Tropical Beach Garden Villa (Dodanduwa)

“Tropical Beach Garden Villa" is a colonial (Victorian) villa built in 1882 and renovated with today’s western standards of comfort with rustic furniture, a marine/maritime theme and a plunge pool, located on a coconut plantation with own access to a wild and secluded beach. Inspiring for meditation, painting, writing, chilling out, it can also be your base for a more energetic or sport oriented vacation, or for you to discover the local culture, traditions and history of the area. The villa is wheel-chair friendly and all rooms have en suite bathrooms, but only one room has a bathroom accessible by wheelchair. Children are welcome. Single beds (2m long/1 m wide) are compatible to make a perfect 2m/2m double bed. An iron and ironing board are available. A child's cot is also available. Bedroom facilities: Free Wi-Fi, new spring mattresses, linen, extra pillows, ceiling fan, air-con (optional), pop-up mosquito net, mini fridge, safe deposit box, electric kettle and cups with complimentary tea/coffee, wardrobe with lots of hangers, foldable luggage rack. Bathroom Facilities: Hot/cold water with rain shower head, wall fan, wall hairdryer, retractable clothes line, towels, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, conditioner. Guests can access a secluded white sand beach, a coconut plantation, a lawn garden, two verandahs, a common plunge pool in an inner courtyard outside the bedroom. Free luggage storage. Possibility of free basic sleeping accommodation for your local driver, if needed. Very helpful owners live on the premises for guests' privacy and security. Can help with many things, e.g. tips for visiting nearby sights, train/bus timetables, pick up from nearby train or bus station, bicycle, scooter or car rental (self-drive or with driver), list of recommended restaurants. Languages spoken on the premises: English, French and Sinhala. THINGS TO DO or VISIT NEARBY: Open-air markets held every Saturday and Sunday (within 5 km). Daily fish market (500 m from villa). Fishing harbor and village with traditional boats (within 500 m). Great photo ops and possibility to go fishing with the locals. Government owned choir rope and mat factory (within 300 m). Kayaking/boating on Dodanduwa/Ratgama’s beautiful huge tropical lake/lagoon/river system (salt/fresh water mix) connecting to the sea (500 m from house), home to many ancient Buddhist temples, many types of birds, egrets roosting in the trees, mongooses, civet cats, hares, oysters, fishermen houses. Boat-safari to watch birds and huge harmless monitor lizards. Bicycle around the lagoon or to Hikkaduwa, Galle, etc. 17th C. Dutch Fort and Dutch churches in Galle (20 min. drive). First Buddhist school in Sri Lanka (within 300 m). Ancient Buddhist monasteries and temples. Yoga retreat/classes. Working/active tea and cinnamon plantations. Day trip by car/bus/tuk-tuk/cycle. Turtle/dolphin/whale watching trip. Spa/Ayurvedic treatment. Diving/snorkeling/surfing lessons. Galle’s International Literary Festival (in January). Moon stone mine and workshop (20 min.drive). Open air arts and crafts market in Galle every Saturday morning. Mask museums, shops, workshops in Ambalangoda (20 min. by tuk-tuk). On the South west white sand beaches of Sri Lanka in a semi-rural and coastal area, 10 minutes by Tuk-Tuk (3-wheeler) from world famous Hikkaduwa white sand surfing/diving beach, with its souvenir shops, coffee shops, bars and restaurants, the only difficulty will be for you to choose a restaurant matching the view and the food with the day’s mood! The villa is next to the Dodanduwa post office, next to a bus stop (to Galle and Hikkaduwa), and 500 m. from the Dodanduwa quaint Railway Station (warning: not all trains from Colombo or Galle stop here!). Colombo city: 100 km. or a 60-min. drive by car by Expressway, or 1 ½ hours by bus, or 2 ½ hours by train. Airport: 3 to 4 hours by car (depending on time of day), pre-paid taxi or rent-a-car available there (about 150 km). Galle: 12 km. north of Galle Fort, or 20 min. by car, bus or scooter. A small dispensary and surgery is located on the premises in the unlikely event of an emergency. A wheel chair is also available. THINGS TO DO ON THE PREMISES: Zumba classes (in-house, free of charge). Introduction to Meditation classes (in-house, free of charge). Beach access to walk or run. Possibility to hire a double flat top kayak to use on lagoon. Possibility to hire a bicycle or a scooter. Play beach games. Play badminton on sand or on lawn. Sunbathe on sun loungers or in hammock on lawn gardens. Walk or rest in coconut plantation. Chill out on front or back verandah. Relax in inner courtyard plunge pool.