Exclusively Aditya: Jetwing Warwick Gardens

Why Jetwing Warwick Gardens

As the sun burns through the early morning mist that shrouds this 118-year-old English planter’s house, the majesty of its vertiginous position becomes apparent; picturesquely tucked within the Ambewela mountain range overlooking a deep tea-bushed valley, Warwick Gardens offers guests seclusion and convenience since attractions such as Nuwara Eliya, Hakgala Botanical Gardens and Horton Plains are located just a short distance away. Painstakingly restored under the watchful eye of renowned architect Channa Daswatte into a warm and luxurious five-bedroom home, Warwick Gardens is an impressive granite-bricked two-storey mansion surrounded by 30 acres of colourful gardens, abundant tea and organic farmland.

The interior of Warwick Gardens has been stylishly and lovingly designed by the owners in keeping with the history of the house and comprises one bedroom on the ground floor, and a further four, including the master suite, up a grand teak stairway enveloped by Rajasthani carpets that hang from the walls. French windows lead from the cosy sitting room with open fireplace, baby grand piano, plump sofas and brightly coloured paintings onto a furnished stone terrace overlooking a grassy lawn with verdant valley views southeast towards Uva. The burgundy-hued dining room features a mahogany table illuminated by candles and a beautiful Italian chandelier. A breakfast room and side patio overlooked by agapanthus offer further locations for atmospheric dining.

Guests are invited to make Warwick their home; wander into the kitchen and watch the chef at work crafting dishes which use as much fresh organic produce as possible from the Warwick Farm garden. The resident manager Dr Faris is a mine of information on anything from agriculture and botany to the history of Nuwara Eliya and his presence along with the four other personable staff members really enhance your stay. Go wildlife spotting, tea factory touring, help in the farm or make a cultural visit to the tea estate’s line housing to witness first-hand the way of life and genuine hospitality of the island’s Tamil plantation-workers.

In the know

Artists and writers will love its breathtaking location and amblers its endless walking opportunities.

The library is packed with an assortment of interesting books featuring Sri Lanka, Ceylon tea and wildlife as well as a collection of novels, periodicals and magazines.

Four of the five rooms have working fireplaces that can be lit on request. Perfect for those chilly nights!

For a family or group of friends, Warwick Gardens is ideal. Due to the nature of the house, children are generally preferred in group bookings unless no other guests are staying at the same time.

The hotel has great eco-credentials and trips are arranged based on their cultural, natural and agricultural values.

Visit the Warwick Factory not only for the excellent insight into tea production but for the mesmerising walk to get there.

Distance from the airport; 6 hours by road.