| The Setting |
 Introduction Gardens Pool Plants |
| The Main House |
| The Main House Suites |
| Suite
1 - Hibiscus Suite
2 - Lotus Suite
3 - Citronella Suite
4 - Waterlily |
| The Pond House Suites |
| Suite
5 - Ginger Suite
6 - Jasmine |
| The Cuisine |
| Breakfast Lunch
& Dinner |
“This is what a haute hideaway should
be: tucked away amid villages and piercingly
green paddy fields outside the colonial port
town of Galle, Illuketia is an oasis of cool,
calm and culture. The rooms: Hibiscus is the
best of the four that surround the interior
courtyard of the main house. Lounging on its
spacious terrace at dusk, with a lime-and-arrack
cocktail in hand and monks chanting in the distance,
transports one to another era.
The food: Sri Lankan curries revolve around
the variety of ingredients, and Illuketia grows
all of its own, from jackfruit to red rice,
organically. The wine list is more than decent,
and the creamy watalappan, a spiced creamy custard
served with fresh curd, will satisfy any sweet
tooth…”
- Newsweek January, 2006
“For our spread, Illuketia’s senior
cook Krishantha and his team prepared a bounty
of local facourites: curries like okra, beetroot,
banana root and pumpkin, as well as staples
like chicken curry. In Sri Lanka, spicy flavours
are countered by astringent, so a toe-curling
clear lemongrass and ginger soup was chosen
to cleanse the palate. The local red rice which
is less refined than white rice and full of
flavour, balances the savoury curries and salads.
It’s a culinary adventure not to be missed.”
- Singapore Home and Décor, October
2005.
. . . It's a very sensual
place - a grand country house, only a 15-minute
drive from Galle, that feels as if it's the
last outpost of colonial civilisation. It's
surrounded by a dense, ever-approaching tropical
forest and from its plush verandah you can watch
iridescent birds preen and jungle monkeys play.
You can also listen to koi carp splashing in
ancient ponds and enjoy the fine fragrance of
the house speciality, a raft of aromatic curries,
wafting out from the kitchen. It's a heady mixture,
made reassuringly comfortable by the graceful
style and quiet organisation of the staff …
- By Johnny Morris, “Trail Grail”
The Telegraph, May 28, 2005.
“Can’t think of many places on
earth that come so close I imagine is Paradise
– It is difficult not to love EVERYTHING
about Illuketia – the place is magical
and the Pond House is a world in itself …
Thank you for a wonderful and truly rejuvenating
time – I feel like I am re-charged and
born again!
- Guest Book entry, 27 Nov. 2004 Sirla
Chatterjee.
“This estancia-style house is 20 minutes
inland. The atmosphere is hazy and wild and
offers a relief from the constant roar of the
sea. Illuketia feels like a beautiful secret,
an escape from everywhere and everyone. The
garden is endless. Blissfully, fabulously romantic.”
- UK Tatler, April 2006.
"One of the
5 Best Plantation Houses worldwide" (The
Independent)
The villa has been reviewed and rated
as one of the 5 Best Plantation Houses worldwide
by The Independent newspaper UK and featured
in Condé Nast Traveller,
The Times of London and many
publications worldwide.
APA VILLA ILLUKETIA FEATURED
|
|
 |
|
 |
'Sri Lanka Style' Photos by Dominic Sansoni, text by Channa Daswatte ISBN 13-978-0-79460060-0 ISBN 10-0-7946-0060-3 PERIPLUS EDITIONS, 2006 www.periplus.com |
 |
'Inside Asia' Photos by Reto Guntli, text by Sunil Sethi Taschen GmbH, 2004 ISBN: 3-8228-1441-5 www.taschen.com (Apa Villas on pages 140 to 151) |
Quotes from our guestbooks April 2005 “Thank you all for a wonderful,
however, short break at this fantastic
villa. The hospitality and delicious food
was appreciated. Good luck to you all
and keep “blackie” in the
comfort he is used to!”
October 2004 “Illuketia is an ideal place for
artistic inspiration. Thank you Management
for a more then perfect weekend.”
October 2004 “We had a wonderful time, enjoying
the views, the gardens, the food, and
the incredibly friendly and helpful staff.
And of course the Management’s ever-present
helpfulness.”
November 2004 “I came to chill out and did, that
goodness you can’t get toddy in
London otherwise life would be one long
siesta. I’d recommend this place
for anyone of a weird disposition”
November 2004 “Paradise: idyllic escape…
Illuketia and Apa Villa were both intimate
and an out of this world experience. Being
a part of nature within a beautiful home
is special it feels very personal which
is the magic behind the place. From the
hearty smiles of the staff, to exquisite
cooking, my soul feels rested and refreshed.
Thank you Management.”
January 2004 “We arrived to the sounds of a
Farinelli playing, entered a courtyard
that takes one’s breath away and
spent the next two days taking in every
variation of green in the paddy fields
and trees around us. The staff spoiled
up silly – the food was fantastic.
There are many visions of paradise –
this marvelous home is the best one.”
December 2006 “We are sad to be leaving this
oasis of relaxation after 2 weeks touring
Sri Lanka. We Will take home many enriched
memories of Apa Villa: the rolling surf
of the ocean, the delightful setting and
not least the discrete yet excellent service
offered by all the staff. Thank you all
with every good wish for 2007”
March 2007 “To the management and staff of
the delightful Apa Villa’s! We couldn’t
have asked or dreamt of a more perfect
location and atmosphere for our beautiful
wedding and following honeymoon! The whole
experience was a dream in paradise, with
every wish catered for. We now have the
most sparkling memories to begin our married
life with, and the best excuse in the
world to return to Sri Lanka and Apa Villa
for future anniversaries! Thank you so
much for everything”
November 2003 “Please can I come again? This
time for much longer, to relax in the
space, the shade, the lovely people…
and the sound of waves at night. Heaven…”
April 2004 “What a fantastic way to finish
our Sri Lanka tour. Only shame is that
we only had 2 days – next time we
will be back for much longer”
November 2005 “There are not enough stars to
do the justice in the name of Apa Villa.
This is our paradise on earth and the
happy memories will last forever.”
October 2006 “Many hotels and villas accept
children but my little tribe of 4 have
been welcomed with such open arms and
wide smiles it has made Apa Villa a wonderful
family destination”
January 2007 “To everyone at Apa Villas, thank
you all so much. We have enjoyed our stay
here enormously. It is the most wonderful
setting, a dream holiday. The staff have
been exceptionally attentive, pampering
to our every wish, which with eight children
in our party is one mean treat!”
January 2007 “Watching the fishermen at the
sunset over the sea – a memorable
experience.”
March 2007 “To everyone at Apa Villa, Please
don’t change anything - it is perfect,
a beautiful setting, wonderful food, charming
and friendly staff we have been treated
like royalty.”
March 2007 We have adored every second of our time
in paradise
November 2005 “…A slice of heaven on earth…”
July 2006 “We are very surprised to find
such a ‘home’ so far away
from home! We didn’t need any excursion
of trip to make: everything we need was
here, beautiful nature (birds, monkeys,
flowers, butterflies, fireflies). Excellent
service nice people and very good food!”
March 2007 “This is an unbelievably beautiful
place. Enjoying the cooling pool and sea
breeze, great for children as well. Thank
you so much.”
April 2005 “Thank you is not enough. We have
had the perfect holiday. The beach, food,
and nature: a true paradise.” |
|