The Notary's House

Introduction

The Notary’s House is a wonderful property which bordering a small lake in the quiet village of Pannala, about 40 minutes from Sri Lanka's international airport. Although the architecture looks modern at the outset, step in through the doors to a wonderfully evocative Sri Lankan villa with the traditional flavour of the country at its core. The Notary's House (which as the name suggests once belonged to the area's notary) is more than just sprinkled with antique furniture and collectibles. Even the reception is an old-style Post Office counter with metal bars that really takes one back in time. This impeccably-managed property is set on an attractive six-acre plot which also includes an organic farm that is slowly being developed. A spacious boutique hotel, full of grace, that is great for all types of travellers, whether you have kids to entertain or are looking for a quiet spot to recover from a long flight.

Accommodation

The Notary’s House has six comfortable rooms scattered throughout the main building. Each room has either balcony or terrace and is adorned with local furniture which adds much character and contains beautiful Batik wall hangings, colourful carpets and linen. The air-conditioned rooms have high ceilings ensuring a cool space and also have fans. The rooms are light enough for the avid readers among us. Each room has tea/coffee making facility and a safe. Each ensuite bathroom is fairly large and is equipped with h/w shower and granite sink top. There is excellent Wi-Fi throughout the property. No TVs.

Standard rooms: There are 3 Standard rooms, two of which are doubles and the remaining one, a twin-bedded space. All three rooms have a private balcony overlooking the garden.

Deluxe rooms: The 3 Deluxe rooms are spacious and can hold an extra single bed as well as a baby cot.

One Deluxe room interconnects with a Standard twin room which works well for a family.

Facilities

The Notary’s House is a great base for plenty of walking and exploring. There is a 7.5 km cycling route which allows you to enjoy the nature and also do a spot of bird watching (the lake ensures this is highly rewarding, although it does sometimes dry up around August). Alternatively you can also take a tuk ride along the same trail. Kids are encouraged to join in as they even have bicycles for 4-year-olds.

Children are also welcome to play cricket, rugby or tennis on the expansive lawn. The swimming pool is also a great place to spend some time. The Notary’s House can also arrange cooking experiences on request.

The large pavilion in the garden is ideal for relaxing or even to enjoy any of your meals, which can also be arranged in the main building or in the garden overlooking the lake. There are also several other attractive seating areas. Sri Lankan curry is the evening dish of choice but the chef is able to cater to Western cuisine preferences or local, based on client requests.

Why We Like It

This wonderful colonial-style property works as an airport stop and has an enchanting atmosphere and lake views

Location

The Notary’s House is about 40 minutes from the airport and is a great first or last stop for travellers, especially those heading to or from the cultural triangle. Surrounded by quiet village life in Makandura, your journey from Colombo would take about one-and-a-half hours while Sigiriya is about three hours.