sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

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Around Nuwara Eliya

oFerncliff BOUTiQUE HOTEl $$$
(%072 231 9443; 7/10 Wedderburn Rd; r incl break-
fast US180; W) This delightful place truly ticks
all the ‘unique’ boxes. Set in spacious grounds,
the colonial-era bungalow is straight out of a
period drama – even the sprucely turned out
staff hovering in the background play their
parts perfectly. It is filled with furnishings
that are not just reminiscent of 1899 but ac-
tually are from 1899.
Everything is perfectly maintained and
there’s barely a speck of dirt anywhere. All
up, this is a wonderful time capsule.

St Andrew’s Hotel HERiTAgE HOTEl $$$
(%222 3031; http://www.jetwinghotels.com; 10 St An-
drews Dr; r incl breakfast from US$135; W) North
of town on a beautifully groomed rise over-
looking the golf course, this Georgian manor
house was once a planters’ club. Today it’s the
most luxurious, and carefully renovated, of
the colonial-style hotels. Highlights include
a graffiti-stained cocktail bar, a library filled
with dusty books and a roaring log fire, a bil-
liards room and a decent restaurant.
The rooms themselves are a melange of the
old and the new. It’s worth splashing out on
a deluxe room which has more character and
better sound insulation. There’s an in-house
naturalist who leads excellent guided nature
walks in and around the hotel grounds. Talk-
ing of which, the gardens, with their terraced
lawns and white cast-iron furniture, seem
custom-designed for an afternoon cup of tea.

Grand Hotel HERiTAgE HOTEl $$$
(%222 2881; http://www.tangerinehotels.com; grand Hotel
Rd; s/d incl breakfast from US$201/214; aiW)
Right by the golf course, this vast mock-Tudor
edifice has immaculate lawns, a reading
lounge and a wood-panelled billiards room.
The rooms are spacious and comfortable, but
if it all feels a bit plastic and forced; that’s be-
cause much of it is – the original building was
considerably smaller than the current one.
Book online for frequent big discounts.

Hill Club HERiTAgE HOTEl $$$
(%222 2653; http://www.hillclubsrilanka.lk; 29 grand
Hotel Rd; r incl breakfast US$160-180; iW) The
stone-clad Hill Club is the most profound ev-
idence of Nuwara Eliya’s colonial past. The
rooms look as if they’ve had nothing done to
them since the last of the stiff-upper-lipped
British colonial types checked out. While
some people find the time-warp atmosphere
enchanting, others just see slightly shabby
and overpriced rooms.

Up until 1970 the club was reserved for

British males, and one of its bars remained

resolutely ‘men only’ until a few years ago.

It’s now open to Sri Lankans and, golly gosh

old chap, even ladies are allowed in. Tennis

courts are available to guests and nonguests,

and the lawns and gardens are immaculate.

Dinner at the Hill Club is a thoroughly retro

and unique experience. Temporary members

pay Rs 100 per day.

Teabush Hotel HiSTORiC HOTEl $$$

(%222 2345; http://www.teabush-hotel.com; 29 Haddon

Hill; s/d incl breakfast from US$110/120; W) Lots

of antique furniture pepper this 140-year-old

tea planter’s bungalow. The heritage charm of

the shared, public areas is tempered by slight-

ly more prosaic rooms, but the restaurant

views are superb. The cheaper rooms in the

old building have more character than those

in the new block.

Around Nuwara Eliya

Stashed away among the tea estates around

Nuwara Eliya are a couple of fabulous places

to stay. Ideally you’ll have your own transport

if staying at one of these.

oHeritance Tea Factory BOUTiQUE HOTEl $$$

(%555 5000; http://www.heritancehotels.com; Kandap-

ola; r incl breakfast from US$176; W) One of Sri

Lanka’s most original hotels, the Heritance,

which is built into and around a century

old tea factory, blurs the line between mu-

seum and luxury hotel. Much of the factory

machinery is still in situ and has been incor-

porated into the design of the hotel. Rooms

are stately and plush, activities numerous

and the service first rate.

There are two different resturants serving

some of the best meals in the hills. One of

HIGH TEA AT THE GRAND

For the best tea experience in town don’t

miss afternoon High Tea at the Grand

(%222 2881; http://www.tangerinehotels.com;

grand Hotel, grand Hotel Rd; Rs 800; h3.30-

6pm). At 3.30pm sharp, waiters in white

livery unveil a bulging buffet of perfectly

groomed triangular sandwiches and

dainty cakes. These are washed down

with a vast selection of different teas.

High tea is served either outside on the

lawn or in the semi-open-air tea lounge.