Perched amongst tea bushes amidst the Concordia Estate, high up on a hill near Nuwara Eliya, Goatfell is a luxurious, recently renovated four-bedroom tea bungalow hotel. This former estate manager’s bungalow still resonates with the warmth and up country charm of a bygone era. With gourmet food and Butler service, guests can relax on covered verandas, in the warmth of the log fired sitting room or enjoy tea field views from the infinity swimming pool.
Located amidst the Concordia Estate, and within strolling distance to Finlay’s Tea Factory, our bungalow hotel in Kandapola’s elevated surroundings basks in glorious hill country views. The enveloping tea hills, waterfalls and heart-stopping panoramas are a walkers’ paradise.
Nuwara Eliya is a market town carved out of a bowl-shaped valley beneath the dramatic Pidurutalagala Mountain, Sri Lanka’s loftiest peak. Often referred to as Little England, the town dates back to the mid-19th century and is where British tea planters would converge to socialise, relax and indulge in cooler-climate country pursuits such as deer hunting, golf, polo and cricket. Many of Nuwara Eliya’s buildings, such as the Post Office, stay true to their colonial heritage while the Nuwara Eliya Race Course still hosts meetings a few times a year. Sights in Nuwara Eliya’s outskirts include Hakgala Botanical Gardens and the Sita Ella Hindu Kovil.
Although Nuwara Eliya is a prime tea-producing region, this is also Sri Lanka’s garden city. Surrounding the town, on terraces and in small home gardens, are neatly arranged vegetable plots sprouting leeks, carrots, beans and cabbages for consumption across the island. This is also the island’s prime milk producing region. Ambewela’s vivid green mist-cloaked pastures are sprinkled with grazing Friesian herds.
FACILITIES & SERVICES
Formerly home to the Managers of the Concordia Estate, this century-old bungalow is now a boutique hotel in Kandapola with four atmospheric bedrooms styled for the discerning modern traveller. Furnished with a mix of hand-sourced antique and custom-designed contemporary pieces, bedrooms have plush beds, sitting areas, private garden and estate-view terraces and ensuite bathrooms with bathtubs for warm relaxing soaks.
The three spacious Concordia Double Bedrooms, each with king-sized beds, encourage you to sleep serenely, and wake up to stunning tea garden views. The Concordia Twin Bedroom is furnished with cosy twin beds and may be interconnected with a Concordia Double Bedroom to form a Family Suite. Bedrooms are equipped with heaters, rugs, blankets and hot water bottles for cooler Kandapola nights.
The kitchen at Goatfell promises locally sourced, freshly cooked food, served to you in an upcountry tea bungalow atmosphere. Our butlers make you feel at home by mixing your favourite drinks, serving afternoon tea in the garden and gourmet meals in our cosy indoor dining room or outside on the veranda.
Rates are all inclusive, so expect to tuck into a hearty breakfast followed by a ‘Planter’s Lunch’ – a selection of daily curries – before moving onto afternoon tea and later, an a la carte dinner.
Snacks and drinks, including your favourite tipples, best-enjoyed beside the warm crackling fireplace of our comfortable sitting room, are also included in the daily rate.
