Habarana sits at the crossroads of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, within easy reach of the UNESCO World Heritage sites that draw travellers to this part of the island. Taru Villas Maia makes the most of the address. From the property on Habarana Lake, it is a short drive to Sigiriya Rock Fortress—the fifth-century rock citadel and one of the country’s most recognisable landmarks—and to the frescoes of Pidurangala and the ancient stupas that punctuate the surrounding countryside.
Habarana is equally well known as a gateway to Minneriya, Kaudulla and Hurulu Eco Park, the trio of parks that host one of Asia’s great wildlife spectacles: the seasonal gathering of wild elephants in their hundreds around the region’s receding waterholes.
The villas themselves pair old-world Sri Lankan architecture—exposed brickwork, high ceilings, open-concept bathrooms—with a spare, modern sensibility across three room categories: Premier Chalets, Superior Rooms and more compact Deluxe Rooms. A restaurant serves local and international dishes around the lake, while a wellness pavilion offers yoga, fitness and spa treatments.
As part of the Small Luxury Hotels collection, Taru Villas Maia offers a considered, design-forward alternative to the area’s larger resorts—a single base as suited to exploring ancient Sri Lanka as it is to tracking its wildlife.