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At a Glance

If only all layover hotels could be this charming: a twenty minute drive from the arrivals hall at Bandaranaike International Airport, the Wallawwa charms with gorgeous gardens, colonial sitting rooms and seventeen spacious guest accommodations.

 Indagare Loves

• The many cozy loungers and sitting areas in the pretty garden setting
• The spacious, serene rooms, perfect for relaxing after a long flight or repacking before departure
• The sweet gift shops whose proceeds go to charity
• The property’s vegetable and fruit garden whose produce stars on the menus

 Review

Many Sri Lanka itineraries begin in the Cultural Triangle, but committing to a five-to-six-hour car journey directly after a multi-hour international flight can make even the most seasoned traveler balk. Luckily, there’s the lovely Wallawwa (sister property is Galle’s Fort Bazaar hotel) to solve this dilemma. Located a 20-minute drive from the airport, it makes a perfect, relaxing enclave to spend an afternoon, evening and night, before venturing onward. (It’s an equally delightful place to unpack, repack and get ready for the long journey home at the end of a packed itinerary.)

Housed inside a former colonial manor house (Wallawwa means “homestead” in Singhalese), the property has spacious sitting rooms and an elegant, deeply stylish ambience, which continues in the seventeen generously sized guest rooms. Complete with massive bathrooms, stone floors, large four-poster beds and bright peach- and orange-colored fabrics, interiors are very comfortable and offer plenty of space. The best ones are the Garden Suites, which look into lush greenery.

The best part about staying at the Wallawwa, however, are the peaceful, beautiful gardens that surround the hotel, lush with bamboo, palms and hibiscus bushes. There’s a decently sized pool area, lawn games like croquet and badminton and complimentary tea. It’s worth taking a short amble to the lovely fruit and vegetable garden, which supplies the restaurant here. No one leaves for meals, and in the evening, it’s fun to mingle with fellow guests and compare Sri Lanka itineraries over rice and curries, as well as a lengthy menu of more Western-inspired dishes.

Indagare Tip: Anyone coming straight off a plane should book a treatment at the intimate spa.

Who Should Stay

A night at the Wallawwa makes for a much more civilized entry into Sri Lanka’s heat and time zone than rushing onward immediately. If you can spare one night at either end of your itinerary, spending it here will improve the quality of your trip immensely.

Ideal Length of Stay

One night (which can include a half-day exploration in Colombo). Travelers who want to do more sightseeing in the bustling city will be better off staying at the Uga Residence or Galle Face Hotel.

Getting There

The Wallawwa is located near Negombo, 25 miles north of Colombo city center (the drive generally takes an hour with traffic). From Baradanaike International Airport, it’s a twenty-minute drive.

Author

• Simone Girner