Nine Skies
Ella

Perched on a tea-swathed hill above Demodara, just 15 minutes from lively Ella, Nine Skies is a tranquil and sophisticated escape in the heart of Sri Lanka’s Hill Country. This immaculately restored tea planter’s bungalow blends colonial charm with modern-day indulgences, from butler service and gourmet cuisine to an infinity-edge pool with knockout views across the valley. Its name comes from the iconic Nine Arches Bridge, one of the country’s most photographed railway landmarks, which curves through the jungle just below the hotel.

With only five beautifully appointed bedrooms, Nine Skies feels intimate and personal. The interiors channel the soul of a bygone Ceylon era, all whitewashed walls, high ceilings and polished floors, offset with vibrant textiles, stylish four-poster beds and light-filled bathrooms. Choose from the Nine Arches Room, the Demodara Rooms (Hali-Ela, Badulla and Welimada), or the Ella Rock Suite, which offers extra space and sweeping views from a private veranda. Outside, wide lawns, flowering gardens and cloud-draped vistas stretch for miles, while the soothing rhythm of a distant train lends the property its timeless quality.

The hotel’s chef creates a daily changing menu focused on seasonal produce, with a light international touch. Whether you’re enjoying eggs and fresh papaya at breakfast, a long Planter’s Lunch with fragrant rice and curry or a candlelit dinner under the stars, each meal is as much about the setting as the food. The veranda is our favourite place to dine, where mountain breezes meet the clink of cutlery and birdsong twitters in the background.

One of the best things about Nine Skies is its sense of place. You’re surrounded by working tea estates, fragrant gardens and winding trails that lead to waterfalls and panoramic lookouts. A short stroll brings you to the Nine Arches Bridge, one of Sri Lanka’s most photogenic railway viaducts, where you can watch the train make its famous 360-degree loop at Demodara Station, or hop aboard the train yourself for one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world.

When you’re not exploring, days here are blissfully slow; sunbathe with a good book beside the pool, sip a G&T on the terrace as the light fades or curl up in the drawing room with a game or a pot of tea. The butler service ensures everything flows seamlessly, from morning coffee to pre-dinner cocktails.

Nine Skies is part of the Teardrop Hotels collection, a family of heritage boutique hotels that includes Goatfell, Wallawwa, Fort Bazaar and Kumu Beach. Like its siblings, it masterfully blends design, detail and service with a strong sense of local character and heritage.

Whether you’re hiking the hills or following tea-scented breezes, Nine Skies is a spectacular place to slow down, breathe deep and savour one of Sri Lanka’s most picturesque regions.

The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.
Rudyard Kipling