Uga Halloowella
Bogawantalawa Valley

High above the emerald waves of tea plantations in Sri Lanka’s storied central highlands, Uga Halloowella feels less like a hotel and more like the rediscovered chapter of a bygone-era fairy tale. Officially opened in January 2025 as the sixth jewel in the Uga hotels portfolio, this lovingly restored 1912 planter’s bungalow sits at 1,444 metres above sea level, gazing across mist-laced tea terraces and the glassy expanse of Castlereagh Reservoir.

Halloowella comprises just six suites, each telling its own story. Two Lane Suites nod to Major Elton Lane and his family, with four-poster beds, wood-burning fireplaces for cool evenings and grand claw-foot bathtubs perfectly positioned for reservoir views. The two Pekoe Suites, named after the famed trekking trail that skirts the estate, are charmingly intimate, with private gardens and lush vistas across the tea hills. The final two Planter’s Suites pay homage to generations of tea planters, dressed in plush, textured furnishings with panoramic rolling-hill views.

The restoration is as thoughtful as it is masterful. Walking through Halloowella, one senses both history and renewal; original pine-wood panelling, satinwood floors and vintage chandeliers whisper colonial-era elegance, while thoughtful interventions by architect Channa Daswatte, protégé of Geoffrey Bawa, infuse a decolonial spirit, celebrating Sri Lankan identity through art, textiles and photography.

The restaurant, with dining both indoors and alfresco on a sweeping terrace, draws from the estate’s own organic garden and the bounty of the highlands. Guests might begin a meal with crisp gundu dosa at breakfast, enjoy a curated afternoon tea with prawn moju and flowering pink cupcakes, or partake in a multi-course dinner with wine pairings under the stars. Sundowner cocktails, garden barbecues and Sri Lankan cooking masterclasses invite deeper immersion into local flavours and traditions.

Days at Halloowella are rich with experience. At dawn, guests glide across Castlereagh Reservoir in kayaks, later, the Rolling Through the Tea Hills cycling tour meanders through terraces and tunnels of green. Guided walks along the historic Pekoe Trail, visits to nearby tea factories and private spa treatments framed by hillside vistas complete the journey. Every stay also includes a guided tea experience tour of the estate, along with a complimentary afternoon tea; a gentle ritual of fragrant brews enjoyed on the terrace overlooking the reservoir.

Sister hotels in the Uga portfolio reinforce the high standard and spirit of Halloowella. Previous properties include the peaceful sanctuary Ulagalla in Anuradhapura, the wildlife-rich Chena Huts in Yala National Park, and beach retreats like Uga Jungle Beach in Trincomalee and Uga Bay in Pasikuda, each bound by Uga’s ethos of design-driven luxury, heritage storytelling and elevated hospitality. In May 2025, just a few months after Halloowella, Uga Prāva launched in Tangalle, offering a coastal contrast to the hills with pristine beaches and serene seaside retreat.

Halloowella is a place that whispers of colonial romance and Sri Lankan authenticity, warmed by Uga’s quietly polished service and anchored by its own lush, sublime setting. It isn’t just a hotel stay, it’s a private escape into tea-country elegance, restored history and culinary artistry.

I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad.
George Bernard Shaw