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Don Diogu Villa – Sri Lanka A Holiday Bungalow like no other! |
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Background Don Diogu Villa was originally known as “Dimbulamure Walauwa”. It was built by the Korale of Wellawaya, Don Diogu Samarakoon Wijesinghe over one hundred years ago. Over the years, several changes were made to the house and now, it has been renovated with all the modern comforts - to make the guests feel at ease - while maintaining the old world charm. Typical Sri Lankan food is available, prepared just the way village folk do. The Location Situated exactly 1˝ miles from the Wellawaya town on the Ella-Wellawaya Road, the driveway to the bungalow is through a private road across paddy fields, with the towering, forested slopes of the Poonagala Mountain Range on the backdrop. What is unique about the Don Diogu Villa as a holiday resort is that Nature comes right to its doorstep. The Villa is located in its own spreading beautiful parkland, with the most attractive Kirindi Oya (river), which is a haven for birds and other wildlife, forming one of the boundaries. There are huge beautiful trees growing on the river’s banks and rocks in the middle of the river, on which one could sit and dangle the feet in the cool rushing waters. The Setting The Villa consists of five guest rooms, with each having its own attached bathroom. Three of the rooms give a view of the outer garden, while two rooms give a view of the “Meda Midula”, the inner garden that is synonymous with old “Walauwas” or villas. Sights & Sounds The parkland abounds in bird life and is alive with the call of the Black-headed Oriole, the Paradise Fly-catcher, the Coppersmith Barbet, the Drongo and many others. Bird watching enthusiasts, in two days of observation during the off-season, have sighted in the park over 50 species of endemic and migratory birds to Sri Lanka. Some of the birds seen by the river included a Three-toed Kingfisher, Orange Minivets, Black-capped Bulbul, Stork-billed Kingfishers, Fantail Flycatchers, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Blue-faced Malkoha, Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike, Green Imperial Pigeons, Barred Bustard Quail, Chestnut-headed and Little Green Bee-eaters, Ceylon Swallow, Rufous-winged Bushlarks and Baya Weavers. It is also the haunt of smaller types of wild life. Mouse deer and spotted deer grazing in the park is a common sight and wild boar, two species of monkeys, rock squirrels, and mongoose are frequent visitors. If one wishes to venture a little further a-field, there are exciting and arduous mountain trails waiting to be explored. The beautiful Ella Wala waterfall is about 5km from the Villa and involves a trek of about 3km through jungle footpaths. You can explore the Ravana caves or follow the route the Portuguese Captain-General took in his retreat down the steep mountain slopes from Passara to Randeniya. Or you can do the more grueling ascent to the summit of Poonagalla from where you will have a panoramic view of Sri Lanka’s Southern and South-Eastern plains. And when you return hot and tired you can cool your aching limbs with a dip in the Kirinda Oya in the boundary of the Villa’s park. The ancient Kumbuk trees that line its banks keep the lazily meandering waters cool and shady for you. Nature’s charms do not cease with the nightfall here. Reclining in easy chairs on the spacious roof garden of the villa one has an unimpeded view of the brilliant, star-studded night sky such as no city dweller will ever have. Nature & Archaeology Those of you who are keen on nature could visit three of Sri Lanka’s national parks, namely Lahugala, Uda Walawe and Yala. Wild life is also abundant in Handapanagala, Pelwatte and Buduruwagala, just minutes’ drive from Don Diogu Villa. Rich in natural resources, the Uva Province boasts of several water falls – Dunhinda, Diyaluma and Ravana Ella to name a few. Sri Lanka has a rich cultural heritage. This heritage is evident from the number of archaeological sites that could be seen throughout Uva, Southern and Eastern Provinces. Some of these sites that date back to over 2000 years are the Buduruwagala rock carvings of Lord Buddha, Bodhisattva Alavokitheswara, Vajirapani (also known as God Sakra) and Aryathara (Tara Devi), Yudaganawa Chaitya - the place where Princes Dutugemunu and Tissa fought for the crown, Dematamal Vihare in Okkampitiya where Prince Tissa hid from his brother Prince Dutugemunu after he was defeated at Yudaganawa, Magul Maha Vihare in Lahugala - the location where King Kavantissa and Vihara Maha Devi (parents of Dutugemunu and Tissa) were married, stone statues of Lord Buddha and Alavokitheswara at Maligawila and Kataragama Devale and Kirivehera, holy and religious sites to Buddhists and Hindus. Another interesting site is the Randeniwela Monument, which marks the battleground where in August 1630 the Portuguese Captain-General of Ceylon Constantine d’Saa and his army were decimated by an army led by Maha Asthana Prince (Crown Prince) of Kandy. This prince was the son of King Senerath and Queen Dona Catherina of Kandy and he was later crowned as King Rajasinghe. An indication of the position of some of the interesting
sites, in relation to the Villa is given in our list of Attractions. |
