Overview
Kahanda Kanda (or Yellow Moon Lodge) is a 10acre working tea estate perched high above Koggala Lake with stunning views across the lake and jungle. The collaboration of the English designer/owner and a talented Australian architect has produced a villa of outstanding ethnic luxury and style.
Accommodation is arranged in terraced, stand alone, en -suite pavillions, whilst living and dining takes place in separate pavillions.
To simply 'sit and stare', choose the elegant sitting pavillion with panoramic views across the lake,the estate and the jungle beyond. The 'room' is stylishly and comfortably furnished in the Asian manner. An open platform at one end allows you to sit or lie in supreme comfort, lulled by the roar of the distant Indian Ocean and refreshed by the cool air wafting over the lily ponds on either side. A floating stepping-stone path leads from here across to the dining pavillion.
A generous 21x9m pool enables the energetic to work off an indulgent lunch, whilst others simply float around. At the deepest end a cascade falls from the carved wall above, flowing across the pool to its infinity edge and seeming to flow beyond to Koggala Lake in the distance.
Rooms
The villa sleeps 20 in 10 double bedrooms, divided between 4 free-standing pavillions. All the rooms have ensuite bathrooms. The Master bedroom has a private garden and floor to ceiling shutters facing south, overlooking the jungle and the lake. There are 2 private bathrooms adjoining this suite, each with an outdoor shower set in a private terraced garden.
Two pavillions have private terraces overlooking the tea estate, and a further two bedrooms enjoy a private landscaped garden luxuriously set with fragrant flowers and plants. These bathrooms have twin showers.
Dubu , this unique house is ideal for hineymooners
Dining
Adjacent to the sitting pavillion is the open-sided dining pavillion, where a central teak table set for 10 can be divided to accommodate smaller parties. Stunning views are accessed all around and add greatly to the enjoyment of the delicious food.
Two chefs and three further staff are in residence to pamper you. Head chef speaks fluent English and is equally at ease with Sri Lankan, Thai or western menus. Typically breakfast will consist of local delicacies, abundant fruit, freshly baked bread, local organic jams and all the tea and coffee you can drink.
Discuss all your other meals on a day to day or weekly basis and chef will organise the buying of fresh produce and prepare it to your liking. Chef will be happy to prepare a picnic for you to take on a day's exploring.
If you fancy a change of scenery, Galle Fort is full of swanky cosmopolitan restaurants and hotels with a busy ex-pat. social scene. New year is quite a party!.
Things to do & local tips
Galle fort is just 9kms away. Enjoy the 300yr old World Heritage Site. Join the evening parade to watch the sunset, explore the nooks and crannies of the bustling streets.
Galle International Cricket Pitch - rejoicing in its renaissance following the Tsunami damage.
Unawatuna beach, though narrow, offers a pleasant walk along the penninsula to the Buddhist temple.
P.A.D.I. diving courses can be arranged in this area and snorkelling in Unawatuna's reef is quite spectacular
About 20mins drive away is Handunugoda tea /rubber/cinnamon estate if you wish to see the workings of an estate, although Kahanda Kanda is surrounded by tea fields.
Further afield but achievable in a day trip are Uda Walawe and Yala National safari Parks. If you can stay away the previous night we would highly recommend the morning safari.