IT IS YOUR IDEAL COUNTRY CLUB,

nestling between tall lush greenery and beautifully laid out gardens, where an evening tea party would be appropriate. The colonial style interior has polished wooden floors, large comfortable brocade chairs laid out in the lounge and an old-wood furnished lounge bar. The ambience is one of cozy, quiet, relaxation.

The rooms with their large four-poster beds complement the look, with their cheerful country cottage drapery and soft wooden furniture. The large windows look out on to wonderful patches of garden and wild flowers.

You know it's an ideal spot for a rest because it has been the haunt of tea planters since 1893 before it was opened as a fully-fledged hotel. It does not seem to have moved on in time since then - locked in time somewhere between the 1930s and 1940s with a quiet, efficient service and an absolute old world charm.

The Bandarawela town, 4500 feet above sea level, lying at the doorstep of the hotel is a sleepy place, often described as the forgotten hill station, but it offers some interesting sites and some scenic views to the observer.

The restaurant, large bar and a pub (the oldest in Bandarawela) are lovely. Suites, deluxe and standard rooms are available. Most rooms offer TV, ceiling fans, hairdryer and a bath. The kitchen is constantly supplied with a choice variety of vegetables and herbs, fresh from their garden. A pastry kiosk and a charming children's playground complete the picture.

Excursions to places of interest (Horton Plains, waterfalls, Adisham Monastery & rail tours) can be planned at the hotel and you could get help with any transportation needed.

It is said that this area has the ideal atmospheric pressure and climatic conditions for the human body and mind. And the scent of pine trees is divine.