Rangala House

Rangala House is a restored tea planter’s bungalow high in the hills north-east of Kandy, looking straight out across the Knuckles Range, part of the Central Highlands UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a relaxed, homely place with whitewashed walls, polished floors, local textiles and shelves of books, where the broad veranda and its views are the heart of every day. Taken as a whole house with five bedrooms and space for up to thirteen guests, it suits families and groups of friends who love walking, birdlife and cool mountain air.

Below the house, an infinity-edge pool sits in a lush, carefully planted garden full of tropical flowers, with a thatched pavilion beside it for shady afternoons and sunset-watching. The long covered veranda runs the length of the bungalow, set with planters’ chairs and a dining table for breakfasts and dinners with the valley spread out below. Walks lead from the door through tea plantations, farmland and small villages, with longer hikes into the Knuckles for keener walkers.

Indoors, a cosy sitting room has a sofa and TV, and a second lounge has a stone fireplace for cooler evenings, with shelves of books and a table tennis table for rainy days. The kitchen is fully equipped, with a breakfast bar, wine cabinet and blender, and a cook can prepare meals on request. Three bedrooms are in the main bungalow, while the studio and the Breadfruit Room sit in a separate building alongside, the studio being the largest with a four-poster bed and a raised gallery level for extra sleepers.