Castlereagh Bungalow
On the banks of Castlereagh Lake
A century-old bungalow on the shore of the lake, with the finest water views of the five and a tennis court on the lawn.
- 5
- Lakeside
- Butler and chef
Ceylon Tea Trails
Scattered across the hills of Bogawantalawa, Ceylon Tea Trails invites travellers into the living culture of Sri Lanka's tea country, where historic bungalows, working estates and mountain landscapes shape each day.
5
27
Castlereagh Lake
Tea Country
Where tea country sets life's rhythm.
Tea country is defined as much by its rhythm as its landscape. Across the hills of Bogawantalawa, historic planter's bungalows overlook emerald slopes where tea continues to be cultivated much as it has for generations. Carefully restored and thoughtfully connected, Ceylon Tea Trails preserves the character of these homes while inviting travellers into the daily life of a working estate. Here, mist, mountain air and the quiet ritual of tea create an atmosphere that belongs entirely to Sri Lanka's central highlands.
Days unfold between estate walks, leisurely lunches and afternoons shaped by the traditions of Ceylon tea. Visit neighbouring bungalows, meet the people who continue to cultivate the surrounding hills or simply settle into the quiet pace of the highlands, where changing light and cool mountain air define every moment.
Choose your suite
Summerville Bungalow
On the edge of the estate, above the lake
Set at the edge of the tea estate overlooking Castlereagh Lake, with long views across the rolling hills beyond.
- 5
- Lakeside
- Butler and chef
Dunkeld Bungalow
High above the lake, by the tea factory
Poised above Castlereagh Lake and closest to the Dunkeld tea factory, with panoramic views to the Great Western range.
- 5
- Above the lake
- Butler and chef
Norwood Bungalow
Overlooking the Bogawantalawa valley
Commanding views of the eastern Bogawantalawa valley, with a croquet lawn and billiards room, well suited to families.
- 6
- Valley views
- Butler and chef
Tientsin Bungalow
The estate's oldest residence
The oldest of the bungalows, named for the Chinese village that gave the estate its first tea seedlings, set amid the tea and the valleys.
- 6
- Amid the tea
- Butler and chef
Moments to carry home
01
Walking through working tea estates at first light
02
Afternoon tea overlooking the highlands
03
Moving between historic planter's bungalows
04
Evenings beside the fire in the cool mountain air
We choose Ceylon Tea Trails because it offers more than beautiful scenery. It reveals the culture, craftsmanship and enduring traditions of Sri Lanka's tea country through a collection of historic homes that remain closely connected to the landscape and the estates that surround them. It is the defining introduction to the island's central highlands.
Choose your suite
Castlereagh Bungalow
On the banks of Castlereagh Lake
A century-old bungalow on the shore of the lake, with the finest water views of the five and a tennis court on the lawn.
- 5
- Lakeside
- Butler and chef
Summerville Bungalow
On the edge of the estate, above the lake
Set at the edge of the tea estate overlooking Castlereagh Lake, with long views across the rolling hills beyond.
- 5
- Lakeside
- Butler and chef
Dunkeld Bungalow
High above the lake, by the tea factory
Poised above Castlereagh Lake and closest to the Dunkeld tea factory, with panoramic views to the Great Western range.
- 5
- Above the lake
- Butler and chef
Norwood Bungalow
Overlooking the Bogawantalawa valley
Commanding views of the eastern Bogawantalawa valley, with a croquet lawn and billiards room, well suited to families.
- 6
- Valley views
- Butler and chef
Tientsin Bungalow
The estate's oldest residence
The oldest of the bungalows, named for the Chinese village that gave the estate its first tea seedlings, set amid the tea and the valleys.
- 6
- Amid the tea
- Butler and chef
Everything within reach
- Butler-served meals at each bungalow
- Wine cellar
- Picnic lunches on the estate
- Spa Trails (mobile spa)
- Yoga
- Guided estate walks
- Tea factory tours + tastings
- Trail running
- Kayaking on the reservoir
- Resident butler per bungalow
- Resident manager
Bogawantalawa, Central Highlands
Ceylon Tea Trails lies around Castlereagh Lake in the Bogawantalawa valley, near Hatton in Sri Lanka's central highlands, at over twelve hundred metres. The bungalows are reached by a scenic drive of about four and a half hours from Colombo, a short helicopter transfer, or the hill-country railway to Hatton, one of the loveliest journeys on the island.
Once here, the estate is the world. Adam's Peak and the wider highlands lie within reach, but the pleasure is the slow rhythm of the bungalows, the walks between them and the tea all around. Our designers arrange the private transfers, the guided trails and the estate experiences.
- Colombo (CMB)
- 4h30 by car / 25-min helicopter
- Private car or helicopter
What sets it apart
01
Five restored colonial tea bungalows
02
Set around Castlereagh Lake in Bogawantalawa
03
Butler-guided trails between the bungalows
04
Resident butler and chef at each
05
Working tea estate walks and tastings
Other Colonial Tea Bungalows stays
Design a journey featuring Ceylon Tea Trails
Our designers will weave this property into your itinerary — preferred rooms, private transfers, added benefits, and the moments only an Āvara guest receives.