What You Get
Swimming Pool (Private)
The Experience
Is a holiday on a private tropical island on your Bucket List? If so, then this two-and-a-half-acre, foliage-embraced, unbelievably romantic islet just off the golden shoreline of Weligama’s broad bay could be just the place. After wading through the warm turquoise water of the Indian Ocean to reach this paradise isle you are warmly welcomed by staff proffering towels. A stone pathway leads up from the bright white jetty through the island’s lush tropical gardens into a charming Neo-Palladian five-bedroom octagonal house, which was built in the 1920s by the eccentric French Count de Mauny Talvanade.
The Count de Mauny was a fantasist and a gentleman of leisure who indulged in carpentry and who also designed Taprobane’s magnificent gardens. Today this exotic wonderland with its cascading terraces and sandy pathways is filled with frangipani, palms, flame trees, hibiscus, bougainvillea, heliconia and bromeliads that spill onto the verandas of the house. Stone seats and wooden benches mark some of the most breathtaking spots for appreciating the magnificent 360 degree views of the sea, bay and blushing sunset. Each of these places offer not only pockets of privacy but also locations for writing, drawing or painting with each scene changing as the sun makes its daily journey across the sky.
Ageing colonial furniture, faded fabrics, interesting artefacts, well-loved books, paintings, photographs, maps and framed letters add nostalgia and personality to the property. Few guests choose to leave the island aside from swimming or snorkelling around its entirety or playing cricket with the locals on the beach.
A dedicated staff team expertly takes care of your every need, from carrying your luggage across the sea and finding you transport, to cooking meals that can be served in a variety of locations according to your mood. Taprobane is a rustic, yet elegant and highly unique retreat ideal for extended families and groups of friends, and makes a perfect venue for special events.
Our review
- Overall Rating:
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8
- Reviewed:
- 28-Jan-2014
Live out the fantasy of staying on your own private tropical island.
The garden is a delight, its meandering pathways through the mature tropical foliage managing to make the island feel larger than it is. Artists and writers will be particularly drawn to Taprobane; the American writer Paul Bowles wrote the Spider House here. The infinity pool is a great place to watch the fishermen as they take to the sea or return heavily laden with their catch, whilst the seemingly endless number of scenic dining locations makes the most of the island from sunrise to sunset.
Families, groups of friends, honeymooners and decadent couples will adore Taprobane’s peace and privacy and whilst older children will love its Adventure Island appeal, it is possibly less suitable for younger kids who would need a lot of supervision. The sea crossing and number of steps on the island also might prove difficult for the elderly.
The staff of 12 includes a cook, a villa manager, six houseboys who have their own quarters and two security guards so guests are not only very well looked after but their privacy from the outside world is also guaranteed. Sunset drinks are served promptly on the veranda followed by meals that favour the fresh seafood for which Weligama is so renowned. Meals are discussed with the chef every morning so that the staff can head out to do the shopping (provisions on guest account). In the unlikely event that guests feel inclined to leave the tranquility of the island, the staff will assist in organising transport and recommending sight-seeing tours.
Note that there is no TV or DVD player at the villa, and internet is accessed via a USB dongle (provided). The kitchen is part of the staff quarters in a lower portion of the house and unavailable to guests, yet with your own personal chef you’ll have little need of it. There is a pantry fridge on the dining terrace, which is kept stocked with cool drinks.
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 10 | Location: | 9 | Outside Area: | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Area: | 8 | Bedrooms: | 8 | Bathrooms: | 7 |
| Kitchen: | 6 | Facilities: | 7 | Staff: | 8 |
| Value: | 8 |
Highlights
Staying in this villa is an unquestionable delight; for its privacy, its exclusivity and for the chance to really live out the fantasy of staying on your own private tropical island. The gardens are glorious and beg exploration whilst the 360-degree views over both land and sea from lots of contemplative spots, verandas and terraces are spectacular, especially at sunrise and sunset. Although the island’s seclusion offshore is its main appeal, it is only a short wade through the sea to reach the shore if local exploration is desired.
Surprises
Expect to get wet! Some may not appreciate the wade through (sometimes) waist high water to reach the island, however this is also a big part of the charm and staff await your arrival with towels. Some of the furnishings are a little weathered – humidity and constant exposure to the elements ages furniture and fades fabrics very quickly, and serious downpours may cause the odd roof leak. When the weather does turn at Taprobane, initial excitement at watching the stormy skies might soon give way to frustration. There’s no air-con or ceiling fans in the bedrooms – though sea breezes should keep you cool.
PROs
- Exclusive private island use
- Unbeatable 360-degree sea and coastal views
- Gorgeous gardens and winding pathways
- Dreamy memento-filled 1930’s design
- Watching fishing boats from the infinity pool
CONs
- Wade across sea on arrival (also a pro!)
- A little weatherworn in places
- No aircon
- No guest kitchen
- No TV or DVD
Gallery
Location
Taprobane is a private two and a half acre island set just 150m off the magnificent bay of Weligama (Sandy Village). Washed by warm Indian Ocean currents, the only access to the island is by wading across the surf from the shore, which even when the sea is at its most fierce only reaches to a maximum of chest height. Swimming and snorkelling around this verdant paradise island is very popular, whilst walks along Weligama’s golden sandy bay past rows and rows of colourful fishing catamarans offer the perfect respite at sunset. To the west many boats float peacefully in the unusually calm turquoise water while to the east the waves crash onto the shore the further you travel offering plenty of opportunity for both surfers and body boarders eager to get out and embrace the Sri Lankan surf. Flanked by endless stalls of freshly caught fish, the main road runs parallel to the beach. Little roads lead inside from here to the gently undulating interior of town where lush backstreets boast pretty gingerbread villas adorned with ornate wooden fretwork and surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens, temples and paddy fields.
Places of Interest(KMs) |
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| Ahangama | 9.0 |
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| Mirissa | 10.0 |
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| Kataluwa | 11.0 |
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| Koggala | 13.0 |
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| Habaraduwa | 15.0 |
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| Matara | 16.0 |
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| Talpe | 19.0 |
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| Unawatuna | 22.0 |
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| Galle | 27.0 |
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| Tangalla | 51.0 |
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| Colombo | 144.0 |
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| International Airport | 174.0 |
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About Weligama
The gigantic sand swept bay of Weligama is one of the island’s prime fishing areas. To the west the water is a staggering turquoise as the calm sea hosts a collection of catamarans that characterise this gaping bay along with the island of Taprobane that stands just offshore. If not already moored at sea, big fishing catamarans can be seen being pushed off the slice of golden sand into the sea at dusk, and then dragged back onto them as dawn breaks and crowds of buyers await. Loaded with fish, the tiled tables lining the road along the beach are presided over by sellers loudly promoting their wares, while ladies sit quietly twirling bobbins in tiny shops nearby, creating delicate lace items to sell to passing visitors, as they have done for years. To the eastern side of the bay the waves roll in and provide a scenic location for surfers whilst inland the sprawl of Weligama town is generously hidden by a cloak of green. Towards the back of town is a megalith that stands in memory of Kustaraja, a leper king who was apparently cured of his debilitating disease by drinking copious amounts of the region’s refreshing king coconut water. Trains run from Colombo to Weligama and there are a generous collection of conveniences in town from banks with ATMs and money changing facilities to grocery shops and minimarts. The best restaurants in Weligama can be found in the larger hotels, although the standard of food is not nearly as good as in Galle.
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
Climb the steps from the island’s white gateway up through lush tropical foliage to this octagonal five-bedroom house marked by a majestic eagle-topped entrance. Wander across the threshold, and you arrive in an impressive 30-foot-high central atrium topped by a cupola that ensures a fresh flow of air throughout the house. Three of the bedrooms – two atmospheric doubles (named Geoffrey’s Room and The Count’s Room) and a petit twin, – plus the living room and the dining room, open from here.
Each of the double bedrooms has an attached bathroom and is uniquely decorated with elegant colonial furniture, Sri Lankan artwork and framed photographs. French windows open onto private furnished terraces that spill onto the landscaped garden and overlook the the ocean that stretches without interruption all the way from here to Antarctica. The veranda beyond Geoffrey’s Room, which lies beneath the boughs of a giant flame-red May tree, doubles as a second dining area.
Back in the house, the living room spills onto the garden, with rattan blinds to protect it from the elements. This room is furnished with cushioned day beds, planters’ chairs and a writing desk, whilst board games provide simple entertainment. Opposite the living room is a split-level dining terrace with book-filled cabinets, rattan furniture and a dining table for ten overlooking the sea. This terrace wraps around the house to the veranda in front of Geoffrey’s Room.
From the living room, a pathway descends out of the main house to a further two double bedrooms; the Glass Room, so named for its wall of glass that maximizes the views; and the Bottom Room, lower down the hillside within a whisper of the sea and just above a magnificent sunset dining terrace. Both bedrooms are elegantly furnished with colonial antiques and feature private lounge terraces and cosy ensuite bathrooms. They are the most secluded and romantic rooms on Taprobane offering perhaps the most privacy for those staying within a group.
Key Amenities
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Internet (WiFi)
(On Request)
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Swimming Pool (Private)
Other Amenities
- Baby Cot
- BBQ
- Bed Linen
- Board Games/Toys
- Book Selection
- Car Parking
- Ceiling Fans
- Food Menu
- Hairdryers
- High Chairs
- Hotplates
- iPod Dock/Speakers
- Iron/Board
- Laundry Service (Extra)
- Main Dining (10 persons)
- Massage Beds
- Safe
- Toiletries
- Towels
Villa Staff
- Babysitter (On Request)
- Chef/Cook (All meals)
- Garden/Pool Staff
- Housekeeping (Full time)
- Manager
- Masseuse/Spa Therapist (On Request)
- Security
- Service Staff
- Shopper
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An enchanting private island escape set just 150m off the coast of Weligama, 30 minutes from Galle. Hopelessly romantic and wonderfully private, this five bedroom 1920s mansion is set amidst two and a half acres of lush tropical gardens with infinity pool and breathtaking spots to appreciate the panoramic views.
http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/taprobane-island.aspx
