Ashburnham Estate
Kandy

Surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Knuckles Mountain Range in Sri Lanka’s lush Hill Country, Ashburnham Estate is a charming boutique hotel with a warm, home-from-home atmosphere. Originally a 1930s tea planter’s bungalow, the property blends colonial heritage with an easy, lived-in elegance, the kind of place where relaxation feels inevitable.

With just six double en-suite bedrooms, Ashburnham retains a distinctly personal feel. Each room is individually styled in true boutique fashion, no two are the same, yet all share a thoughtful aesthetic marked by vibrant furnishings, four-poster beds and tasteful Sri Lankan and Indian touches. Families can opt for either the spacious Family Room or the bright and cheerful Ash Suite. Some rooms also feature private balconies, perfect for soaking up the views of the surrounding hills in peaceful seclusion.

Set within its own 100-acre working tea estate, the hotel’s wide front veranda offers breathtaking panoramas that stretch over the inviting swimming pool and across the misty hills beyond. Time seems to slow here, and guests often spend hours simply watching the light shift across the landscape, chatting with fellow travellers over a morning cup of Ceylon tea or a classic evening G&T. Meals are another highlight, delicious, home-style Sri Lankan dishes and international comfort food are served in the cosy dining room or outside on the terrace, depending on your mood.

Ashburnham Estate’s setting is ideal for immersing yourself in the rhythms of tea country. A must during your stay is the estate’s engaging tea tour, led by the charismatic Mr Dassanayake, or “Mr Das”, who shares insight into the planting and plucking process before inviting guests to try their hand at tea picking and taste the freshest local brews. Nature lovers will also enjoy walking with the estate’s resident naturalist through the gently winding plantations, past smiling locals and little shrines, on the way up to a scenic hilltop for an unforgettable high tea with panoramic sunset views. Other guided excursions include hikes to nearby waterfalls and natural plunge pools, perfect for a cooling dip on a warm afternoon.

Just an hour’s drive from Kandy, Ashburnham Estate is easy to incorporate into a wider luxury tour of Sri Lanka. With its welcoming atmosphere, spectacular setting and strong sense of place, it offers a peaceful, characterful retreat in the heart of the Hill Country.

Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.
Lisa St. Aubin de Teran