A 1931 English country mansion built by Sir Thomas Villiers for retirement, now serving as a monastery run by Benedictine monks. The Tudor-style architecture and maintained gardens offer insight into colonial-era hill station life, though interior access is limited to scheduled tours. It is at Ella's Haputale, close to the other main sights. It sits below the headline sights but earns its place on a longer visit to Ella.
What It Is
You walk through rooms with original 1930s furnishings while monks explain the building's history. The polished wooden floors creak underfoot, and large windows frame views of tea plantations rolling to distant mountains.
Why Visit
Rare example of preserved colonial architecture in its original setting. It is not the first thing you should see in Ella, but with two or more days it fills a gap the major sights leave. Mornings are quieter if you want to take your time.
More on Ella
It is one entry in our list of things to do in Ella.
We plan trips to Ella and the rest of Sri Lanka. Tell us your dates and we will put a route together. Our routes are on the tours page.