Nestled in a natural bay in the serene coastal town of Talalla, a 120-year-old beachfront colonial manor offers a unique getaway to the tranquil-seeker. Adopting its name from the Handunetti family, whose ancestral home it is, Handun Villas boasts the grand Dutch architecture of its time, offering guests an authentic experience of an ancient SriLankan walawwe with all the comforts of a holiday resort.
Handun Villas offers serenity and satisfaction, complete with every opportunity to indulge your taste buds in traditional Southern SriLankan food. Meals are lovingly prepared by chefs from the south who give every dish the stamp of home-grown authenticity.
One of the most sought-after dishes is the ambulthiyal, prepared with freshly caught tuna fish, a native to the southern seas. Infused with goraka paste and local spices, it is left to marinade overnight in clay pots. The final product, which is served with hot rice, makes your mouth water at the rich aroma and leaves your stomach begging for more.
A typical SriLankan breakfast menu would have a selection of heart-warming milk rice made with generous amounts of coconut milk, string-hoppers and pol rotti, along with traditional accompaniments like pol sambol and lunumiris.
Other firm favourites are the traditional rice and curry, prepared with fresh homegrown vegetables picked from the organic vegetable garden on the premises. These delectable curries are accompanied by traditional greens like gotukolasambol and kankunmallung, along with the sharp flavours of chutneys, Sinhala pickles and lunudehi. Crispy golden papadams add a layer of texture to round off a wholesome and flavoursome meal. A wide variety of grilled seafood and aromatic tuna steak are also available, and are among the popular selections on the menu.
A fitting end to the sumptuous meal would be a feast of curd slathered in treacle, a favourite Sri Lankan dessert. Tropical fresh fruits and juices offer a refreshing interlude and are available on order throughout the day.
Aside from enjoying the delectable meals on offer, you can also attend a master-class in preparing traditional Sri Lankan curries with the local chef in attendance, an entertaining pastime for the whole family.
Head down to Talalla on your next holiday, and enjoy a rejuvenating break at Handun Villas. Let your senses be indulged, as they take you back in time to experience the delightful tranquillity of traditional Sri Lankan living of the yesteryear.
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