental includes breakfast and is for a minimum
of five nights.
Accommodation: Inland Hills has four rooms
that can comfortably sleep up to eight adults. Two sizeable
master bedrooms are at the front of the house, opening out to
the front verandah and the gardens beyond. The rooms have seven-foot
antique beds with mosquito netting and en suite bathrooms with
high-pressure h/w ‘rain showers’. One of the master
bedrooms connects with another double bedroom with a four-poster
bed. The other connects to a long twin room that can sleep two
adults. This room is more suitable for children and has plenty
of toys and an antique cot on request. An additional bathroom
is accessible from the living area with h/w shower, washbasin
and w/c. The advantage of a breezy location and high ceilings
has encouraged Inland Hills to use ceiling fans not a/c.
Facilities: A vast hallway leads to the bedrooms
and a small office with fax machine, phone, scanner, copier
and books in antique cabinets. Much of the house receives broadband.
At the end of the hall is the back verandah and courtyard which
houses the living and dining areas overlooking the swimming
pool. The dining area has a modern 12-seater table. Connected
to the dining area is a music room with a drinks cupboard, DVD
projector, central hi-fi controls for a high-quality system
in the kitchen and living areas. A small hexagonal meditation
room adjoins the master bedroom and opens to the rear garden.
The large kitchen, with the original hearth maintained, has
equipment including fridge, five-ring gas hob and electric oven,
pasta-rolling machine, and a drinking water filtration system.
The rest of the house contains a small pottery studio, laundry
and self-contained flat for a member of staff living in. Inland
Hills is staffed with Priya, a live-in babysitter and part-time
cook. There is also a housekeeper, gardener and night watchman.
Various freelance chefs offer their services in the Galle area
for help with dinner parties and a full-time cook is available
on request. A new supermarket is a few minutes walk.
Excursions: The owner of Inland Hills also
has an ecological retreat -- Samakanda -- on the site of an
abandoned 60-acre tea estate half an hour away. Guests at Inland
Hills are welcome to use the facilities at Samakanda. Much time
can be spent here exploring the ‘forest garden’,
hiking down to the river or up the ridge. Take a mountain bike
excursion back down to the coast. The beautiful beaches of Thalpe
and Unawatuna and Galle’s historic 17th century Dutch
Fort are about 20 minutes away. Explore the Fort's quiet streets
with their Dutch and British period buildings, walk the sea
walks and browse in small art galleries, antique shops and cafes.
| Rates available on request
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