What is the history of Adisham Bungalow?

Adisham Bungalow is a Tudor-style country house in Haputale, built in 1931 by Sir Thomas Villiers, a notable British planter. Now it acts as a monastery, run by the Sylvestro-Benedictine congregation, while it keeps the colonial architecture intact and also preserves antique furnishings.

Sir Thomas Villiers meant the whole estate to look like Leeds Castle in Kent, so he imported building materials, furniture, and carpets straight from England. After his retirement, the Roman Catholic Church bought the property in 1961, and that’s when things started to shift. The monks manage it today, tending orchards and making jams and cordials that people really like. Visitors can go through the library and living rooms, which offer a well-preserved glimpse into Sri Lanka’s British colonial period.