Leela Walauwwa, Induruwa

For those looking for a private, secluded villa in Sri Lanka, Leela Walauwwa is one of Sri Lanka’s best. Located five-minutes’ inland from west coast Induruwa Beach and just 10-minutes’ drive from Bentota, the villa offers the best of both worlds – a serene place to relax in complete privacy (the tropical gardens extend to one acre) and very easy access to pristine beaches, water sports, restaurants and exotic gardens.

The villa, carved out of an antique manor house, dates back to the colonial era though its sensitively upgraded interiors have a luxurious and contemporary feel. Living and dining areas open to the garden, and the four bedrooms are accessed off elegantly colonnaded veranda walkways. On the walls are a collection of colonial-themed photographs and paintings that evoke the history of the villa. In total, Leela Walauwwa sleeps up to nine guests, which makes it ideal for families and groups.

Managed by Taru Villas, the villa is staffed by a small, indulgent team, headed up by a Villa Guardian and an experienced private chef. High-end service and innovative curated dining are two benchmarks of the Taru Villas brand.

When guests are ready to explore, they’ll find plenty to do on their doorstep. Induruwa’s golden beach is five-minutes’ drive away, and the villa offers free tuk tuks to their sister-hotels in Bentota, and another lovely long sandy beach. Other local activities include visiting a sea turtle conservation project in Kosgoda, cycling through rural countryside in search of ancient temples, touring Lunuganga garden – Geoffrey Bawa’s former home – and sunrise boating on neighbouring Dedduwa Lake.