An opulent Edwardian mansion on a hill above the Kalu Ganga, blending Italian, British and Asian architecture on a 42-acre estate.

Overview

Richmond Castle is a grand Edwardian manor house set on a wooded hill about 2 km from Kalutara town, overlooking the Kalu Ganga. Built for a wealthy local aristocrat, it fuses architectural influences from Italy, Britain, Scotland and Burma, with teak staircases, stained glass, a ballroom and sweeping verandahs surrounded by manicured gardens. Left in trust and run in connection with a children's charity, it is a rare surviving example of colonial-era opulence and a peaceful, atmospheric stop.

History

The mansion was built between 1900 and 1910 as the country seat of Mudaliyar Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena, on a 42-acre estate at Palatota. Its design is said to have been inspired by an Indian maharaja's palace, and the finest materials and craftsmen were brought in for its construction. After the owner's death the property was left in trust, with the estate's income supporting charitable and educational purposes.