The Kandy House, near Kandy

Formerly the home of an aristocratic Sri Lankan family, The Kandy House is a magnificent manor house turned boutique hotel in Kandy with nine individually designed rooms. Located in Kandy’s tranquil outskirts, the hotel rests within exotic gardens home to an idyllic jungle swimming pool.

The hotel’s architecture is stunning; the chic interiors and one-of-a-kind antiques perfectly complement the elegant arches, pillared verandas, hardwood floors and central courtyard. Rooms feature four-poster beds, garden views and contemporary bathrooms yet are blissfully devoid of TVs and phones.

Guests tuck into Asian fusion cuisine and Sri Lankan curries on the rear veranda, which overlooks an emerald lawn shaded by tall creeper-draped trees teeming with butterflies and birds. Visible beyond the lawn is the jungle pool and an ambalama, which overlook a serene paddy valley.

The hotel offers Ayurvedic massages and private yoga sessions, and although Kandy’s sights may be reached in 20 minutes, there is plenty to do in the local area, from rural bicycle rides to strolls to the village’s ancient muralled temple.