Book direct with Ministry of Villas for the best price and to receive our complimentary concierge service. Select your dates below to reserve HALALA KANDA
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Description
Halala Kanda Overview
Every villa has a story behind it, but few can boast such a rich a history as Halala Kanda. Originally built in 1912, this grand estate was first built by the son of a wealthy plantation owner as a token of his love for his young bride. In the following decades, the estate fell into disarray and was overtaken by the jungle – until it was rediscovered in 2010. The new owners meticulously restored and reinvented the property and the transformation is nothing short of jaw-dropping.
What were once crumbling ruins overtaken by the tropics have now become a dazzling monochrome villa filled with exquisitely curated arts and antiques. Occupying a hilltop, the estate is surrounded by rice fields and jungle and provides easy access to the area’s beautiful beaches and the iconic Galle Fort. Halala Kanda offers five beautifully appointed bedrooms and is truly one of the most stylish stays in Sri Lanka.
Sleeps: 10 guests (12 max)
Built: 1912
Features
- Air conditioned bedrooms
- Kitchen
- Private pool
- Free Wi-Fi access
- In-room safe
- Baby cot
- High chair
Inclusions
- Breakfast daily
- Welcome drink on arrival
- Villa manager
- Chef
- Housekeepers
- Butlers
- Security guards
Extras
- Extra bed
- Priced menu
- Groceries at cost
- Spa services
Hot Deals
Last Minute & Early Bird Bookings
Contact our Villa Specialists to find out if your dates are eligible for our Last Minute and Early Bird discounts.
Halala Kanda Living
To witness Halala Kanda’s transformation from crumbling ruins hidden in the jungle into a luminous modern day mansion will take your breath away. Unlike many villas in Sri Lanka where dark wood and ornate patterns reign supreme, this elegant villa relies on fresh monochrome tones which provide the perfect backdrop for the curated art and antiques housed in the villa.
Living Room
The villa’s colonial inspired architecture offers multiple quiet corners to relax in. Guests are welcomed to the estate in the entrance hall, a grand space with a 20-metre high ceiling and a first taste of the villa’s spectacular collection of art, antiques and curios. Just to the side of the entrance hall, the aptly named Room of Curiosities offers an inspiring setting for curling up with a good book.
Dining Room
An entertainer’s dream, the villa’s dining pavilion follows the estate’s monochrome colour palette and offers enough room for 20 guests to dine around the long dining table.
Garden
Halala Kanda is set amidst two acres of gardens which were once completely overtaken by the jungle. Once the shrubbery was cleared, the owners discovered neatly planted lines of coconut trees, cashew nuts, mangosteen and mango trees which have since been complemented by coffee and tea, pineapple and citrus groves, pepper and cinnamon vines along with a spice and vegetable garden. The gardens have been further elevated by the addition of a stunning 23-metre long salt water pool which looks over the surrounding paddies and jungle and out to the coastline. The poolside “Folly” is an elegant place to enjoy the shade – the perfect space for getting lost in conversation or even enjoying a spot of yoga.
Halala Kanda Bedrooms
Halala Kanda has five bedrooms, all fitted with French doors, over-head fans and air-conditioning. There are two veranda suites with garden access, two luxury suites with private walled gardens and one suite opens up to the lounge area on the terrace.
Bedroom 1
The first bedroom is furnished with a king-sized bed and adjoined by an ensuite bathroom with a shower.
2 Guests
1 King Bed
Bathroom (Shower)
Bedroom 2
The second bedroom is also equipped with a king-sized bed. The ensuite bathroom features a shower.
2 Guests
1 King Bed
Bathroom (Shower)
Bedroom 3
The third bedroom features a king-sized bed and an ensuite bathroom with a shower.
2 Guests
1 King Bed
Bathroom (Shower)
Bedroom 4
The fourth bedroom has a twin bed set up and can be converted to a king-sized bed if needed and an ensuite bathroom with a shower.
2 Guests
1 King Bed or 2 Single Beds
Bathroom (Shower)
Bedroom 5
The fifth bedroom features a twin bed set up and can be converted to a king-sized bed if required. There is no ensuite bathroom, but a bathroom with a shower is located close by.
2 Guests
1 King Bed or 2 Single Beds
Shared Bathroom (Shower)
Halala Kanda Staff
Your stay in Halala Kanda is made enjoyable by the professional staff. Halala Kanda’s staff have been professionally trained and will do their utmost to please with their warm and friendly hospitality.
Villa Manager
Halala Kanda’s experienced and knowledgeable manager is responsible for the overall operation of the villa. The villa manager will oversee and coordinate the staff and property and assist you during your stay.
Housekeeping
You didn’t think you would be expected to clean while enjoying time off did you? All of our villas include housekeeping to tidy up the villa, arrange the laundry services, wash up and simply make sure you don’t lift a finger whilst on holiday with the family.
Butlers
Butlers are on hand every day to assist with serving during meal times and attend to other guest requirements throughout your stay.
Chef
The villa’s skilled private chef will happily prepare anything from the Western, Asian, vegetarian and children’s suggestion menus, as well as discuss special requests and dietary requirements.
Security
It’s nice to know you have security and many villas will have full-time guards or night time security available. Additional security can also be arranged if the villa doesn’t include any in the daily rate.
Location
Halala Kanda is located in the village of Welipitya in Weligama, Sri Lanka. The villa occupies a serene hilltop hugged by verdant rice paddies and lush jungle – one can only imagine how magical the setting felt when the owners discovered the estate’s rambling ruins all those years ago. From the villa, it’s a 15-minute tuk-tuk ride to the town of Weligama and the beautiful beach of the same name. The UNESCO protected Galle Fort is about 40 minutes away by car and the famous Virgin White Tea Plantation is about 25 minutes away.
Weligama Travel Guide
Weligama is a sleepy fishing village featuring the perfect combination of traditional lifestyle and reasonable development. Located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Weligama attracts active travellers, families and couples to indulge in the laid-back atmosphere of this splendid coastal village.
Bookings
Click on the ‘Reserve’ button to view live rates and availability for your desired dates. To book click on ‘Reserve Now’ and follow the steps. Ministry of Villas accepts Visa, MasterCard, Amex, PayPal or bank transfer. Once your payment has been processed, we will send you a booking confirmation via email.
Need to Know
- Minimum stay: Low Season: 2 nights, High Season: 5 nights, Peak Season: 5 nights
- Our rates include Government tax and services. Other websites add this on at the end of the booking!
- We offer the best rates online and offer a price guarantee to prove it!
- A deposit of 50% of the total amount must be paid at the time of booking
- Final payment is required 60 days prior to arrival
- Check-in time: 3pm – check-out time: 11am
- Payment can be settled by credit card or PayPal (3% payment processing fee)
- Payment can be settled by bank transfer in your preferred currency (AUD / EUR / GBP / JPY / NZD / SGD / USD)
- Read our full terms and conditions
Hannah B –
Highly recommend!
My husband and I had the pleasure of staying for a long weekend. Halala Kanda is stunning and beautifully renovated. Great size for a family or a groups of friends – there were seven of us and it still felt spacious. Despite the temptation to travel the short distance into Weligama to explore, I was quite content to spend my days by the pool! And our meals were delicious so there was no need to venture out. Staff were attentive and friendly. And the beds… Well, it was like sleeping on a cloud! Most definitely worthy of 5 stars!
TripAdvisor Reviewed December 22, 2022
Stayed in December 2022
Bloctober –
Absolute Perfection
I stayed at Halala Kanda for 5 blissful nights in July 2022. This is the second time I’ve visited Halala Kanda. Halala Kanda is a beautifully restored tea plantation and is absolute perfection – luxury, service, history, well located, a sanctuary. Halala Kanda sleeps 12 in palatial luxury – huge bedrooms and bathrooms, beautifully appointed. It is an ideal base for touring the south of Sri Lanka. Lasitha and the team looked after us beautifully – cooking amazing food and ensuring that our stay at Halala Kanda and our touring around Welligama and Galle were seamless. I will be back… I can’t recommend Halala Kanda more highly.
TripAdvisor Reviewed August 1, 2022
Stayed in July 2022
Sasha Khalit –
The Perfect Holiday for Family and Friends
A perfect Gem. It was the perfect holiday for the family as well as for our friends. Halala Kanda had a WOW character and the children can’t get enough. We were greeted with the most hospitable and amazing staff, incredible menu selection as well as the perfect ambiance and greenery that surrounds the villa. The staffs were extremely wonderful and such a joy to be with. All of them made all of our children enjoy every moment in the villa; from climbing the coconut tree to making cinnamons, visiting the temples, playing with them, and much more. The kids definitely miss this place as well as everyone that’s there and we will definitely come back again. A BIG Thank you to everyone in Halala Kanda for making our family holiday spectacular and we hope to see you all soon!
TripAdvisor Reviewed July 19, 2022
Stayed in July 2022
JSL_12 –
A beautiful renovation of a wonderful old house
Halala Kanda is a truly lovely place to stay . We had delicious food and lots of fun and enjoyed every minute. A stunning pool and willing, cheerful staff all contributed to a great stay. The chef created an Indian dinner with authentic flavours and his Rice and Curry was outstanding . He also made an old fashioned rice pudding to soothe the soul. Halala Kanda is a great party house with marvellous sitting and dining spaces and the bedrooms are super stylish with greta bathrooms Highly recommended and very convenient for Weligama ,Galle and Colombo
TripAdvisor Reviewed April 20, 2022
Stayed in April 2022
Dubbiek –
Style and Grace
As soon as you arrive at this fabulous property you know you are going to be very happy indeed. It’s an oasis of peace and tranquility, beautifully decorated with great style and renovated with old school charm and a real sensitivity for the house’s history. The staff, under Denver’s expert management, are on hand to ensure that you’re properly looked after, and chef Lasitha cooked us the most exquisite Sri Lankan and Indian dishes throughout our week long stay. Just lying by the gorgeous pool is the perfect way to relax in this blissful setting. Highly recommended.
TripAdvisor Reviewed March 12, 2022
Stayed in March 2022
MissLJGordon –
Bliss, bliss, bliss
A unique private home set back in the hills of Weligama. A superb retreat spent with a great group of friends. A large colonial estate, magnificent rooms, pool, and dining area.. in addition to small private decadent spaces to hide and unwind. The food was exceptional, a blend of local fare and fine dining – catered for vegans, gf, and even the most unusual appetites. A private driver can get you to excellent surfing beaches, or Galle, in and around 20mins. I can not recommend this place highly enough. Bring your nearest and dearests to create excellent holiday vibes 👍👍👍
TripAdvisor Reviewed December 9, 2019
Stayed in December 2019
colderik –
Tranquil luxury
We spent three wonderful days and nights at Halala Kanda in November, enjoying it’s luxury, tranquility and excellent service in equal measure. Halala Kanda has a refined but welcoming grandeur capturing a sense of earlier times yet providing a contemporary, intimate and welcoming experience. The rooms are spacious but simple, with extraordinarily comfortable beds and bathrooms. The colonnaded courtyard garden and expansive outdoor dining area make the property ideal for a group or family. The large pool, set slightly away from the main building, is superb. The staff were attentive, courteous and extremely efficient. And the food was delicious. We left feeling wonderfully refreshed and with the happiest memories of a wonderful stay. Highly recommended.
TripAdvisor Reviewed September 1, 2019
Stayed in August 2019
annam1949 –
Absolutely fabulous!
An extended family of 8, we stayed at Halala Kanda for 5 nights, and what a fun and relaxing experience it was. The villa is a stylishly restored plantation house beautifully and luxuriously furnished; it has a large pool and various private sitting spaces ideal for quiet times. The property produces tea, cashews, coconuts, and other produce, some of which were used by our chef, Lasitha, who was a gem and served us top food from his kitchen; he was also ably supported by the property’s staff. Seamless transport was arranged for us – tuk-tuks to nearby Welligama, vans to Galle, and Colombo airport. Highly recommended for friends or for family groups who love luxury in serene surroundings. We hope to return.
TripAdvisor Reviewed September 6, 2019
Stayed in August 2019
44Mimy –
Luxury and serenity at once!
This was our first time staying at Halala Kanda and we were absolutely ‘Wowed’! The villa is stunningly restored, the pool perfect and bedrooms and bedding the height of luxury. We loved the gardens full of tea bushes, cashew trees, and cinnamon. The views over the surrounding valley were blissful and the distant sounds of the Buddhist temple were literally heavenly. The staff was perfect – not too intrusive, but there as and when we needed them. The food – especially the breakfasts was incredible!
TripAdvisor Reviewed November 11, 2018
Stayed in November 2018
Newingtongreenguy –
Picture perfect villa
We loved our stay at Halala Kanda. From the luxurious interiors to welcoming staff, we had a fabulous stay with friends. We had plans to visit nearby Weligama beach for surf lessons but the pool was too gorgeous to leave. We liked the menu options too with the chef sitting down to talk through what we fancied each morning. The Rice and curry lunch was by far the best we had on the entire trip! Highly recommended for family or friends – we’ll be back!
TripAdvisor Reviewed October 1, 2018
Stayed in October 2018