For a rare glimpse at a bygone time when the hills were home to the gentleman planter and his family, to experience a planter’s life during the days of the colonial plantation era, the Lynford Bungalow is idyllic.
It is an original heritage tea plantation bungalow built by an intrepid Scottish planter by the name of William Spalding, which sits deep in the heart of the Bogawantalawa region within the Loinorn Plantation. The property has been renovated and lovingly restored to its former glory.
The holiday experience starts on the drive up to the hills as you witness the verdant majesty of the countryside, setting the mood for your stay as your path takes on an old-world tone, as you delve further into the plantation scheme, riding on the original cart roads that make up the transportation network to the bungalow. As you edge closer to the bungalow, you enter through historic gates and up a stately drive past manicured lawns to the entrance.
Here, you would be greeted by our experienced bungalow staff who will attend to your every need during your stay. After welcome drinks and a brief orientation, you are shown to your rooms. The bungalow comprises four spacious bedrooms with different themes, ranging from rustic intimate to neo-minimalist
Common areas
The bungalow has many common areas furnished with genuine antiques reflecting various periods in its life.
The Morning Room with a fireplace is a space which allows the sun’s rays to shine through and allows you to survey the outside surroundings. Here, the planters of yesteryear would enjoy their morning tea and catch up on the news. Now, guests can partake in the same.
The Evening Room, a living space with a fireplace and a genuine vintage record player and stereo set, is the perfect place to unwind after dinner with soothing tunes and a good scotch in hand as a fire crackles, keeping everyone warm and cozy. Play board games, chat, sing your favorite songs: the choice is yours. The bungalow has a single central Dining Room where all three main meals are served. Guests are encouraged to inform staff ahead of time when they would wish to sit for meals. The dining team will ensure prompt preparation of meals and sound a bell when the meals are ready.
The property has a large well maintained garden with sprawling lawns and its own vegetable garden supplementing the bungalow menus. The lower lawn has facilities for games such as cricket, croquet, badminton, etc. and also the well curated 9 hole mini golf course. At the end of the lawn is a natural running water pool. In addition a beautiful summer hut and an area for barbecue or bon fires.
Journey into the hills
The experience begins now:
The trip up to the hills is just as exciting as the stay. The journey is a long one - it can take up to 4 hours, and it is preferable to leave early morning prior to traffic.
On your way up, the scenery will change from the city scape to the rolling verdant hills, getting you into the mood for a stay in the serene upper country of Sri Lanka. Notable stops on the way include the Warleigh Church, which overlooks the beautiful reservoir down below. A break along the journey is recommended to stretch one’s legs and grab a steaming mug of tea amidst the hills.
As you make your way closer to Lynford Bungalow, the scenery will change from distant hills to up-close fields within the tea plantations. The roads narrow as you head off the main route and turn into dirt roads – the original cart ways set up by plantations many moons ago.