An hour's drive from the International Airport, Horathapola is the perfect place for those wishing to avoid the hussle and bustle of Colombo. It also makes a good starting or end point for trips to Kandy, the Cultural Triangle and Wilpattu National Park.  The charming family-owned mansion, dating from the 1900s and at the heart of a vast coconut plantation, has been renovated into a luxurious heritage residence with stunning vistas.  The house and large landscaped gardens overlook a working estate and are approached by a frangipani-lined drive.   To the rear is a 50foot swimming pool surrounded by lawns and tall flowering trees. The comfortable accommodation consists of two spacious upper level master suites, a ground floor family suite and a large modern summer house in the garden. All the rooms, which open out onto wide verandahs or terraces, are light and airy and are furnished with antique four-poster beds and dark wooden furniture. The lovely polished dark wood floors contrast beautifully with the white walls and white furnishings, giving the rooms a calm and sophisticated feel. Each room has an en-suite bathroom, which is beautifully decked out, modern and very spacious. The food is lovingly prepared and immaculately presented and includes delicious Sri Lankan rice and curries, cooked in traditional clay pots over a firewood flame,  with many of the ingredients grown on the estate.  Breakfasts are a must - each day could be different, and unusual and tasty treats are served at all times of the day. Lunchtime snacks, sandwiches and pastas are available and guests are free to drop into the kitchens to make a cup of tea.   As well as relaxing in the gardens or by the pool, guests are encouraged to tour the estate with a member of the family as a guide or take a ride in a bullock cart.  There are also mountain bikes to be hired and a variety of visits and excursions around the country lanes to local villages and cultural and historical sites. Style Relaxing colonial mansion Air/Con No, but ceiling fans throughout Dining Yes Children Yes - family accommodation No. of Bedrooms 4 Pool Yes Activities Relaxing, swimming, estate visits, biking, visits to local villages and cultural and historical sites Price Range Please ask for details Find Similar Properties