Adisham Bungalow, Haputale: An English Manor Turned Monastery
Adisham Bungalow sits in the hills above Haputale, built in 1931 for the British planter Sir Thomas Villiers and modelled on an English country house. Today it is St Benedict’s Monastery, run by Benedictine monks, and part of it is open to visitors. The stone house, cool climate and manicured gardens feel a world away from the tropical lowlands.
The house and gardens
The bungalow is built in a Tudor and Jacobean style with timbered rooms, a library and a chapel. Visitors can see a few of the ground-floor rooms and wander the well-kept flower and vegetable gardens, which supply the monastery.
Homemade produce
The monks are known for their jams, cordials and preserves made from the estate’s fruit. A small shop sells them, and they make a good gift or picnic addition.
Visiting
Adisham is usually open to visitors on weekends and public and school holidays, so check the days before travelling. It is a few kilometres from Haputale town, reachable by tuk-tuk and then a short walk through the grounds. Pair it with Lipton’s Seat for a full hill-country day.
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