A trip to Sri Lanka’s south coast is a treat of endless sandy beaches that run parallel to the main road from Colombo to Galle. Beyond, the turquoise Indian Ocean stretches to the horizon. To enjoy the waves rolling in, almost to your doorstep, book a stay at Citrus Waskaduwa. Explore the town by taking a tuk tuk ride, following a cycling trail or ty out some beach or water sports that are very popular in the area: like beach volleyball, windsurfing or diving.
To find Bevis Bawa Brief Garden, make your way further down to the coast towards Bentota. Some of the best known beach hotels in Sri Lanka are also located here. The landscape architect, Bevis Bawa was the brother of world renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. The Brief Garden is that name given to his estate, which was once a rubber plantation. The garden was created in 1929 and today it is a hillside garden with series of landscaped lawns that have captured the spirit and preserved the memory of its late owner.
The property is entered through two iron gates flanked by two imposing statues that stand out of a thick bamboo hedge. Beyond lies a Japanese garden, wide lawns and a perimeter path that leads to a round pond set in a grassy patch. Small hillocks here and there offer stunning views. There are several works of art scattered around the property that range from erotic statues to a spectacular mural that depicts Sri Lankan life. Bevis Bawa also played host to Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier who stayed at Brief Garden during the filming of Elephant Walk in 1953. The house that stands in the garden is very minimalistic and almost invisible. Opening hours are from 10am to 5pm.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+