Idal Villa

Introduction

Idal Villa is a rare thing – a hill-country villa not built in the oft-seen old colonial style, but unashamedly contemporary. This low-slung villa nestles in a stunningly picturesque valley close to the village of Idalgashinna deep in the southern hills of Sri Lanka. Architect Chandana Muthucumarana has designed a villa with floor-to-ceiling windows at every opportunity, gaining full benefit from panoramic views of the Haputale mountains. Idal Vlla’s modernity is a counterpoint to the timeless beauty of its surroundings. Sit on the outside terrace or in the garden and watch the Ella train negotiate the steep, winding climb above you: Idalgashinna, the nearest station, 4 kms away, is unique in not being served by a road, such is the remoteness of the landscape. At night, the train’s lights light up the valley like fairy lights. The prospect of a beautiful sunrise will cause all but the sleepiest soul to stir early. Idal Villa benefits from having its owners on site - Darshi and Darshana Ratnayake are caring and attentive and the villa is proud to serve the community, employing staff from the neighbouring villages and taking much of its food either from local farmers or its own organic garden. Tea, naturally, comes from a nearby estate. This modern villa also offers a sharper price than some of the sought-after tea bungalows of traditional colonial style. An attractive option for those wishing to escape the busy hill-country town of Ella and stay somewhere more tranquil.

Accommodation

Idal Villa has five bedrooms of good standard and with en suite bathrooms with shower. Three bedrooms are in the single-storey main building and two are in a nearby cottage a little further down the slope. Rooms are spacious and airy and all have picture windows and views down the valley.

Facilities

A central area offers a lounge area with wooden flooring and easy chairs and attached dining room, both of which invite in lots of natural light. An excellent cook offers a mix of Eastern and Western cuisine and meals can be eaten either separately or on a communal dining table. On the warmest nights, you might also opt to spend the evening relaxing on the concrete seating by the fire pit in the garden; perhaps even request a BBQ as you sit back and gaze at a starlit sky. There is a small library and collection of board games. Don’t forget to pack your walking shoes because this a good landscape to get in some exercise and benefit from some physical and mental recuperation. The award-winning Pekoe trail – an ambitious walking trail that connects the whole of Sri Lanka’s hill country – has its 14th stage nearby. There are lots of other potential excursions, too, such as Bambarakanda and Divaluma Falls (Bambarakanda is the tallest in Sri Lanka, around five times the length of Niagara. Adisham Bungalow, the Devil’s Staircase and Pilkington point, an excellent viewpoint, are all nearby. There is free secured parking, free wi-fi, flat-screen cable TV in the public area (not in the bedrooms),spring water via a tube well and full off-grid capability. Rooms are heated to stave off the chilly nights.

Why we like it

The romantics among us love to watch the train meandering through the hills at night at night (a true highlight),but the more practical will also value the presence on site of owners who ensure this off-the-beaten track property is well run.

Location

Idal Villa lies down a winding, narrow road just off the road from Haputale to Horton Plains (45 min away). A highly attractive and less-travelled spot in the Southern Highlands. It is a 4km walk down from Idalagashinna train station which is unique as it does not actually have any roads going to it!