The two single rooms at Gileemale Walawwa at approximately 9 sqm in size are perfect for solo travellers. Named the Alexandrite Room and the Ruby Room, they are both set with a single bed fitted with mosquito nets, hardwood antique furniture including a dressing table, and a pedestal fan. The space Today, this splendid Sri Lankan manor house, which once hosted the famous English photographer, William Skeen for breakfast, offers that great hospitality inherent to the DNA of their lineage to travel aficionados around the world through a hospitality experience that is hard to match. The mansion dates back to the times of King Rajasinghe I, also known as Seethawaka Rajasinghe who ruled the country from 1581 to 1592. The legend has it that the King bestowed a youth by the name of Appu from Pagoda, Kotte the gift of the village known today as Gileemale after he successfully accomplished an open challenge to climb the Kunudiya Rock. The King also permitted Appu to bring his relatives and friends to Gileemale and thus he changed his surname to Bandara. He was also granted permission by the King to build a mansion in the area which went onto become the Gileemale Walawwa today. Opposite to the walawwa, you find the old roadway leading to Adam’s Peak known as Raja Mawatha. For generations, the Gileemale family has served as the hospitality partners for king’s men. According to folklore, the mansion has been designed taking the flight of a bluebird as an omen. Although the ancient walawwa dilapidated; the present one was built around 150 years ago with a second floor inducted in 1911. The more recent refurbishment had given this ancestral walawwa the ambience of an upmarket holiday home at a very minimalistic finish. Consists of two luxury suites on the upper floor, four standard bedrooms downstairs, Yoga and Relaxing Lounge in the open interior courtyard, a reading room, museum of antiques and plenty of relaxing areas decorated with archeological monuments and paintings, the property has been designed to evoke a sense of place for the guests. Guest access The mansion also connects its visitors with a myriad of travel experiences steeped in the history and culture of the Sabaragamuwa Province as the famous Adam’s Peak, the historic Saman Devalaya, the Rankoth Viharaya known for its stone inscription, Bopath Ella and Udawalawa. Apart from business travelers, the retreat provides an ideal getaway for holiday seekers as writers, agri tourists, stress relievers, artists and adventure enthusiasts as well as for lovers of nature, history and heritage alike. While tea, rubber, cinnamon, bamboo estates and the herb/ organic garden surrounding the Gileemale Retreat take the guests through an incredible agro tourism experience, the abundant birdlife at the property makes this holiday home tailor-made for bird lovers and ornithologists. The lush natural habitat surrounding the retreat is home to 75 species of land birds out of which 15 are endemic to Sri Lanka. Some of the species endemic to Sri Lanka that have been spotted at the site include: Chestnut-backed Owlet, Sri Lankan junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii) and Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (Treron pompadora ). In the sanctuary there are also many resident birds as Changeable Hawk Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus), Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus), White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata ) and Jerdon's Leafbird (Chloropsis jerdoni) to name a few. Just outside the retreat are plenty of unspoiled natural beauty and remoteness to be explored through hikes, cycling, trekking, kayaking, canoeing, or admiring the cascading waterfalls tucked away in the wilderness. During these activities you are much more likely to encounter the wild mammals as Red Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus), Rusty-Spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), Grey Mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii), Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura) and much more. Those seeking to unwind can undertake a wellness vacation at the Yoga Retreat and Ayurveda Spa to benefit from Sri Lanka’s indigenous treatments and wellness practices. Here, one can enjoy the array of authentic cuisine from the Sabaragamuwa region or detoxing juices and vegetarian dishes offered at the venue to treat the guests to a meal of natural goodness.