Description

Set just outside Galle, Armitage Hill is a 20-acre 19th century tea & rubber planters' estate that has been transformed into a secluded luxury holiday compound by world-renowned Aman Resorts architect Kerry Hill.

The property has a 200 year history and has featured in numerous guide books to Sri Lanka. The original plantation home has had a number of notable and notorious occupants. For a period (1840-1880) it was owned by the Ephraim family who were the proprietors of the New Oriental Hotel, now Amangalla.. The property's subsequent development over the past 30 years by architect Kerry Hill forms part of an important architectural legacy. It has been written about extensively in architectural books and publications, and regularly hosts visiting architects and university students.

The property is a serene secluded sanctuary set on 20 acres, only 7.5kms from the UNESCO listed Galle Fort and just a short drive to beautiful white sand beaches.

Built as a collection of separate pavilion buildings centered around the original plantation house built in 1820 - forming a compound of five very separate bedrooms with en-suites, numerous large living and communal areas, courtyards, a dining pavilion designed to comfortably seat 20 guests, a 70ft pool and large pool pavilion plus kitchen and separate staff buildings. All buildings are set high up on a hill, over looking vast flood plains with views to Adam's Peak from the verandah of the main house to the North and the winding river Gin to the South.

The surrounding dense jungle with its abundant birds, monkeys, and other wildlife offer the property complete privacy. The original coconut grove and a portion of the original tea plantation still remains. Peacocks regularly roam the compound and porcupines, chameleons and mongoose are frequent visitors. The lush tropical gardens and manicured lawns nearer the compound have been developed over the last 30 years