Today, I am going to share our experience with the accommodations we used during our trip to Nuwara Eliya. I believe this review will be helpful for anyone planning a visit to Nuwara Eliya.
Our trip lasted four days, during which we spent three nights. We were looking for cozy bed-and-breakfast places with great views. During our search, we discovered that Nuwara Eliya offers thousands of accommodations at various budget levels and with unique characteristics. While we found many reviews on YouTube, we primarily relied on Google Reviews and Booking.com. Below are some of the better destinations that initially made our list but were later excluded: The Blackberry Cottage, Forest and Lake Hotel, Gold Ridge Hotel, and Pedro Barn.
We even booked Forest and Lake Hotel at first but canceled later due to weather conditions at that time. However, this place remains a great recommendation for anyone visiting the area.
First Night: Wind Castle, Shanthipura
On the first night, we stayed at Wind Castle, located in Shanthipura. We checked the room availability on their website and reserved it via a call. They require a deposit during booking. The room we reserved offered stunning mountain and crop views. As the name implies, the location is windy, which was a delightful experience. The room was cozy and clean.
We ordered dinner from their set menu, and the food was delicious—one dish was even enough for two people. Their customer service was excellent, and the hotel's location and exterior provided a genuine castle-like atmosphere. Breakfast was an English-style spread, which was also very nice. Road is available to the hotel and onsite parking available. Highly recommended!
Second Night: Tranquil Villa Hotel
On the second day, we stayed at Tranquil Villa Hotel, located on a mountain overlooking Kande Ela Lake. The road to the hotel passes through a forest, giving it a true forest vibe. Although the road was slightly broken, the journey was worth it. The hotel is not far from Forest and Lake Hotel, and the climb up the mountain wasn't too difficult.
The area around the hotel was lush with crops and greenery. The room we stayed in had a direct view of Kande Ela Lake and the surrounding forest, which seemed untouched and was refreshingly serene. I spent hours enjoying the stunning view.
We ordered dinner from the hotel, which was impressive, and the restaurant also had the same elegant view. If the weather isn’t too cold, breakfast can be enjoyed on the balcony.
We made the reservations via booking.com This place is recommended, especially if you travel by your own vehicle, as on-site parking is available.
Third Night: Little England Cottages
For our third night, we decided to return to Nuwara Eliya town and stayed at Little England Cottages, specifically the Stratford Cottage. Initially, we had booked Pedro Barn, but due to weather conditions, we canceled that reservation. Making a direct reservation at Pedro Barn was a challenging process, so for our second attempt, we chose Stratford Cottage, which was easily booked through Booking.com.
The cottage was very pleasant, and the manager, Mr. Chelwa, provided outstanding hospitality during our stay. The room was spacious and clean. Although there were no kettles in the room, we could use the shared kitchen to make tea or dinner. The night we stayed, there were very few residents at Little England, allowing us to enjoy a peaceful and calming evening.
We ordered dinner from Pedro Barn, but we weren’t entirely satisfied with the experience, though the food itself was good. In the morning, Mr. Chelwa prepared breakfast for us, including bread, string hoppers with potato curry, chicken curry, coconut sambol, and white passionfruit juice. All the curries were made by him and were absolutely delicious.
More than the cottage itself, it was Mr. Chelwa’s exceptional hospitality that left a lasting impression on us. This place is recommended, but do keep in mind that you can’t expect all the facilities of a hotel room, as this is a private residence.