Stone Gale Estate (0 miles)
Walk around our beautiful estate and enjoy picturesque views from any direction. Watch the tea estate workers pluck tea and explore how the tea grows! Spot the beautiful birds and wildlife that enjoy the estate too.
Badrawathi Temple (0.1 miles)
Bhadravathi Temple is a serene Buddhist stupa—striking with its white dome—nestled at the summit of a hill colloquially known as Wehera Kanda. It is not just a temple but also a National Infirmary for Buddhist monks, often referred to locally as the "House for Old Bhikkhus."
The ascend to the top is about 130 m (approximately 430 feet) via paved stone steps to reach the stupa at 1,156 m. The climb takes around 20 to 30 minutes, offering both a physical and spiritual ascent. Permission from the temple is required for the ascent. At the top, you're rewarded with sweeping, panoramic views over tea-covered valleys and distant peaks—including Hanthana, Peacock Hills, Alagalla, Kukulagala, and even Piduruthalagala on clear days.
Pekoe Trail Stage (1/2) (1.5 miles away)
Featured on TIME’s “World’s Greatest Places” for 2025, the Pekoe Trail is a scenic long-distance walking route through Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, winding for over 300 km past lush tea estates, misty mountains, waterfalls, and charming hill country villages. Inspired by old tea plantation trails, it offers a unique way to explore the region’s natural beauty, colonial history, and local culture at a relaxed pace.
Pekoe Trail – Stage 1: Hanthana to Galaha
Stage 1 begins at Ceylon Tea Museum, Hantana, just outside Kandy, and ends at the Galaha Junction (just 1.5miles from our villa) in the heart of tea country. Covering 12.85 km, it is classed as an 'easy' level of difficulty, the hike typically takes 3–4 hours at a leisurely pace. The trail follows estate roads, tea plantation paths, and forest tracks, with moderate ascents and descents, making it suitable for walkers with a basic level of fitness. Along the way, you’ll pass active tea estates, colonial-era bungalows, and vantage points with stunning views of Kandy, the Knuckles Range, and the Hantana mountains, before descending into the peaceful hill-country town of Galaha.
Highlights: Inidiana Jones Movie Set!
Pekoe Trail – Stage 2: Galaha to Loolkandura
Stage 2 of the Pekoe Trail stretches approximately 14.7 kilometers from Galaha to Deltotaand then from Deltota to Loolecondera.. This full-day trek typically takes between 5 to 7 hours and is considered challenging, requiring good fitness due to its steep climbs and varied terrain. Along the route, hikers traverse estate roads, forest trails, and mountain ridges, passing through lush tea plantations, dense pine forests, and scenic waterfalls.
Highlights: Sir James Taylors Seat (First Tea plantation fields in Sri Lanka)
Galaha Town (1.5 miles away)
Galaha is a charming small town nestled in Sri Lanka’s central hill country, known for its cool climate and scenic surroundings. The produce is local, the people are genuine and the food is authentic. The people and galaha town has a special place in our heart and I hope you feel it too! We love the Rio bakery and the local veg shops (AMAZING pineapple).
Sir James Taylor Bunglaw/ Loolcandara estate (10.5 miles away)
Sir James Taylor is widely regarded as the pioneer of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) tea planting. In 1867, he established the first successful commercial tea plantation at the Loolcandara Estate. This marked the beginning of Sri Lanka’s transformation into one of the world’s leading tea producers.
Loolcandara estate is a mistic beauty. The tea plantations up on the rolling mountains as far as your eyes can sea, is like walking through a nature documentary. Remains of his bunglaw and the famous James Taylor Seat can be seen along the way. This is certainly one of our favourite spots to visit (don't forget to take a picnic with you).