Venturing into the heart of Sri Lanka’s highlands, Kandy unfolded like a vivid tapestry, woven with threads of its colonial past and the lush, green vibrancy of its famous tea plantations.
The base was the W15 Hanthana Estates, a property that doesn’t just offer guests a stay – it’s a plunge into a bygone era. This place is pure, distilled colonial nostalgia, packaged within the walls of a luxurious, five-star estate, echoing the days when estate owners, known as “Planters”, shaped the fortunes of this island.
Stepping into W15 Hanthana is like walking into a sepia-toned photograph, where the air is crisp, and every corner tells a story of opulence and old-world charm. From the architecture to the ambience, it’s a reverent nod to its colonial roots, yet equipped with the trappings of modern luxury.
The estate offers a variety of experiences that blend the rugged natural beauty of the area with its storied past. There are hikes and 4×4 trails winding through the expansive property, and in a stroke of sheer brilliance, they set up a bivouac in the middle of the jungle.
There, amidst the chirping of crickets and the rustle of the trees, I sipped on Colombo Gin – a local spirit that captures the essence of Sri Lanka in a bottle. Paired with tonic, it brought to mind the old English days of sundowners and tales of the Raj.
Kandy is a city draped over hills and valleys, where flat lands are rare, but cricket grounds are not – this is Sri Lanka, after all, where cricket is less sport than religion. The weather here carries a coolness that mingles with the scent of pine mixed with local flora, creating a climate that feels almost temperate yet distinctly tropical.
Source: https://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/Mystical-journey-through-Kandy-s-colonial-vestiges/27-770940
Sri Lanka Travel Feneteko