A gorgeous tea estate and bungalow for sale

Oct 8

A beautifully renovated historic estate surrounded by tea plantations and tropical jungle north of Galle

For sale - Guide price USD 1m

Land extent - 7 acres (1,120 perches)
Built up square feet - 5,000
Main bungalow with 5 en-suite bedrooms
Large 4×15 metre swimming pool
2 bedroom stand-alone staff house
Approximately 3 acres of estabilished tea still in cultivation
Mature tropical gardens, fruit trees and jungle valley views
45-minute drive to the beach
Reference - 251

Overview

A thoughtfully restored historic estate in a beautiful rural setting north of Galle, where the original bungalow has been extensively renovated, expanded and brought back to life as a generous and characterful home.

The house sits within an extensive 7-acre estate, with around 3 acres of tea still in cultivation, together with mature tropical gardens, fruit trees and areas of dense vegetation. The original lower floor of the bungalow has been restored, while a new upper floor and roof have been added, creating a generous home with five en-suite bedrooms, spacious living areas and a wide first-floor verandah overlooking the pool and surrounding jungle valleys.

The interiors have plenty of character, with classic furniture and beds throughout, together with a number of more individual touches including a striking floor-to-ceiling ironwood cabinet in the kitchen. Behind the house, a large swimming pool sits amongst the garden, with a covered ambalama providing a shaded place to sit and an additional entrance into the house.

The estate itself has a strong sense of history, dating back almost 200 years and once forming the largest tea estate in the area. The remains of a more than century-old Christian grotto sit amongst the mature vegetation near the entrance, while the surrounding tea fields, tropical planting and views across the jungle valleys give the property a particularly peaceful and distinctive setting.

The property is located in Udugama, around a 40-minute drive north of Galle and Galle Fort. The journey north from Galle is relatively straightforward, following well-surfaced roads from the Pinnaduwa interchange before becoming more rural as you approach the estate.
The surrounding area is predominantly rural tea country, with village properties, palm plantations, jungle and cultivated land. The final section follows an access road through a scenic valley, with views across the surrounding jungle and tea-covered hills before reaching the estate.
While the setting is distinctly rural and removed from the coast, Galle and Galle Fort are within easy reach, offering access to the southern coast's beaches, cafés, restaurants and established lifestyle scene. This balance of peaceful inland surroundings and proximity to the coast makes the property well suited as both a full-time home and a private retreat.
- Galle & Galle Fort - Approx. 45 minutes' drive
- Southern Expressway - Approx. 35 minutes' drive
- Colombo & International Airport - Approx. 2.5 hours' drive
- Galle & Galle Fort - Approx. 45 minutes' drive
- Kanneliya Rainforest - Approx. 20 minutes' drive
- Unawatuna & Talpe beaches - Approx. 50 minutes' drive
- Ahangama & Weligama beaches - Approx. 1 hour's drive
The property was originally developed as a private home and has been rented occasionally by the current owner.
Its combination of a historic bungalow, extensive land, working tea estate, swimming pool and surrounding jungle and valley landscape gives it good potential as a private retreat or small-scale hospitality property. The setting would also lend itself well to a wellness or nature-focused retreat, while its proximity to Galle provides relatively easy access for guests.
Any commercial use or further development would, of course, be subject to the relevant approvals.
The property is approached via an access road, with the final few hundred metres following a rural track through the surrounding valley to the estate. The route is accessible by standard vehicles and leads directly to the main bungalow.
The main house includes five en-suite bedrooms, generous living and dining areas, a characterful kitchen with separate staff kitchen, an air-conditioned TV room and a wide first-floor verandah. Two of the upstairs bedrooms also have adjoining smaller rooms, currently used for storage, which could be converted into studies or smaller bedrooms to create larger family suites if required.

A large swimming pool sits behind the house, together with a covered ambalama providing a shaded seating area and an additional entrance into the house.
A separate two-bedroom, two-bathroom staff house is located on the property and is currently occupied by the staff family. There is also a two-car garage.
Water is supplied from a well and the property has three-phase electricity. Around 3 acres of tea were planted in 2022 and remain in cultivation, with a further 0.25 acres of cinnamon planted in 2024. The estate also includes banana, pepper, jackfruit, mango and other fruit trees, providing fresh produce for the villa.
The house is ready to move into and is offered with the existing furniture, subject to the terms of the offer. The property is available either as a freehold sale or through the existing company structure.