Local Attractions

The local area is brimming with things to do, from visiting the botanical gardens at Perendeniya, to the elephant sanctuary, to many local temples and monuments.

Bougan Villa hosts can arrange transportation either on a trip by trip basis to any of these attractions. Alternatively, we can arrange a car and driver for the day who will take you to all the sites you would like to see and wait for you.

History & Society

 The central mountain regions host the original capital of Sri Lanka, and played a large role in the early days of the British Empire. Tea fields, elephant sanctuaries, temples and museums abound. Sri Lanka's complex society has many different groups that all add their own colour to the surroundings.

Places to Visit

Temple of the Tooth - This temple in Kandy is where the tooth of Budda is held. If you are visiting in July or August, you will see the amazing Kandy Perahera, the parade of the temple where the gold caskets are paraded through the city. On the last night there is a procession of more than 50 elephants who are accompanied by drummers and dancers.

Lankatilaka Temple - Part of a sequence of temples dating back to the 14th Century.

Royal Botanical Gardens - These gardens are just a short distance from Bougan Villa and the orchid house holds over 300 species of orchid.

The Old Royal Palace Compound - Just opposite the Temple of the Tooth, these buildings include quarters of the royal concubines; queen's chambers the council chambers and the armoury and are well worth a visit.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage - This amazing place is a little further away from Bougan Villa but well worth a visit to see the baby elephants playing in the mud.

For more information on things to do and see, visit the Explore Lanka site.