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Camellia Hills is perched on a stunning nook surrounded by tea estates and panoramic views of Castlereagh Reservoir

The Castlereagh valley is a country standout for its absorbing scenery. At its heart is a mirror-still reservoir that extends across seven kilometres of a long, deep valley, dotted with islands. Flanking Castlereagh Reservoir on either side are rising hills sporting acres of neatly manicured tea estates topped by pine trees. Hidden amongst this emerald jaw-dropping scenery are gushing waterfalls, centuries-old tea factories, British-era churches, and colourful Hindu shrines. The closest town to Camellia Hills is Dickoya, a bustling settlement standing at an elevation of 1,200 metres above sea level.

LOCATION HIGHLIGHTS

Overlooking Castlereagh Reservoir
Ideal for scenic hikes and walks
Close proximity to Adam’s Peak
Arrive by car, train or seaplane

GETTING TO CAMELLIA HILLS

One of the best ways to travel to Camellia Hills is by car or train. A car ride from Colombo would take 4.5 hours, and 3 hours from Kandy. The closest railway station to Camellia Hills is in Hatton, a 45-minute drive away.

Alternatively, you can swoop in on a seaplane, landing on the Reservoir, and be transported up to the bungalow along the tea lined estate roads. It takes just 30-minutes to reach Castlreagh from Colombo by air.

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HISTORY OF CAMELLA HILLS

Dunkeld Estate, where Camellia Hills stands, was founded in 1875 by an Englishman, nine years after the first Ceylon tea plantation was established at Loolecondera, near Kandy. Seventy-three years later, a Sri Lankan family unexpectedly stumbled upon the estate and bought the land for Rs. 510,000 (USD 2,550), around Rs. 1.2 billion (USD 6 million) today. Although a large part of the land was sold again in 2008, the third-generation family retained a piece of it on which Camellia Hills was built in 2017.
2007
2020
CAMELLIA HILLS
The William family, who still retain a small piece of the land, wanted to share the warmth of a family home while honouring the region’s natural landscape, and so with the expertise of local environmental architect Sunela Jayawardene, Camellia Hills was brought to life in 2017.
WEATHER AND SEASONALITY
The months from January to April, and July and August bring you the clearest skies, and the most sunshine. These months are best for spending time outdoors on walks and canoe rides.

May, June, and September through November are often wet and bring a different sense of atmosphere to the valley. Rains fill the reservoir to its brim and replenish the surrounding hills and tea estates, making it a visually stunning time to cosy up in the bungalow with hot tea and cookies, and take in the magical views.
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