Nine Skies
England in the emerald hills
Dashing Demodara
Comforting, refreshing, warming, very moreish: we could be talking about the perfect cuppa, but in fact it’s Nine Skies we have in mind. This boutique bungalow set on a working tea estate in the town of Demodara is a delicious tonic for body, mind and soul. Harking back to the region’s colonial days, rooms are styled with a refined British sensibility, but things are firmly Sri Lankan in the kitchen – and beyond your bedroom, where Hill Country’s emerald-green scenery beckons. Enjoy delicious rice and curries, take a dip in the view-toting pool and unwind in the snug library with a book or two. Just add tea (or a G&T from the honesty bar) when you’re thirsty.
Facilities
Rooms
Five, including one suite.
Checkout
Noon; earliest check-in, 2pm. Both are flexible, subject to availability and a charge: the cost of one night for check-in before 2pm; 50 per cent of one night, for check-out by 6pm; a full night for check-outs after that.
More Details
Make yourselves at home: the all-inclusive rates usually include three meals a day, plus tea and coffee, soft drinks and alcohol.
Also
The bungalow layout at Nine Skies means that this estate hotel is accessible if you have some mobility.
Free Internet Access
Laundry
Pool
On-Site Restaurant
At the Hotel
Lovely grounds; lounge; free WiFi throughout. In rooms: black-out curtains, free bottled water, kettle, tea- and coffee-making kit. Rooms don’t have televisions, but there’s one in the lounge.
Our Favourite Rooms
The Demodara Rooms are spacious and relaxing; for direct access to the garden and pool, opt for Badulla, but Walimida has charming twin-aspect views of the valley and grounds. If your budget permits, go large and bed down in the biggest sleeping quarters: the Ella Rock Suite.
Poolside
In the eye-pleasing gardens, the shimmering infinity pool has jaw-drop views of the Hill Country (be warned, though: it isn’t heated.
Packing Tips
Bring comfy walking shoes and an interest in all things tea-related.
Children
Little Smiths are very welcome. The hotel has a limited number of extra beds and cots so be sure to book in advance; a bed can be added to the Demodara rooms or the Ella Rock Suite for $36.36 (but an all-inclusive supplement applies).
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
The alfresco restaurant surveys the pool, but it has with a roof, should the weather turn.
Dress Code
Something to take you from tea to G&Ts: comfy layers designed for lounging; splashes of emerald to honour the leafy surroundings.
Hotel Restaurant
Enjoy delicious rice and curries rustled up by the chef, served in the al fresco dining area. If you’re craving something Western, you can enjoy flavour packed salads, sandwiches and the ilk. Begin the day like Sri Lankan champions by opting for hoppers (savoury pancakes, served with sambol relishes).
Hotel Bar
There’s an honesty bar in the lounge; you can also enjoy drinks in the restaurant, by the pool or in the grounds.
Last Orders
There are no set times for meals; guests can just let staff know their preferences. Complimentary tea and coffee is served between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.
Room Service
Should you fancy an in-room treat, dishes from the restaurant menu can be brought to you.
Planes
Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport is around five hours from Ella by car. If you’re already in Sri Lanka, you could hop on a domestic flight to Nuwara Eliya Seaplane Base on Lake Gregory, which is 60 kilometres away.
Trains
Demodara Station is just one kilometre away (a 10-minute drive), with services connecting to Colombo, Kandy and other Sri Lankan destinations.
Automobiles
Only drive if you don’t mind looping roads and hair-pin bends – intrepid drivers will relish having a car for exploring the handsome Hill Country surroundings. You’ll need to drop your luggage off at the hotel entrance as the car park is a walk away; there’s free valet parking.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
The Hill Country is ripe for culture, wild adventures and natural highs. At the hotel, unwind in the library, mix a drink or two at the honesty bar and go for a wander in the grounds. Walk to local icon, Nine Arch Bridge, along the famous railway track. You can potter down to the tracks and then be taken back up by an obliging tuk-tuk (it’s around three kilometres in total). Hop on one of the Iron Devils – the famous local steam trains that chug through the hill country, giving passengers jaw-drop views. (You could get to Ella this way from Nuwara Eliya, for example.) Borrow wheels from the hotel and go mountain biking in the region’s emerald scenery; for the tastiest views, pack a chef-prepared picnic, too. You could also hike up Mini Adam’s Peak: it takes about 40 minutes to get to the top, but you can extend the experience by scrabbling gamely across the neighbouring ridges. You’re in tea country, so make sure you visit a local tea estate and factory; if possible, join a tour and absorb a brew-tastic education.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
