Boutique hotel · Kandy

The Elephant Stables

A private road off Nittawela Road, on a hilltop about 10 minutes from Kandy city centre, looking to the Knuckles range

About The Elephant Stables

Rooms: 8 types
Dining: 3 places
Swimming: Pool

A colonial bungalow once home to Sir Cudah Ratwatte, whose plantation gardens kept elephants, now a small hotel of 7 rooms and suites a few minutes above Kandy.

Rooms mix colonial teak four-poster beds with bold modern design, and the house keeps a living room of classic films, a reading room, board games and a collection of 1950s British cars.

The hotel also lets the Riverdale Bungalow, the east wing of a colonial house on the Anniewatte ridge about 4 km away, used in filming The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Rooms and suites

Pepper Deluxe Room
Four-poster bedVerandaGarden
Upper floor of the New Wing, four-poster bed, garden views on 2 sides and a wrap-around verandah; takes a third bed for a child under 12.
Lemongrass Deluxe Room
Four-poster bedUp to 2Veranda
Upper floor of the New Wing, four-poster bed, a large bathroom and a verandah over the garden; for 2 adults.
Saffron Deluxe Room
Four-poster bed
Medium-sized room in the original Colonial Wing, four-poster bed, looking over the pool and garden.
Citronella Colonial Suite
Four-poster bed
Large room in the Colonial Wing with a four-poster bed and views to the Knuckles range; takes a third bed.
Vanilla Colonial Suite
Four-poster bedUp to 2Connects
Large suite in the Colonial Wing with a four-poster bed and a small connecting room with a bunk bed; for 2 adults and 2 children under 12.
The Cottage
Single bedsUp to 4
Stand-alone garden cottage over the back lawn and pool, a four-poster bedroom plus a living area with 2 teak single beds; sleeps 4.
Royal Luxury Tent
85 sq mUp to 5
About 85 sq m air-conditioned tented suite with a four-poster master bedroom, a second bedroom with 2 singles, living and dining areas and a cement bathroom; sleeps up to 5.
Riverdale Bungalow
VerandaHill view
About 4 km from the hotel on the Anniewatte ridge: a 2-bedroom suite and private verandah over the Mahaweli valley, furnished with antiques, taken on exclusive use.

Dining

The restaurantEnglish, continental or Sri Lankan hopper breakfasts, quick lunches, and 2 set 3-course dinner menus nightly, one always a Sri Lankan rice and curry of 10 to 12 dishes, the other Asian fusion or western.
The barCocktails and mocktails, including a house signature cocktail.
Afternoon teaScones, cakes and local pastries with Ceylon tea, served on the lawn.

Amenities

Pools and spa

Infinity-edge pool in the garden facing the hills and Kandy town

More dining

Restaurant with 2 set dinner menus nightlyBar with cocktails and mocktailsAfternoon tea on the lawnChildren's meals

Activities

Living room with around 100 classic filmsReading room facing the Knuckles rangeBoard games and carromDrives in classic 1950s British cars and a Mini MokeDay excursions: Cultural Triangle, tea country, rafting at Kitulgala, Knuckles treks

For families

3 suites with room for extra bedsTeak single beds rather than fold-away bedsKids' meals and games

Services

Pick-ups from Colombo airport, Kandy station and the Polgolla seaplane jettyWeddings and celebrations

Good to know

Families are welcome: the Vanilla Suite, the Cottage and the Royal Luxury Tent sleep 4 or more.
The Riverdale Bungalow is about 4 km from the main house, so meals and the pool are a drive away.
About 10 minutes by road from Kandy city centre; 3.5 hours from Colombo airport, or 20 minutes by seaplane air taxi to the Polgolla jetty.