Set in the peaceful village of Ahangama, just a few minutes from the Galle-Matara coastal road, Kiripalu features two stunning houses and a 13m pool which sit within an elegantly landscaped tropical garden of Kiripalu and coconut trees, deep purple orchids and giant ferns

The four-bedroomed house at the entrance is a beautifully restored Sinhalese ancestral wallawwa with a distinctive style characterized by intricate floral fretwork along the eaves and windows, and a central frangipane tree-studded courtyard that unfolds into a spacious open-plan living and dining area. Three of the bedrooms are on the lower floor while the master bedroom is upstairs.

Perched at the top of the garden, overlooking the pool, is the second two-bedroomed house, complete with its own kitchen, dining, and living area. One of the bedrooms is on the lower floor while the spacious master bedroom is upstairs. The garden house is built in the same antique style as the main house with red-roof tiles and decorative white-washed latticing around the eaves.

On a terrace between the two houses lies the pool, fringed by coconut and scented frangipane trees. At one side there is an elegant, shaded sitting area, an inspiring spot to read, enjoy morning breakfast or a cup of afternoon tea. This is also an ideal place from which to admire the abundance of bird, butterfly, and dragonfly life that fills the garden.

The Sri Lankan owners have sensitively restored Kiripalu to pay tribute to the original design while adding modern comforts. The main house was originally owned by a village headman, and it is still the tradition for visitors to bow their heads as they come in through the decorative entrance. A visual treat for architecture lovers, the house is full of interesting features including a Hindu swastika in the entrance hall, which symbolizes prosperity and good luck.

The name ‘Kiripalu’ derives from the endemic trees which are found throughout the garden. Three times a year they produce a small, sweet fruit that has a milk-colored juice inside. In the ancient medicinal science of Ayurveda, the fruits are believed to have many health benefits and in Theravada Buddhism, it is said that the thirteenth Buddha gained enlightenment while sitting underneath one of these