Set along the golden beach of Hikkaduwa, where the waters are filled with activity, Villa Saffron offers vacationers a home away from home.
Words Keshini de Silva
Photographs Menaka Aravinda and Geeth Viduranga
Salty sea breeze whisks through Villa Saffron with warm hugs. As we walked through the Dutch-era door, we were greeted with friendly smiles and a canine wagging its tail at a welcoming pace. A calming sense of coming home washed over us. The sea frothed on to the sandy beach calling for our attention, drawing us towards the terrace. As we stood mesmerised by the Hikkaduwa beach, hospitality was served in the refreshing red of watermelon.
Artistic elegance that celebrates oneness with nature is encapsulated within the tropical villa. It is an ideal holiday home imagined with a love for artistry and great care for details. Adorned with the hallmark of easy-going Sri Lankan hospitality and merriness, the villa offers each guest a tranquil and intimate experience.
Apart from its coastal charm, the holiday home is a shrine for the arts; from the Spanish mosaic tiles that decorate the steps to the ancient Sri Lankan medicinal chest at the reception. Heavy antique trunks double up as tables, complementing the villa with a strong ancient air. The magnificent Aluwihare tapestry by Ena de Silva and the paintings by Ivan Peries will excite your artistic soul and inspire.
@Alice Luker
Dining at the villa takes place at the terrace on colonial or wicker furniture. A continental or Sri Lankan breakfast can be enjoyed amidst the roaring view of the ocean. The chefs are ready to prepare any meal of your choice, or customise their dishes to suit your taste buds. Although a quaint holiday home, there is much excitement that echoes from the beach. The waves trigger ripples of laughter as it throws you off balance mingled with screeches from little ones as their sand castles are washed away. On the evenings that the fishermen call home with their catch, you can rush off to join the crowds who help haul in the bountiful net. Purchase a mullet and hand it over to the kitchen for an evening feast. Under the twinkling sky at a beachside table lit by romantic candles, savour scrumptiousness. Watch morning’s glow colour the beach or the playful shades of dusk while you lounge in the pool; a remedy for the tired soul.
Each room at the villa has a character of its own, designed, as in any house, to suit the unique preferences of family members and boasts of spaciousness. Cinnamon and Tamarind Suites open out to the ocean, each providing a private verandah for guests to laze in and an open-air bathroom. From the furniture to the bedding, the two suites are different yet sing the song of comfort and relaxation. The Garden Suite, also on the ground floor, would appeal to the nature lover, with its verandah that reaches the garden and where only far cries of the waves are heard.
Of the rooms on the upper floor the Vanilla Suite rejoices in subtle colours and a private balcony with a jacuzzi. The Saffron Suite, the villa’s namesake, is the master bedroom of sorts, the epitome of luxury home living in privacy. It’s furnished as a comfortable apartment with a private dining area and jacuzzi on the balcony.
This close-knit setting has enticed many families or groups to bask in the comforts and privacy of the entire villa. Booking only the upper floor with its cosy living room is also an option to create an intimate setting that offers individual space, especially for a group of four.
Villa Saffron is an idyllic getaway sought after by those who shun the beach crowds. Yet, its proximity to the action of Hikkaduwa and easy access to the beach, means guests from both worlds are accommodated. Enjoy the bygone charms of Sri Lanka, its bubbly beach vibes as well as mouth-watering cuisine. Villa Saffron will make you feel right at home in the tropics.
776, Galle Road, Thiranagama,
Hikkaduwa
(+94) 777 772 744
info@villasaffron.com
villasaffron.com
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