Adisham Bungalow or Adisham Hall, being a clear-cut instance of colonial heritage in the country, is a typical English countryside mansion built of stone, built in 1931. Having in possession a relic of St.Sylvester at the chapel, Adisham Bungalow serves as a venerable monastery of Saint Benedict at present. Positioned on the lush mountain ranges of central highlands in the nation, Adisham Bungalow is one of the best tourist attractions in Sr Lanka visited by thousands every year, who would like to peep into history.
Adisham Bungalow is seen as both a colonial heritage in the country and a masterpiece of English architecture set up in the mountains. Here this stone mansion and the monastery attract people having a holy relic (a chip of a bone of St. Sylvester) in possession. The bungalow has an acres-wide orchard of fruits and plants around with a beautiful hillside view across Hindu kovils, tea estates, and eucalyptus forest. The mansion is worth visiting for its advanced architecture with imported wooden items, fireplaces in all rooms and mountain-inspired water systems.
Sir Thomas Lister Villiers, who had been a British aristocrat, planter and the governor of that time who strived for equality in education and cessation of child employment, is the colonial master who contributed this architectural Bungalow to the country in 1931. Designed by F. Webster and R. Booth in accordance to the Tudor and Jacobean style of England, the construction of this phenomenal bungalow took 4 years to finish. Upon the retirement of Sir Thomas, the land and property were handed over to Sedawatte Mills in 1949 and once again in 1961, to a Roman Catholic Church, after which the bungalow was converted to a monastery as we see it today.
Location in the central high ranges of the country offers the region, where Adisham Bungalow is located, literally pleasant and refreshing climate and temperature all year round in such a way that you can expect a moderate amount of rainfall and snow throughout the year. Speaking about the best season to visit Adisham Bungalow, preferable months or warmer months are from May to July when rainfall is less likely to occur. Also, tea estates are very charming during these months. Visitors are allowed to visit from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm only on weekends ( Poya days, public holidays, Saturday and Sunday).
Here at Adisham Bungalow, you would be more enjoying the unmatchable architectural value that this nineteenth-century British colonial-period building showcases on every nook and corner. You learn about the typical English countryside house making and the special craft of the workers who facilitated even the fully-fledged water system with centralized boiling. Since the bungalow is now a monastery, you can watch the worship here and the holy relic of St.St. Sylvester. Being located on the lush mountain range of the country, visitors are open to experience the beautiful view over hills and valleys.
Blessed with an extensive orchard that stretches over 10 acres replenished with fruits, Adisham Bungalow sells a wide range of natural edible varieties through its own outlet, like delicious jams, chutneys, cordials, sauces, syrups and jellies made from the fruits harvested from its own orchards. Monks with the assistance of village people cultivate guavas, strawberries, oranges and other vegetables here. Its another outlet is located at Haputale as well. The income from the shops is used for the maintenance of the monastery.
The Adisham Bungalow is situated in an extremely scenic site on the mountain range, encircled by the forest, Tangamale Reserve. This tourist attraction is positioned around 4 kilometers away from Haputale city, which is a well-known town in Badulla District of Uva province, perched at an altitude of about 5000 feet above the sea level. More than 200 kilometers away from Colombo airport, you shall get to Haputale by a 5-hour car drive or 8-hours on a train. If you get on buses from Colombo to Badulla via Route 99, you can access Haputale on the way.
