Adisham Bungalow, Sri Lanka

Adisham is an English country house set among pine and eucalyptus forest about 3 km from Haputale. Sir Thomas Villiers, a British planter and businessman, built it in 1931 and named it after the village in Kent where he was born. It could have been lifted from the English countryside, with granite walls, a turret, tall chimneys and a terraced garden. Since the 1960s it has been St Benedict's Monastery, home to a community of Benedictine monks.

What you can see

Only part of the house is open to visitors.

• The library and living room are kept much as Villiers left them, with period furniture, books and portraits. Staff show you through in a few minutes.
• The gardens are the highlight for many visitors, with roses, lawns and an orchard, and views over the valley when the mist clears.
• The shop sells jams, cordials, chutneys and jellies made by the monastery from its own fruit, including strawberry jam and wood apple jam. They are well known in Sri Lanka, and they make good gifts.

Photography is not allowed inside the house, and it may be restricted in parts of the grounds. Remember that this is a working monastery, so keep your voice low and dress respectfully.

Opening days

This is the important part. Adisham is generally open only on weekends, poya days and during school holidays, with a break in the middle of the day. Times have changed over the years, so ask your guesthouse in Haputale to confirm before you go. A small entrance fee is charged. If you find it closed, the walk there is still pleasant.

Getting there

From Haputale, it's about 10 minutes by tuk-tuk, or a pleasant 45-minute walk along a quiet road through the forest. The road passes the edge of the Thangamale bird sanctuary, so watch and listen for birds along the way.

Combine it with

Adisham fits well into a day in Haputale. The classic plan is sunrise at Lipton's Seat, a tour of the Dambatenne tea factory, and Adisham on the way back. From Ella, Haputale is about an hour by road or a scenic ride by train. Our hill country itinerary and tea country guide will help you plan.

The weather here is cool and changeable. January to April is usually the clearest time, and afternoons are often misty all year round.