Zee's Garden - Upstairs Room Farm stay, B&B

Two lovely suites, nestled in the hills of Matale on a working spice and fruit farm, with breathtaking views, offering a calm, tranquil, relaxing setting. Great place for backpackers, lone travellers, families and anyone looking for a serene environment to kickback and de-stress. The unique farm setting allows our guests to experience an authentic sri lankan rural village atmosphere. Our quiet, tucked away space offers incredible views of the lush mountainous scenery and boasts a very private setting. Great for couples looking for an inexpensive holiday getaway or individual travellers looking to write, read and work. Our 17 acre farm offers great opportunities for hikes and long walks, great for avid nature enthusiasts or hikers! There are many varieties of wildlife on the farm, particularly endemic birds and giant squirrels. The grizzled giant squirrel is a large tree squirrel, found in the highlands of the Central and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka. Locally known as the Dandu Lena, this delightful creature is a common sight at the farm, it often frequents the mango tree in front of the house. Do watch out for them. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the species as near threatened due to habitat loss and hunting. The grizzled giant squirrel together with the elephant are the national animals of Sri Lanka. There are many variety of birds nestled in our trees which you could get a glimpse of, particularly if you wake up early, some of the birds that have been sighted are:blackheaded oriole, red backed woodpecker, yellow footed barbet, orange minivet and hanging parrot. You can also explore our variety of crops and fruit trees. The views from the upper part of the farm are wonderful and the journey is a pleasant hike. Please coordinate with Palitha (caretaker) and he will guide you up there if you wish to do so. We recommend that you wear covered footwear, such as sneakers or walking shoes (NOT slippers/sandals) for this hike. The cows are milked at 7.45am daily, you are welcome to watch or try your hand at it. Inquire from Palitha/Pushpa for further details. The farm has a well and it is equipped with two showers where you are welcome to have a fresh spring water shower in the well area if you wish. You can also experience a village style well bath, wearing the commonly worn Diyaredha (a sarong wrapped around your waist/chest), with well water being drawn out directly from the well. Please contact Puspha/Palitha who will assist you with the bath. There is a spacious bedroom and bath, and an adjoining veranda space. The veranda offers amazing views where you can enjoy a morning cup of tea, have your meals or write and get work done. There is a separate kitchenette for use (charge applies for use see house rules) . I live in Colombo and easily accesible on mobile phone throughout the day. I have two live-in employees on the premises who are the caretakers and have been working on the farm for the last 17 years. They will be available during your stay as the in-person point of contact. (Please see house rules for more info on the services offered by them). Matale is nestled in the central hills of Sri Lanka at an altitude of 546 metres, and has a bounty of nature’s abundance with captivating landscapes of fertile greenery and scattered mountain ranges decorated with blankets of cascading water. There are many sites in and around Matale, they are just a stone’s throw from the farm. - Kandy/Dambulla/Sigirya : These three historic cities, are better known as Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, and are all UNESCO World Heritage sites, each of them are just a hours plus drive from Matale town, and ideal for a day’s visit from the farm. Matale is accesible by train and bus (public transit in Sri Lanka). If you are making short trips to Matale town or Kandy/Dambulla/Sigirya Palitha can arrange to hire a tuk-tuk for you. Social Responsibility: In keeping with our policy of social responsibility, all our staff are from the surrounding villages, as a result they are not very fluent in English. To make communication easier, we have provided you with an English/Sinhala dictionary in your room. Both Palitha/Pushpa have a copy themselves. Smoking is allowed in the outdoor areas. We are LGBTQ friendly.