Visitors are filling the guest book with wistful regrets that they couldn't spend another day at this refurbished 1804 walauwa, or manor house, where frogs provide a nightly lullaby. A palm-fringed pool overlooks the rice terraces, and mosquito-netted canopy beds dominate in the eight guest rooms, each unique. Guests who stay here before setting off on the arduous journey to the country's Cultural Triangle will find Kandy House an unexpected treat.
When to go: August, when the city is at its liveliest, thanks to the Kandy Asala Perahara festival's colorful elephant parade.
Which room to book: The Indian Red Admiral Room, for the best views and a sitting room that opens onto a private patio (doubles, $80–$175).