What You Get
Internet (WiFi)
Swimming Pool (Private)
Washing Machine
The Experience
As soon as you arrive at this charming cottage, you will be enveloped by its tranquillity and soothed by its verdant setting amidst lush tropical gardens. Grassy lawns surround the cottage, sun dappled below swaying coconut palms and fringed by banana trees and crimson heliconia. Whilst a wall encircles most of the property, on one side a tall earthen bank carpeted in creepers, ferns and greenery makes for a particularly lush backdrop for the deep blue swimming pool whose still water perfectly mirrors the natural scene. An elevated wooden ambalama (relaxation pavilion) overflowing with colourful cushions overlooks the pool and garden and offers an opportune place to discreetly watch for wildlife.
The interior of the cottage is light and airy. Soaring ceilings are a feature of the open-plan living room whose trio of cosy sofas are placed beside wide doors that open onto the garden. Cool polished terrazzo floors are prominent throughout the cottage whilst semi-outdoor bathrooms in three of the four bedrooms perfectly mirror the natural tropical aesthetic of the house. A blend of carefully chosen antique and reproduction furniture topped with exotic flower arrangements provide the villa with essential furnishings, whilst a selection of books, board games and swimming pool toys will keep both adults and children amused. It is a great family house, where children, their parents and even grandparents may enjoy spending quality time together.
The Indian Ocean is only a short walk from the villa whilst the local village of Moneragama, interesting for its majestic old houses, discreetly surrounds you. The villa staff of three takes as much care over the house and gardens as they do their guests, warmly welcoming them and shopping and cooking on their behalf, if necessary, as well as helping to arrange any local transport. Self-caterers are welcome and since none of the staff are live-in this choice brings increased privacy. There are also a handful of good local restaurants and cafés nearby.
Our review
- Overall Rating:
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7.2
- Reviewed:
- 25-May-2012
The wildlife is magical here, and right on your doorstep.
The cottage is perfectly set up for families, especially as the two rooms to the front of the house have smaller double beds (or large singles), which would be perfect for children. However, it would be an equally good choice for a group of friends wishing to stay a little off the beaten track. The living areas – both inside the house and outside in the garden – offer plenty of cosy places to relax and private pockets for escape.
The wildlife is magical here, and right on your doorstep. Whilst sipping afternoon tea in the poolside pavilion we watched monkeys playing in the trees as birds twittered melodiously overhead. The large lawned garden is a fansasyland for roaming kids but supervision is necessary around the pool as it quickly gains depth.
The staff kept the house clean and tidy during our stay, and were on hand to assist us with anything we needed. The staff do not stay in the house at night although the gardener/watchman lives in a small building tucked independently to one side of the property. If the housekeeper is not needed to assist with making afternoon tea or dinner, you can dismiss her early and enjoy the run of the house all to yourselves.
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 8 | Location: | 7 | Outside Area: | 8 |
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| Living Area: | 7 | Bedrooms: | 7 | Bathrooms: | 7 |
| Kitchen: | 6 | Facilities: | 7 | Staff: | 7 |
| Value: | 8 |
Highlights
The large garden that surrounds this village home really enhances its attraction, especially as most of it is laid to lawn and filled with exotic birds and wildlife. We loved the swimming pool, and the adjacent cushioned pavilion offered a very relaxing place to flop, read a book or sip afternoon tea and sundowners. If it’s peace, privacy and seclusion that you are after, then this villa fits the bill.
Surprises
You might be surprised by visiting monkeys but they only visit to feed on the fruits and leaves of the trees and rarely come down to ground level. The garden is full of coconut palms and even though they are pruned regularly, it’s best to avoid standing under them for lengthy periods just in case a coconut should fall! At the moment there’s only one restaurant within walking distance of the house, so you’ll need transport to reach the restaurants and resorts towards Galle – the staff can arrange this for you. As there’s no TV, do come prepared with good company and alternative entertainment.
PROs
- Exotic wildlife-filled garden
- Secluded rural village setting
- Unrivalled peace and privacy
- Lovely lush foliage fringed pool
- Feels very much like home
CONs
- Off the beaten track location
- Few distractions
Gallery
Location
Coconut Grove is located in the small village of Moneragama just two kilometres from the town of Ahangama on Sri Lanka’s southern coast. The buildings in this picturesque village are characterised by a scattering of flamboyant ancestral homes embellished with fanciful fretwork and enveloped by large tropical walled gardens where exotic birds and inquisitive monkeys hide amongst the verdant foliage, colourful blooms and fruit trees. A little further inland, swaying coconut palms give way to lush paddy fields and tea-carpeted hills whilst the closest beach is a five minute stroll from the house.
Places of Interest(KMs) |
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| Ahangama | 2.0 |
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| Kataluwa | 6.0 |
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| Weligama | 9.0 |
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| Habaraduwa | 11.0 |
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| Talpe | 13.0 |
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| Unawatuna | 15.0 |
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| Mirissa | 18.0 |
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| Galle | 21.0 |
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| Matara | 24.0 |
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| Hikkaduwa | 38.0 |
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| Tangalla | 59.0 |
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| Colombo | 137.0 |
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| International Airport | 162.0 |
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About Ahangama
A busy fishing town roughly half-way between Galle and Matara, Ahangama has an intermittent stretch of beach that opens out properly to the east at Midigama where the surf is considered to be some of the best in the south. The beach often skirts towards the road, but when it finds its own path away from the traffic beneath swaying coconut palms it feels unspoilt and is often deserted except for the fishermen who can be seen hauling their wooden catamarans onto the soft golden sand. This stretch of beach is not only famous for its surf, but also for the stilt fishermen whose characteristic pose atop a stick stuck deeply into the sea bed is often seen on postcards and gracing the covers of guidebooks, such is its uniqueness to the island of Sri Lanka. Best photographed in the early morning and evenings as they cluster in favourite fishing spots close to the shore, the fishermen and their sturdy sticks, passed down through the generations, are often absent during the heat of midday. Inland from Ahangama’s beaches is a verdant wonderland of paddy fields and jungle that hug an amazing collection of antique houses whose pretty fretwork adorned eaves, inspiring stucco columns and delicate detailing hark back to the time of the colonials and make for an interesting walking tour. Also in this area is the Handunugoda Tea Factory where you can tour the estate and taste the tea to your heart’s content. There are no western-standard restaurants in Ahangama; they get better the closer you get to Galle (20km).
About South Coast
Stretching between Galle and Hambantota, the south coast is undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations in Sri Lanka. Characterised by historically significant fortified towns, numerous picture-perfect palm-fringed beaches, a sultry turquoise sea, swathes of iridescent green paddy fields fringed by lush green jungle, ancient Buddhist temples, expansive waterways, nature-filled rainforests and tea-carpeted hills it offers enough variety to be a destination in itself; fabulous for families, groups and couples alike.
Galle is one of the region’s most significant attractions for its sixteenth century Dutch fort filled with an evocatively rich collection of buildings, boutiques, museums and luxury digs that hug a peninsular to the south of town. Galle’s popular beaches are better-facilitated, more developed and safer for swimming than those in and around Tangalle, but the further you travel east the more expansive, deserted and nature-filled they become.
Surfing, snorkelling, diving, whale watching, sailing, fishing and kayaking can all be done along this magnificent stretch of coastline as well as cycling, walking and trying your hand at Sri Lankan cookery. Inland, the scene varies as the westerly wet zone’s lush jungle interior gives way to the arid dry zone plains a little beyond Tangalle. Taking off by bicycle is often the best way to explore the hills, plains, sanctuaries and jungle whilst a boat is a must to navigate the scenic lakes and rivers that wind in between.
Some of Sri Lanka’s most popular national parks – Uda Walawe for elephants and Yala for leopards and bears – as well as a trio of its most accessible rainforests – Sinharaja, Kottawa and Kanneliya - are easily visited on a day or overnight trip from anywhere along the south coast.
Rooms
A long grassy driveway leads towards the modest facade of this village home that cleverly masks its spacious interior. Inside, a small hallway, which opens on either side to two double bedrooms, leads into a large and airy living room with high ceiling and cosy sofas beside wide doors opening onto the garden. The two air conditioned bedrooms to the front of the house are almost identical in design, each featuring a double four-poster bed topped with a brightly coloured bedspread, arched windows opening onto the front driveway and a semi-outdoor bathroom with mini garden and double shower.
A further two air conditioned double bedrooms lead off from the far side of the living room. The master bedroom features a king-size bed and a spacious semi-outdoor bathroom with twin basins and twin showers. The other double bedroom, also with king-size bed, features an attached indoor bathroom with single shower. Both bedrooms enjoy picturesque outlooks over the garden.
A tall archway takes you from the living room into a rear courtyard where a fish pond lies underneath a partly open roof. This traditional Dutch-inspired design feature of older Sri Lankan houses helps to keep the interiors cool and is particularly entrancing when there’s a sudden monsoon downpour. Beyond the courtyard are an equipped kitchen and a formal dining room with a long table seating up to ten, plus a small washroom.
From the courtyard and the dining room, doors lead into the lush garden where a deep blue swimming pool with infinity edge is sited alongside a stone terrace lined with sun beds. A cosy cushioned
ambalama overlooks both the pool and garden, enabling you to breezily survey the scene. A further open-sided dining pavilion (for ten) is located discreetly between the house and a verdant foliage-carpeted bank.
Tucked to the side of the driveway is a small house where the night watchman sleeps. It features a utility room with a washing machine.
Key Amenities
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Car
(Extra)
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Internet (WiFi)
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Swimming Pool (Private)
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Washing Machine
Other Amenities
- Air-con (Bedrooms)
- Baby Cot (On Request)
- BBQ
- Bed Linen
- Board Games/Toys
- Book Selection
- Car Parking
- CD Library
- Ceiling Fans
- Ceiling Fans (Living Area)
- Equipped Kitchen
- Hairdryers
- High Chairs
- Iron/Board
- Landline Phone (Local Calls)
- Laundry Service
- Main Dining (10 persons)
- Microwave
- Oven/Hotplates
- Safe
- Swimming Pool Toys
- Towels
Villa Staff
- Chef/Cook (Restricted hrs)
- Garden/Pool Staff
- Housekeeping (Full time)
- Manager (Restricted hrs)
- Security (Night time only)
- Shopper (Extra)
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This beautifully renovated cottage set amidst leafy tropical gardens in a tranquil village near Ahangama, is just five minutes’ walk from the beach. With 4 bedrooms, plus living and dining areas, the property is spacious, airy and light and enhanced by a deep blue swimming pool beside an elevated ambalama.
http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/coconut-grove.aspx
