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Message: <blockquote data-quote="vass_sam" data-source="post: 12055839" data-attributes="member: 11488">Adisham Bungalow: The house that Sir Villiers builtIn the cool climes of Haputale, exists a place called the Adisham Bungalow. This place inspired an Englishman 70 years ago, and now entices local and foreign tourists, with its elegant beauty and magnificent scenery.Once this grand house provided shelter to an Englishman named Sir Thomas Lister Villiers (for more details about him, read Variety page) and his family. Now it's one of the most fascinating tourist attractions in Sri Lanka.Sir Thomas Villiers found an idyllic (peaceful or romantic) place near Haputale to build his dream house, surrounded by virgin forests and commanding views of the hills and valleys, and the highest mountain range of Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon.Do you know how this bungalow got its name? Sir Villiers was born in an area known as Adisham in Kent, UK. As an honour to his birthplace, he used its name for his newly-built mansion.When the house was under construction, slowly, it started reflecting the mind-set of a homesick Englishman. The house was designed in the Tudor style, which was the same style used in the Leeds Castle in Kent, with stout granite walls of local quarried stone, long, narrow turret windows (like the ones in towers) and chimneys.In every detail, it looked like a mansion in the country of Queen Elizabeth. The roof was covered with Burma teak shingles (roof tiles). The doors, windows, panelling, staircase and floors were all made of Burma teak. The pillared landing on the main staircase, adorned by portraits of Sir Villiers' relatives, the Claredons and Dukes of Bedford, consisted of four stout English oaks, polished, but looking natural.Villiers wanted his house to give him the impression that he was in Britain. So he decorated it with British furniture, linen, carpets, porcelain, silver and glassware. He imported the finest items from England. Sir Villiers' wife, Lady Villiers was a painter, and her oil and water-colour paintings, mostly on marine themes, adorned the walls of the mansion's library and drawing room.Adisham was a dream house not just because of the beauty of the house, but also because of the garden that surrounds the house. The layout of the garden also followed the British style.The terraced lawns, flowerbeds and orchard, just like the drawing room, study, library and dining and bedrooms, looked out on lofty mountain ranges, all situated between 1,800 and 2,100 metres above sea level, and forming a curious outline called sleeping warriors on the skyline.English tea bushes and roses bloomed on the lawns, while Albertans and honeysuckle climbed over the porches and windows. Strawberries, apples and Victoria plums ripened in the cool mountain air and tropical sunshine.In 1949, when Sir Thomas was sick and old, he left the country. The Adisham Bungalow, with all its furniture, fittings and other items were sold to Sedawatta Mills.In 1961, the Roman Catholic Church acquired Adisham with its 12-acre grounds and turned it into a monastery where a small community of monks and novices follow a schedule of prayers, meditation and other religious work.Now, only a few rooms of the bungalow are open to the public. They still look glorious, as during the days of Sir Villiers, with their beauty and elegance still unchanged.<a href="http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/04/02/juniorob04.html" target="_blank">http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/04/02/juniorob04.html</a><img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> <img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> <img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela5.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> <img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela6.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> <img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela7.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> <img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela8.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> <img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela10.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> <img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela12.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> <img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela13.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> <img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela14.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> <img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z112/vass_sam/Ela15.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Photos taken by me!!!!!!!!</blockquote>

Verification: Winadiyakata thappara keeyak tibeda?

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