Emilee Tombs checks into Uga Halloowella to see how this former private colonial-era residence has been transformed into an exquisite hotel
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Set 1,444m above sea level in Sri Lanka ’s Hill Country at the centre of the iconic Norwood tea plantation near Hatton, the hotel is a four-and-a-half-hour drive, or a 30-minute water plane ride with Cinnamon Air from central Colombo.
Surrounded by vivid green tea plantations, misty pine valleys and overlooking the vast Castlereagh Reservoir, the location is idyllic and blissfully quiet.
Nearby sites of note include the Norwood tea estate, the towns of Hatton and Dickoya, a few waterfalls and Adam’s Peak for hiking. Plenty of walking trails await, including stages of the newly minted Pekoe Trail, which weaves 300km through hills, forests and valleys.
This beautifully restored property opened in January 2025, yet staying here feels like stepping back in time. Once the estate of Major Elton Lane, a tea plantation owner and First World War fighter pilot for the British Royal Air Force, the former private residence drips with old-world elegance, from the hand-painted tropical wallpaper in the dining room to the mahogany-panelled lounge, with vintage floral sofas and two enormous fireplaces.
The service here has no stiff upper lip; it is the warmest we encountered in all of Sri Lanka. Staff simply couldn’t do enough for us, yet they gave us space to relax and enjoy the property as if it were home. The all-inclusive offering includes laundry, with up to six pieces per suite per day.
The six rooms and suites are painted in pastel shades of pink, blue and green, with floral soft furnishings, fringed curtains, dark wood floors and cream-painted pitched wooden ceilings with chandeliers and fans. Antique dark wood furniture and thoughtfully arranged seating areas let guests sit back and take in the divine views.
All room categories include butler service, toiletries, a hair dryer, bathrobes and bath slippers, wifi, air conditioning and a ceiling fan, a safe, king-size beds, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, and luxurious marble-tiled bathrooms. Some of the larger suites have ornate clawfoot baths and wood-burning stoves.
The restaurant showcases the area's rich heritage. Sri Lankan curry is always on offer at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with fusion dishes such as poached eggs served with an English muffin, seeni sambol, spinach, curried crab cake, turmeric hollandaise sauce, and curry leaves. Other breakfast delights include egg hoppers (thin, fermented rice flour pancakes shaped around a bowl) and Western dishes such as smoothie bowls.
Lunch can be ordered or prepared as sandwiches for a day trip. In the evening, guests can order a la carte with Western fish and meat options as well as the “Sri Lankan Discovery” menu, which might include Negombo pork curry with milk rice or hoppers with East Coast sour fish curry.
The all-inclusive offering includes select wines, beer and spirits, plus tea and coffee service, and high tea (also included) should not be missed. Delicate parcels of curry and spiced meats are served in a bamboo bento box alongside fluffy cakes, miniature hoppers and sweets.
There is no spa, but guests can book pampering massages and other treatments and have them in the garden spa room with stunning views of the valley.
Each guest also gets to experience a tea factory tour and tasting experience, included in the price of their stay. Hotel staff can arrange local visits to tea plantations and hikes, and the resident naturalist can give a special presentation featuring rare trail-camera footage of elusive wildlife such as palm civets, barking deer, leopards, porcupines, and more. Bikes are available to borrow, but note that the area is very hilly.
Rooms are all on one level and very spacious for wheelchair users but are not specifically adapted. The pool is accessible via a set of garden steps.
There is little to keep tiny people entertained besides the pool and whirlpool spa; however, cots are available on request, and staff are extremely warm and accommodating to little people.
Check-in from 3pm; check-out at 11am.
Perfect for: A peaceful, foodie escape with bags of history
Not right for: Groups looking for a lively atmosphere
Instagram from: The infinity-edge pool with the tea plantations behind you
Address: Halloowella Estate, Upcot Road, Norwood, Sri Lanka
Emilee was a guest of Uga Halloowella
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