The Kandy House
Old-world Kandyan aristocracy meets tasteful restoration. Antique furniture, four-poster beds, claw-foot tubs, parquet floors. No TVs, no minibars. The veranda and courtyard are the main entertainment. Evenings come with the sound of monks chanting from a nearby monastery and crickets in the garden.
Two rooms have no air conditioning — if that matters, specify when booking
Why It Matters
Sri Lanka's first upscale boutique hotel in the country's interior, housed in a genuine 1804 Kandyan manor house. All nine rooms are named after Sri Lankan butterflies. The infinity pool overlooking rice paddies is among the most memorable in the country. Each guest gets their own dedicated personal butler.
Built in 1804 by Ratwatte Adigar, the last Chief Minister of the Kandyan Kingdom, this ancestral manor house spent two centuries as a private aristocratic residence before opening as Sri Lanka's first upscale boutique hotel in 2005. There are just nine rooms, all inside the original manor house — no separate guest blocks, no modern annexes. The whitewashed walls, arched colonnades, antique ebony furniture, and an open-air central courtyard are the real deal. And the infinity pool, tucked deep in the garden behind tall palms and banana trees with rice paddy fields stretching beyond — that's something you'll remember.
Where You'll Stay
9 room types available
Deluxe Room – Cornelian
Deluxe Room around the central two-storey courtyard. Elegantly furnished with antique pieces, high ceilings, and modern bathroom. Named after a Sri Lankan butterfly.
Deluxe Room – Lime Butterfly
Fifth of the Deluxe Rooms around the central courtyard. Period-style furnishings, four-poster bed with mosquito net, spacious bathroom. Named after the Lime Butterfly indigenous to Sri Lanka.
Deluxe Room – Monkey Puzzle
Deluxe Room that can adjoin the Black Rajah Ultra Room for families. Set around the central courtyard. Classic period furnishings with modern bathroom.
Deluxe Room – Pioneer
One of five Deluxe Rooms positioned around the central courtyard. High ceilings, antique furniture, en-suite bathroom. Named after a Sri Lankan butterfly species.
Deluxe Room – Sunbeam
One of five Deluxe Rooms set around the property's two-storey central courtyard. Slightly smaller than the Ultra Rooms but still beautifully furnished with high ceilings, four-poster bed, and spacious bathroom with tub and large open shower. Vibrant fabrics add colour.
Ultra Room – Black Rajah
One of four Ultra Rooms with private veranda. The Black Rajah can also be combined with the adjacent Monkey Puzzle Deluxe Room to create a garden suite arrangement ideal for families with children over 12.
Ultra Room – Indian Admiral
One of four Ultra Rooms opening onto the main veranda. Spacious by the property's standard, with antique furniture, mosquito-net-strung four-poster bed, and a large bathroom with tub and shower.
Ultra Room – Peacock Royal
One of the four spacious Ultra Rooms with veranda access. Guests in the Peacock Royal suite specifically mention the stunning decor and private garden with a swing. Elegant period fittings throughout.
Ultra Room – Red Spot Duke
One of four larger Ultra Rooms opening directly onto the private veranda. Named after a Sri Lankan butterfly. Perfect for sitting with morning tea as birds and butterflies come and go. Four-poster bed, claw-foot tub, parquet flooring. The veranda is the room's best feature.
The Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Free bikes available to explore the countryside, ride through the village, and cycle out to the nearby paddy fields and Degaldoruwa temple.
The entire estate can be booked exclusively for private groups, family celebrations, or events — all 9 rooms.
The property's showpiece pool is landscaped into the hillside, surrounded by tall palms and banana trees, overlooking neighbouring rice paddy fields. Cushioned teak sun loungers. Arguably the most stunning hotel pool in the Kandy region.
A curated in-house library for guests. Since there are no TVs in rooms, this is one of the primary evening options alongside the bar and veranda.
Butler-assisted arrangements for tuk-tuk excursions to the Temple of the Tooth, Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, Degaldoruwa Raja Maha Viharaya (20-minute walk), and the Cultural Triangle.
Yoga sessions arranged on request by your personal butler, set up on the spa deck with mats provided.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Free WiFi in public areas of the property. No in-room WiFi — this is intentional, part of the hotel's no-TV, no-minibar policy.
Cooked-to-order breakfast included. Can be served on private terrace, veranda, lawn, or by the pool.
Children under 12 are not accepted. Guests 12 and above welcome.
Outdoor hillside infinity pool overlooking rice paddy fields, surrounded by tropical jungle. Pool towels provided.
Seven of nine rooms are air-conditioned. Two rooms rely on ceiling fans and the hill country breeze — still comfortable.
Intentional — rooms have no TV, no minibar. The estate's courtyards, veranda, bar, library and pool are the entertainment.
Each of the nine rooms is assigned a dedicated personal butler for the duration of the stay.
Room service available, though not 24-hour.
Complimentary bicycle hire for guests to explore the countryside.
BUILD YOUR THE KANDY HOUSE PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning