Lunuganga Estate
Bentota

The life’s work of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated architect, Geoffrey Bawa, Lunuganga Estate is both moving and magical. Once Bawa’s country home and design laboratory, the estate offers a rare chance to fully immerse yourself in his visionary world. Set beside the tranquil Dedduwa Lake and surrounded by lush tropical gardens, Lunuganga is a masterpiece of landscape design and tropical modernism, cultivated lovingly over four decades.

Today, the estate features nine individually furnished rooms and suites, some of which were previously private and closed to guests. Preserved much as Bawa left them, each space offers a unique atmosphere. The Gallery Studio, ideal for honeymooners, exudes creative charm, while the Glass House, perched among the treetops, is perfect for nature lovers. Families and groups can book all three rooms at No. 5 at Lunuganga, the former residence of celebrated batik artist and Bawa’s close friend, Ena de Silva.

The restaurant at Lunuganga enjoys an enchanting view of the lake and serves some of the finest cuisine on the island, a mix of classic Sri Lankan dishes and contemporary Asian fusion. Meals here are relaxed but refined, made using fresh, local ingredients and served in open-air settings that further blur the line between house and garden, just as Bawa intended.

As Bawa once said, Lunuganga is “a place of continued varied sensations.” Each stay includes guided garden tours that shed light on the estate’s hidden corners, layered perspectives and the deep thought behind every plant, pathway and pavilion. For design lovers, it’s a pilgrimage site, and for any traveller, a unique opportunity to experience living history.

Beyond the estate, Bentota’s coastline and waterways offer plenty to explore. Known as Sri Lanka’s water sports capital, the region offers activities such as jet skiing, wind surfing and stand-up paddleboarding. You can also enjoy serene boat trips on the Madu Ganga River estuary, home to a fascinating mangrove ecosystem and a network of tiny islands, some of which host cinnamon plantations and historic Buddhist temples.

Whether you're here to explore the genius of Bawa or simply to unwind in a setting of serene natural beauty, Lunuganga Estate is a destination in its own right, a place where architecture, art and landscape exist in perfect harmony.

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson