Title: Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! Reviews, Deals & Photos 2026 - Expedia.co.uk [See all properties](http://www.expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?regionId=853554143493996544&destination=Gileemale%2C+Sabaragamuwa+Province%2C+Sri+Lanka&selected=69669451&adults=2&children=&sort=RECOMMENDED&useRewards=false&semdtl=&userIntent=&vip=false) Entire home # Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! ## Photo gallery for Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! ![Interior - Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! (Ratnapura)](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/70000000/69670000/69669500/69669451/ef5e95b6.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=598&ra=fit) ![Interior - Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! (Ratnapura)](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/70000000/69670000/69669500/69669451/68e4e6a7.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![Dining - Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! (Ratnapura)](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/70000000/69670000/69669500/69669451/e3abc1fd.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![Exterior detail - Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! (Ratnapura)](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/70000000/69670000/69669500/69669451/ed4cfc0f.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![6 bedrooms, bed sheets, wheelchair access - Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! (Ratnapura)](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/70000000/69670000/69669500/69669451/9831f123.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) - Overview - Location - Amenities - Policies Step into the Gileemale Retreat, a 150-year-old Sri Lankan manor house set amidst lush greenery in Ratnapura. Discover two luxury suites, four standard bedrooms, a Yoga and Relaxing Lounge in the open interior courtyard as well as plenty of relaxing areas decorated with archeological monuments and paintings. ### Entire home 6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 106385 sq ft ## Popular amenities - Breakfast included - Kitchen - Parking available ## Add dates for prices Check-in Check-out Travellers ## About this property ### Entire place You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party. ### Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! William Skeen in his novel Adam’s Peak has described how ‘most hospitably’ he was entertained at the Gileemale Walawwa of Laksha Mudiyanselage Punchi Bandara during an excursion, back in 1870\. Today, this splendid Sri Lankan manor house, which once hosted the famous English photographer, William Skeen for breakfast, offers that great hospitality inherent to the DNA of their lineage to travel aficionados around the world through a hospitality experience that is hard to match. The mansion dates back to the times of King Rajasinghe I, also known as Seethawaka Rajasinghe who ruled the country from 1581 to 1592\. The legend has it that the King bestowed a youth by the name of Appu from Pagoda, Kotte the gift of the village known today as Gileemale after he successfully accomplished an open challenge to climb the Kunudiya Rock. The King also permitted Appu to bring his relatives and friends to Gileemale and thus he changed his surname to Bandara. He was also granted permission by the King to build a mansion in the area which went onto become the Gileemale Walawwa today. Opposite to the walawwa, you find the old roadway leading to Adam’s Peak known as Raja Mawatha. For generations, the Gileemale family has served as the hospitality partners for king’s men. According to folklore, the mansion has been designed taking the flight of a bluebird as an omen. Although the ancient walawwa dilapidated; the present one was built around 150 years ago with a second floor inducted in 1911\. The more recent refurbishment had given this ancestral walawwa the ambience of an upmarket holiday home at a very minimalistic finish. Consists of two luxury suites on the upper floor, four standard bedrooms downstairs, Yoga and Relaxing Lounge in the open interior courtyard, a reading room, museum of antiques and plenty of relaxing areas decorated with archeological monuments and paintings, the property has been designed to evoke a sense of place for the guests. The mansion also connects its visitors with a myriad of travel experiences steeped in the history and culture of the Sabaragamuwa Province as the famous Adam’s Peak, the historic Saman Devalaya, the Rankoth Viharaya known for its stone inscription, Bopath Ella and Udawalawa. A stunning piece of colonial architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery, and nestled in Ratnapura in close proximity to the Sri Pada mountain range, the Gileemale Retreat has been refurbished to cleverly combine the old classic charm with modern luxury. Apart from business travelers, the retreat provides an ideal getaway for holiday seekers as writers, agri tourists, stress relievers, artists and adventure enthusiasts as well as for lovers of nature, history and heritage alike. ## Property amenities ### Parking and transport - Parking on site ### Kitchen - Refrigerator ### Dining - Free breakfast available ### Bedrooms - 6 bedrooms - Bedsheets provided ### Bathroom - 3 bathrooms - Shower - Toilet paper ### Outdoor areas - Balcony ### Work spaces - Desk chair ### Pets - No pets allowed ### Suitability/Accessibility - If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking. - In-room accessibility - Smoke-free property ### Location highlights - In a village - In the mountains - On a river ### Safety features - Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector) - Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property) ### General - Unit size: 6,385 square feet ## Similar properties ![Front of property](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/34000000/34000000/33996500/33996446/413c893f.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=469&h=201&p=1&q=medium) ### Villa Lagoonedge Dodanduwa - Pet-friendly - Parking included - Free Wi-Fi - Breakfast available [](https://www.expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?startDate=2026-04-11&endDate=2026-04-12&selected=33996446&PinnedHotelID=33996446&HadPinnedHotel=true®ionId=-1&adults=2) ![15 outdoor pools](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/114000000/113440000/113438000/113437949/a06ccdd4.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=469&h=201&p=1&q=medium) ### Heenatigala Walawwa Unawatuna - Pool - Parking included - Free Wi-Fi - Laundry room £175 includes taxes & fees 7 Apr - 8 Apr [](https://www.expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?startDate=2026-04-07&endDate=2026-04-08&selected=113437949&PinnedHotelID=113437949&HadPinnedHotel=true®ionId=-1&adults=2) ![Deluxe Double Room, Private Bathroom, Mountain View | Desk, laptop workspace, soundproofing](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/111000000/110360000/110359400/110359304/01d07557.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=469&h=201&p=1&q=medium) ### Forest & Fields Sinharaja Deniyaya - 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EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking. Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation ### Property is also known as House ## About the area Located in Gileemale, this holiday home is in the mountains and on a river. Japan Peace Temple and Christ Church Warleigh are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Central Highlands of Sri Lanka and Katugas Ella Falls. [Visit our Gileemale travel guide](https://www.expedia.co.uk/Gileemale.dx853554143493996544) [View more Holiday homes in Gileemale](https://www.expedia.co.uk/Gileemale-Private-Holiday-Homes.d853554143493996544-aaPrivateHolidayHomes.Travel-Guide-Accommodation) ![Map](https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?&size=660x330&map_id=3b266eb50d2997c6¢er=6.738502,80.441475&zoom=13&channel=expedia-HotelInformation&maptype=roadmap&scale=1&path=color:0xFFFFF|weight:2|fillcolor:0x005AEB7F|enc:w%7Ech%40ef%7EiN%3FO%40O%3FO%3FO%40O%40O%40M%40Q%40M%40OBO%40MBOBOBOBOBKBODOBMDODMDMDMDOFMDMFMFMFMDMHKFMFMHKFMHKHKFKHKJKHKHKHKJKJIHKJIJIJIJIJIJILIJGJILGLGJILGLELGLGLELGLELELENELELCNELCNCLENCNALCNANCLCNANANAN%3FLAN%3FNAN%3FN%3FN%3FN%3FL%40N%3FN%40N%3FN%40L%40N%40NBNBL%40NBN%40LBNDLBNBLDNBLDLDLDNDLDLFLDLFLFLDJFLHLFJFLHJFJHLHJHJHJHJHHHJJJHHJJJHJHJHJHJHJHJHJFLFJHLFLFJFLFLFLDLFLDLDNFLDLBLDNDLBNDNBJBNBNBNBN%40LBN%40N%40L%40P%40L%40N%3FN%40N%3FN%3FN%3FN%3FL%3FP%3FLAN%3FNANALAPANALCNALCNCNCNCNCLELCNELENCLENGJENELGLELGLGLGLGJGLILGJGLIJIJIJIJIJIJILKHIJKHKJIHKHKHKHKJMFKHKFMHKHMDMHKFMFMDMFMDMFMDODMDMDMDODMBOBMBODMBOBO%40MBO%40OBO%40M%40O%40O%3FO%40O%3FM%40O%3FO%3FO%3FO%3FOAO%3FMAO%3FOAOAOAMCOAOCMAOCOCMEOCMCOCMEMEOEMEMEMEMGMEMGMEMGMGKIMEMIKIKGMIKGKKKIKIKIKIIKKIKKIIIMIKKKIKGKIKIKGMIKGMGMIKEMGMGMGMEMGMEOEKEOEMEOCMEOCMCMCOCOCOCOAMCOAMAOAQAMAOAO%3FO%3FMAQ%3FM&key=AIzaSyCYjQus5kCufOpSj932jFoR_AJiL9yiwOw&signature=uGOo-RZEYrq38lyxDQ0n55Ef-YE=) Ratnapura, SG ### What's nearby - Gnanasiha Tapowana Vihara 16 min drive \- 7.5 miles - Ratnapura National Museum 17 min drive \- 7.9 miles ### Restaurants - Corundum Family Restaurant 15 min drive - The Paasto 47 16 min drive - Palm Garden Travellers' Paradise 26 min drive - Mr Bunny Cafe And Restaurant 16 min drive - Pizza Hut 15 min drive ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! pet-friendly? ### How much is parking at Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery!? ### What time is check-in at Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery!? ### What time is check-out at Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery!? ### Where is Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! located? ## Have a question? Beta Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews. Ask a question ## Stunning piece of Colonial Architecture draped in 25 acres of lush greenery! Reviews ## Reviews 9.8 ### Exceptional ---