I’m of the agency opinion that everybody ought to spend a minimum of one evening at Dwelling Heritage Koslanda whereas exploring Sri Lanka. However be warned, you’ll be tempted to guide extra. We initially deliberate a two evening keep at this boutique lodge within the Hill Nation. However after only one sleep, we requested if we might keep for a 3rd.
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Koslanda is a really particular place the place you may immerse yourselves in nature, change off from the vacationer path and revel in a little bit of luxurious. Oh, and it welcomes households too – not one thing you may count on from a spot that would simply market itself as a pair’s retreat.
Every little thing is beautiful, from its hand-built forest pavilions to its non-public waterfall. No surprise I took extra pictures right here than wherever else throughout our Sri Lanka itinerary.
For that reason, and due to the variety of DMs I obtained on Instagram whereas we had been in Sri Lanka, I assumed I’d write a effectively overdue weblog submit about it.
Nevertheless, I additionally wish to level you I the course of Travelynn Household’s Koslanda assessment. If it hadn’t been for Jenny I’d have by no means recognized about this hill prime haven. She visited when her youngsters had been youthful and stayed in a household suite, so her assessment comes from a special angle.
I’m going to be very open from the start and say that the pavilions we stayed in usually are not pre-schooler pleasant.
However when you have teenagers or youngsters of an age the place you’re completely satisfied for them to be in a separate room, albeit in ear shot – then you definately may like to contemplate the forest pavilions.
About Dwelling Heritage Koslanda
Dwelling Heritage Koslanda is a 5 star lodge modelled on conventional Kandy relaxation stops with pavilions the place you may hang around and meet different travellers.
There are simply 9 rooms set inside an 80 acre property that you’re free to discover to your coronary heart’s content material. There’s a lot house that you simply won’t see your fellow company aside from at meal instances when everybody comes collectively to dine within the small open-sided restaurant.
Koslanda is a nature-lover’s paradise. The one sounds interrupting the excitement of the forest are monkeys theatrically falling via the timber, the early morning melody of the choon paan truck delivering recent bread and the odd rumble of thunder.
You’re additionally sure to fulfill a few of your wild neighbours. We had a few frogs in our pavilion whereas the women noticed an enormous squirrel sat on theirs.
Away from our pavilions we noticed monitor lizards and proof that an elephant had wandered via the property.
That is additionally the one place we stayed in Sri Lanka the place sustainable tourism was in proof. There’s no plastic water or toiletry bottles, and the property grows a whole lot of its personal produce. Throughout our keep pepper was being harvested.
The group is employed from the native space. Everybody and I imply everybody, from the gardeners to the ready workers and the managers, welcome you want outdated pals.
Lodging
So what did we take into consideration the lodging at Dwelling Heritage Koslanda?
We stayed in two forest pavilions that are dreamy en-suite tree homes. There are additionally a few household rooms and connecting rooms. They’d already been snapped up once we booked.
Koslanda’s forest pavilions
I made my reserving on reserving.com* and it was solely later that I checked out Dwelling Heritage Koslanda’s web site and noticed that the Forest pavilions are described as not being appropriate for kids.
However my reserving was accepted and once we arrived the group had been completely satisfied to accommodate us. In addition they didn’t count on us to spilt one grownup and one baby in every pavilion.
Clearly you already know your youngsters and whether or not it will give you the results you want. Our ladies had been 10 and eight-years-old when stayed. Now we have booked connecting rooms and rooms subsequent to one another fairly just a few instances, so knew it will be OK for us.
We stayed in Forest Pavilion 1 and a couple of which was ultimate for us because the doorways had been just a few steps aside and made it very straightforward for the women to name us or come to us in the event that they wanted to.
It’s additionally value mentioning which you could’t add additional beds to the pavilions – two individuals is absolutely the max occupancy.
Every pavilion has an en-suite with bathe, fridge, secure, seating, ceiling and flooring followers, and a balcony. You’re separated from the wildlife at evening by bamboo blinds, canvas and cheese material drapes.
The monkeys are recognized for visiting rooms uninvited, so there’s a wood field the place you’re suggested to retailer meals and something they may discover attention-grabbing, equivalent to electronics.
There aren’t any TVs however you do have wifi and are given a cell phone at check-in to talk to reception or order room service. This is useful for ordering meals and drinks to come back to the pool too.
Contemplating the forest pavilions are just about open to the weather, the usual of the lodging and furnishings is above and past what I anticipated. Every little thing was clear, snug and really lovely.
And the views converse for themselves.
Household rooms at Koslanda Dwelling Heritage
If you happen to assume you’d desire a devoted household room try Jenny’s assessment.
Test charges and availability for Dwelling Heritage Koslanda*.
Getting there
Koslanda is effectively off the overwhelmed monitor – an excellent hour from Ella – and is accessed alongside a winding mountain highway. This leads you to a brief part of very tough monitor which takes you to the property entrance.
There wasn’t excellent signage once we stayed so be sure you have downloaded the situation on Google maps upfront.
Issues to do at Koslanda
With its distant location, we determined to deal with Koslanda as a vacation spot in itself somewhat than exploring additional. We nonetheless simply crammed a few days.
On our first morning we walked to the property’s non-public waterfall and spent three hours swimming within the swimming pools under it. It felt like an untouched tropical paradise.
Within the afternoon we had lunch beside the resort’s infinity pool. It was arms down probably the most lovely pool we swam in throughout our two weeks in Sri Lanka (perhaps ever) with views of the tea plantations and refreshments only a cellphone name away.
It’s actually as dreamy because it appears to be like. Whereas we had been there we noticed monkeys, an enormous squirrel and a chameleon sunning itself beside the water.
There are additionally all types of video games to play within the communal pavilion and on the garden. We made a proper hash of enjoying crochet however nonetheless had a whole lot of enjoyable.
After dinner, a hearth was lit on a nook of the garden and we toasted marshmallows till the youngsters couldn’t maintain their eyes open any longer.
If you wish to discover out extra concerning the property’s wildlife there are additional excursions you may guide.
Meals at Dwelling Heritage Koslanda
We discovered the meals to be excellent. On our first evening there was a buffet of conventional Sri Lankan curries with soup to start out and a number of desserts. On the second evening we had set menu with a alternative of Sri Lankan, Asian and Western mains.
Breakfast was three course and served at our desk with juices, espresso and tea.
We began with fruit, yogurt and granola, then there have been sausages and bacon with a alternative of eggs cooked to order. Alongside this there have been Sri Lankan roti, savoury pancakes, curry, desserts and toast.
The service was glorious. No glass was left unfilled and we all the time received a pleasant ‘whats up’ from workers whether or not they had been within the restaurant or tending to the grounds.
Phew! Belts wanted to be loosened.
Breakfast and dinner had been included in our room fee. We additionally ordered from lunch from the all day menu once we are beside the pool. There’s a large alternative from soups and pizzas to salads and curries. Oh and the juices are scrumptious.
The meals is all freshly ready so our al a carte lunches took an hour to come back, however was definitely worth the wait. If you happen to’re across the pool within the morning the workers take your lunch orders and most popular eating time upfront.
Summing up our keep
I’m past grateful that I noticed Jenny’s assessment of Koslanda. It was absolutely the spotlight of our time in Sri Lanka and is someplace I’d like to return to sooner or later.
After lower than 24 hours we’d prolonged our keep so we might take advantage of the unbelievable forest pavilions, meals and repair. This was one of many pricier locations we stayed so we had been hoping for as a lot. However even then, we felt we’d gotten excellent worth for cash.
On the morning we left the women and I got bouquets of untamed flowers from the property. I received a bit teary. I do know they do that for everybody, but it surely felt like a really private farewell.
In case you are on the lookout for a tree home lodge in Sri Lanka I can’t advocate Koslanda Dwelling Heritage sufficient.
If I’ve tempted you, verify charges and availability*.
Have a learn of our Sri Lanka household vacation itinerary to seek out out the place else we stayed.
Disclosure: this submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks marked with *. If you happen to click on on one in every of these and make a purchase order I’ll earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the worth you pay.