TARA GARDEN WAS BY FAR THE STANDOUT OF OUR HOLIDAYS
We ended our 6 weeks of travel in Sri Lanka and the Maldives at Tara's Garden. Having stayed at a variety of different accommodation over the course of the holiday this was by far the standout. The house is beautiful, the onsite chef (who catered wonderfully for our fussy kids) and property managers were brilliant, and the pool was a great size. The location of the villa is a little out of town but with the transport available it was easy to get in and out the peaceful location was absolutely worth it. This house would easily fit two families and we would love to return with friends or family some time soon.
Cate, Australia
LUXURY STAY IN A TROPICAL PARADISE
We recently returned from our delightful vacation to Sri Lanka. We we're fortunate to be the first guests to stay at Tara Garden after it's extensive renovation. The place is beautiful! Our kids especially enjoyed the huge pool. The villa sits on a hill overlooking rice paddies and jungle. Twice during our stay a troop of monkeys came swimming through the property. The property is tucked away in the hills a bit, about 10 minutes from town. The staff there was great. The chef prepared wonderful local dishes and catered to our kids picky tastes. The driver was friendly and did a great job showing us the sights. We decided to have him take us on a couple longer trips at additional cost. Overall, we had a great trip and wholeheartedly recommend Tara Garden.
Cameron R. from Dearborn, Michigan
Heading 2This place is fantastic. The setting is gorgeous -- mango/orange/banana/avocado trees, tea, cinnamon, & peppercorn bushes, etc. The rooms are clean and spacious. All rooms have their own bathroom. The pool is blissful. Monkeys are in the nearby trees, sometimes making an appearance on the property. A few fruit bats come in at night, which was great. What I can't say enough about is the service. Absolutely everyone servicing the property treated us like royalty. It was beyond expectations. The place is a bit remote (which was a blessing!), but they take you wherever you want to go; shopping / supplies is just a short ride away. There aren't restaurants within walking distance, but it doesn't matter, because you literally have the best chef in the country there hooking you up. He made anything we requested (and then some!!). Their kindness, service, and character would be hard to match. You won't be disappointed.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED, WANT AND MORE! AMAZING STAY AND EXPERIENCE, PERFECTION!
From the moment of booking everything was made easy and comfortable by the lovely Katjusa and her family who are an absolute pleasure to deal with. Our group of four was taken care of straight away as we landed, being picked up by Sudu at the airport, even though we had two different arrival times, no problems at all which made us feel right at home. Staying in Tara gardens is not just about the house but also the people on the ground there who makes this place really special. Sudu is always around to offer tips and help to get around the local area and further afield as he drove us to Hkkaduwa one day and came back to collect us later on in the evening, always with a friendly demeanor. You will be treated to a masterclass of food from Sousil who offers breakfast, lunch and dinner which will leave you stuffed but still asking for more every time. Insuru has done an incredible job maintaining the gardens too which are plentiful in tropical fruits which were provided in fresh juices every morning. The location took about an hour and a half to get to from the airport. Surrounded by jungle and wildlife, treated to a jumping monkey show around noon every day as they swung in to nab some mangoes from the trees. Local town is just a ten minute drive away and offers all you need in from the supermarket to some nice beach side restaurants. he house itself is a stunning colonial which has clearly had a lot of attention to detail and dedication put into it. Space to easily fit 8, each room has an en suite, comfortable beds and the master bedroom has a fabulous balcony to relax. It is luxury, so much so we had to just spend a day soaking it in by the pool. If we are lucky enough to return to Sri Lanka this is definitely where we shall base our trip from as it offers everything you could ever want from a home away from home and the ability to explore the southern gems of this amazing country. Thanks for everything Katjusa and all at Tara Gardens!
Joe from Ireland
THE TROPICAL PARADISE
The tiring flight to the remote island was quickly forgotten, as soon as we landed we were greeted with a smile from our host Chamil, who was holding the Tara Garden sign. We were immediately fascinated by the upbeat and for us chaotic lifestyle of Colombo, but as we were driving away from the capital, the noise and the crowd disappeared with it. We entered this surreal village that seems somehow detached from the outside world. We were served a breakfast with the fresh local fruits. I may have been influenced by the beautiful suroundings, but that was the best pinapple and banana i've ever tasted. The villa is amazing and the pool is great. You can rest in the evening with a coctail next to the water. Every morning you are served fresh fruits. Thanks to Sousil you are eating like a king. He is not only a good cook but also a great person. He is charming, modest and always ready to answer all of your questions. He always plans ahead and adjusts his style of cooking to your taste. I recommend choosing the traditional local food, the srilankan cousine is very simple and delicious, always using fresh ingredients around you. Sousil will always impress you with his food. We went to the fish market. You should go early because later the good fish are sold and also the sun comes up. That was a great experience, you get to know their culture and also the fish are very cheap compared to european prices. Later we saw the turtle hatchery and the herbal garden, both were interessting and educational. In the afternoon we went to the incredible Bentota beach, a beautiful sand beach with warm water, which we later visited every day. If you want to swim I suggest you go in the morning when the water is calm. In the afternoon the big waves come. It's fun to be in the water with them but you have to be careful not to go too deep because of the currents. Sri Lanka is definitely a country worth visiting and Tara Garden puts you right in the heart of it. Sorrounded by the jungle, the rice fields and the tourist attractions, like the Udawalawa National Park, the river safari on the Bentota river, the Big Buddha Temple, Galle and others, you get to experience their culture with a luxourious touch from the newly renovated villa.
Luka L from Slovenia
BREATHTAKING LIKE SOMETHING OF A MOVIE
As others have said, Tara Garden is as good as and better than the pics. The place is beautifully kept and the accommodation is excellent.The pool is perfectly situated with views of the jungle that are inexplicable. The best thing about this stay was the exceptional service and care we received from the staff. Sudu is the most patient person we have ever dealt with. The best tour guide and even better driver:) The rules of the road in Sri Lanka are strict and the traffic can be hectic. The food was beyond amazing. The chef Sousil is exceptional. Everything was perfect and more than enough to feed an army. We all got few pounds each :). Tara Garden is situated remote enough to feel the peaceful solitude and still close to the city, beaches... All in all, wonderful experience! We can by all means recommend staying in Tara Garden!
Tina from Ljubljana
WOW. PURE PARADISE
We are currently staying at this beautiful amazing Villa. It is located in a wonderful area surrounded by Jungle & wildlife. Monkeys, birds, Chipmunks, Peacocks, Porcupines and Fruit bats are visible daily. The sweeping drive past your own well and tree house leads to the magnificent entrance. The colonial style is evident and adds a touch of charm and class to the villa. On one side of the entrance is a small tea plantation, mango, green orange and king coconut trees as well as cinnamon bushes. Inside is furnished to a very high standard with large rooms all with a/c and fans. beautiful furniture and quality linens. Good Quality bathrooms with showers to each bedroom. The outdoor areas are equally amazing with a large pool, seating areas and sun beds. The Villa is staffed by the most amazing people you could come across. Susil the cook is one of the best he produces meals that far surpass local restaurants. His care and attention to detail is unbelievable suggesting an array of cuisines or will happily cook your favorite meal. Isuru the pool/houseboy works tirelessly to ensure everything is kept spotless and will provide fresh king coconut to help you cool down in the heat. Everything so far has been perfect in every way and we plan to return later this year.
Gary from West Yorkshire
RELAXING PARADISE
It's a struggle the find the words that describe our phenomenal experience at Tara Garden. Everything, from communications and transportation to the friendly gentleman and the serene beauty of the house, was perfect. The house is in a great location, located only an hour and half from the airport, an hour or so from some tourist sites and cities, and just minutes from local beaches and towns where you can get your daily necessities.The house was well-kept and the natural gardens were nothing less than an escape from reality. Sudu, Sousil and the other boys at the house went out of their way to accommodate our every need and made us feel completely at home. Sudu was flexible and prompt with transportation times and Sousil provided us with some of the most tasty dishes I have ever had. Overall, we could not have had a better experience and a huge thank you to the Petrics and grounds people for making this trip unforgettable.
Shanon from Doha
WE ARE DEFINITELY COMING BACK!
Tara Garden is a very special slice of paradise. The personal care and attention from all the staff guarantee that you will have an amazing holiday - that you want. We will definitely go back to Tara Garden because it is perfection!
Claire, UK
PEACEFUL RELAXATION IN BEAUTIFUL VILA
We had the Tara garden villa for ourselves in 5 days over Christmas, it was an amazing experience. We had the best service and food by the staff supervising the villa! The staff is super nice and kind. Improvement area could be more hangers on the walls in the bedrooms for smaller bags and clothes.
Karin S, Stockholm
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS HOME
We had a spectacular 2 nights at Tara Garden. I was completely taken up with the beautiful architecture of the home, both the exterior and interior with a welcoming pool in a beautiful setting. Sudu and the staff were very welcoming and helped us with directions to the house, which is private and only 15 minutes away from Bentota beach. The in-house Chef cooked us many meals which were simply delicious! I have to recommend his Sri Lankan rice and curry, which was mouthwatering. Having a place in the house for us to cook and use the many amenities available and crockery made us feel at home in a casual atmosphere. We were a group of friends who caught up and made endless memories together at Tara Garden! I highly recommend this home.
Aamir, India
CLOSE TO PARADISE
Dreams have come true: from the very first moment we knew about Tara Garden untill our final night. Our idea was to really relax after a demannding trip in India, ideally a “Home for a week”. And this turned out to be Tara Garden, in all its aspects. Based upon the keyword Perfectionism. The house and its surroundings, so beatifully restored, together with the level of hospitality from the moment we arrived at the airport. Sudu overlooking it all most wholeheartedly, Susil preparing miracles in the kitchen or making Barraduda on the grill, Chsmi supporting and guiding whenever and Insuru making sure everything was all set around the house and after all meals. We can only consider this team to be Made as a Match Made in Heaven, close to paradise. We wish the team good times after all the hard work done in realising this wonderful place!
Caroline, The Netherlands