Set on a 10-acre tea estate perched high above Koggala Lake, Kahanda Kanda is a spectacular inland villa, which is also now sold by-the-suite as an exclusive Boutique Hotel.  The collaboration of the owner, a leading English interior designer, and the architect, an Australian whose credits include several highly acclaimed private houses, has produced a villa that stands alone in Sri Lanka in terms of ethnic luxury and style. A dramatic 80 metre saffron wall runs along the length of the property and acts as a divider between views across Koggala Lake from those across the tea plantation and jungle.  Glassless windows in the wall provide frames for the jungle beyond and accentuate the creative flare that has conceived this villa. Accommodation is offered in terraced stand-alone pavilions whilst the living and dining areas are also housed in their own pavilions. There are large lily ponds on either side of the sitting pavilion and a floating stepping-stone path provides access to the dining pavilion.

Accommodation
Kahanda Kanda has five double bedrooms divided into four freestanding pavilions offering different views.  The master bedroom has a private garden with views across jungle and the lake; two bedrooms have private terraces overlooking the tea estate; the fourth bedroom enjoys the privacy of a landscape garden flooded with fragrant flowers and plants. All have ensuite bathrooms, some with outdoor showers that gazes upto the sky.

Facilities
Perched along the ridge adjacent to the sitting room pavilion is an open sided dining pavilion. A teak table set for ten that can be divided to accommodate smaller parties lies in the centre. A 21-by-9 metre pool with a dark green polished cement finish allows the energetic to do lengths and the others to simply float around. On one side is an infinity edge that runs off into views of Koggala Lake and the jungle. A cascade at the deep end falls from a carved opening in the end wall.

Excursions
The serene Koggala Lake and the surrounding islands are home to numerous species of birds and a boat ride early morning or at sunset is a wonderful experience.  About 5 km’s drive in a tuk-tuk lies one of the worlds top 10 beaches at Unawatuna with several beachside bars and restaurants.  The beautiful beaches of Thalpe, Mirissa, Weligama are all nearby.  The villa is situated about 9 km’s from the historic 300-year-old Galle Dutch Fort, a UNESCO protected World Heritage site.