Manor House : A Colonial Beauty
The Western influences introduced during the colonial times are still quite evident in the present-day Sri Lanka. Although the Sri Lankan heritage and culture speaks a lot about the times of ancient rulers, kingdoms and how traditions evolved, there is that touch of colonialism which has influenced the way of life. Few buildings that are located around Sri Lanka bring back memories of the Dutch rulers. Manor House, a colonial masterpiece located in Nugawela, Kandy is one such example.
Currently restored as a boutique hotel, Manor House dates back to 1880 where initially it served as the Governor’s house. The gates open to a beautiful garden with crotons and other flowers illuminating the garden with vibrant hues. Starting with a cosy verandah guests are guided in to a lavish space which serves as the lobby. What is quite interesting about the lobby is that its roof is fully copper-plated which adds more value to this brilliant masterpiece. In order to restore its colonial look, antique furniture and ornaments adorn the entire hotel. The lobby has a seating capacity of up to 15 people, but during a function such as a wedding or a party up to 40 people can be accommodated there.
Adjoining the lobby is the dining area and this too is adorned with antique furniture sets and ancient paintings which have been there during the time of its first governor. There is also a list of presidents and prime ministers who visited the house during the times of the previous governors. Guests are served authentic Sri Lankan cuisine and upon their request a few western dishes such as spaghetti are also being served.
When moving towards the interior, guests also have the option of making their own tea or coffee free of charge and adjoining the tea/coffee dispenser is a cabinet full of souvenirs which the guests can purchase. Inside the building there is a mini courtyard which is a favourite among honeymooners. In an adjoining room, a snooker table also awaits snooker enthusiasts who are interested to play a game to kill their boredom.
Manor House offers 10 rooms that fit in to a few categories. These include 5 standard rooms, 2 tower rooms, 1 suite and 2 deluxe suites. Each room is named after a traditional flower such as Erabadu, Rathu Nelum etc and each one of it has a distinct design, colour and style. Each room has modern amenities such as a modern bathroom, marble or polished teakwood floors, armoires, hot water geysers, luxury toiletries and direct dial telephones. The tower rooms have a mini staircase leading to the bedroom and they are located at the top of the hotel giving a bird’s eye view of the surroundings.
Once outside the Manor House one can feel the fresh Kandy breeze coming in from all four corners of the premises. On the East side of the hotel, a medium sized swimming pool awaits guests who would like to take a plunge. The garden is a popular location for open-air functions. Just behind the Manor house one could find the newly opened up spa. It has been built in such a way so as to give a soothing experience to the guests. The spa includes a sauna and Jacuzzi. In addition to that a dry sauna facility is also offered to guests where they have to sit inside a clay-coated kiln along with ayurvedic ingredients placed around them. Once the door is closed, the kiln is heated for heating therapy. The spa is operated under the guidance of experts.
In addition to these facilities, a jogging track is also included for fitness freaks who would like to go on a morning or an evening jog.
Kandy is a city that needs no introduction. The land of the Tooth Relic is an interesting place to be in. While on your vacation at Manor House one will never forget to pay a visit to the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic. In addition to that you can also visit the Polgolla dam which is only twenty minutes away. A visit to the Peradeniya Gardens and a walk along the Kandy Lake are some other interesting items you could add to your bucket list.
By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
Photographs by Kushan Pathiraja
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