Kirinda Walauwa, Kandy

'A place close to nature' is what we aim to offer our guests at Kirinda Walauwa. Our 200 year old ancestral family home is on a 12 acre estate where we grow and cultivate most of what we eat. This in turn lies in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains and lush green paddy (rice) fields. We open our doors to a few visitors to experience the rich history, culture, local customs and the peaceful, relaxing ambiance. In turn, they open their hearts and minds, and leave with lasting memories. At Kirinda Walauwa, we offer 6 rooms for our guests and each of our rooms can accommodate 2 persons. We also have a Family Suite of 2 rooms near each other which is ideal for a family or a group of up to 6 guests. If required we have the option to upgrade the standard Double room into a Triple room. We have a few activities on site that our guests frequently enjoy and give good feedback for: a Traditional Cooking Demonstration (which is interactive and is a hot favourite), a walk in the village with visits to an old bakery, temple, the local market, checking out my classic car collection or just laying back and relaxing. If you need more clarification about what we offer, please send us a message or check the Face book page. We also suggest you contact us if the site indicates that rooms are booked/unavailable and we may have an alternate arrangement for you. Our guests have access to all parts of the house and property: lounges, the central courtyard, dining and living rooms, etc. Outside the house, the unique spice garden will be of utmost interest to all flora lovers. The foliage around Kirinda Walauwa also invites endemic and migratory birds to the area and many can be seen and heard. We take pride in the fact that we grow most of the food that we eat, from coconut to vegetables and fruits to even the beans for the morning coffee and our guests are welcome to explore it all. I am always there to help my guests with the further planning of their trip or just to share a conversation with them. Trek through the rural countryside, visit the nearby temples of historic significance, travel to Kandy to see the famous Temple of the Tooth Relic or the seasonal parade of the Esala perahera (during July/August). There are various museums and gardens worth visiting in the general area. Or if you are in the mood there are two 18-hole golf courses (at Victoria and at in Nuwaraeliya) each about 2 hours away from Kirinda Walauwa. Kirinda Walauwa is about a kilometer from the main A5 road and we have ample parking within the premises. If you have your own vehicle, I can make exciting suggestions on exploring the Central region of Sri Lanka. If you happen to use public transport, I will help you to move from Kirinda Walauwa by train or express bus. You will always appreciate the advantage you have against group tourists in experiencing the unique way of village life at Kirinda. A BIT OF BACKGROUND 'Kirinda' is the name of the village and 'Walauwa' is the home of an aristocratic Kandyan family. The house itself is about eight to ten generations old. Though each generation has renovated and has added modern conveniences for their comfort, it still has not lost its natural, old charm. The structure remains the same; it can be seen by the thickness of the walls built in solid stone and plastered in clay. The house consists of large airy rooms and a long veranda which opens out to the garden. A well maintained, tarred driveway leads to the house through four hairpin bends and beautiful flowering foliage. There is a sitting and dining room and a 'meda-midula' - which is an open courtyard in the middle of the house and is a traditional feature found in old Walauwas. Through here, the morning sunlight streams into the house and the blowing of the wind makes it cool on a hot afternoon. It also gives a touch of magic on a full moon night! The paddy threshing field is right next to the garden. The fields belonging to the Walauwa are harvested and their paddy brought here for threshing. Unlike today, where it is done by tractors, buffaloes were used throughout the night. It was a festive occasion with a lot of singing, drinking, eating and story-telling. After each season paddy was collected and put into the barns. In the olden days the two most respected institutes in a village were the temple and the Walauwa. Villagers earned their living by working in the Walauwa lands and paddy fields or came for help in an emergency or a free meal. It's also interesting to note that the villagers depended on auspicious times for every important thing they did such as before embarking on a journey, marriage, a new venture or in some household matters. There are many interesting tales of the past regarding the Walauwa, about their elephants, beautiful black horses on which the lads who used to ride furiously over hills and valleys. Sadly, many of these ancestral mansions are fast perishing or have been sold due to lack of funds and labor to maintain the vast acres of land, hence some of the owners are compelled to make alternative arrangements for their upkeep as they are of great archaeological, cultural as well as sentimental value.