meet nyuri

Ayubowan!
I’m Nyuri, the creator of Eraeliya Villas & Gardens.
Many years ago, I was very lucky to find this extraordinary place. Here, I am trying to combine my passion for interior design, art, gardening, holistic lifestyle, travel, and the immersion in different cultures. And I would like to share my love for Eraeliya Villas & Gardens with you. Relax in chic elegance, learn how to surf, practice yoga, meditate under the stars, and enjoy every minute of your stay.

As a person who loves traveling, adventure and discovering I have always been drawn to South Asia, particularly to Sri Lanka. On one such visit I discovered a piece of property that made my heart stop for a second, making me fall in love with it at first sight. Not being a person to ignore things which were destined for me, I found myself claiming this beautiful property, even with its untouched and wild nature, turning it into the mesmerizing place it is today. I named it Eraeliya, which gives the Sinhala meaning of “Sunlight” that transcends the entire property to the smiles of the locals you’ll meet during your stay and to the shiny blue surface of the Ocean.

Eraeliya began as a single house with a hundred years of history - Villa Walauwa. The reconstruction was very carefully completed in order to preserve the spirit of the building, its tranquility, coolness, and silence. Almost everything here remains as it was, including the elements of colonial architecture, the arrangement of rooms, and the enormous old trees around it. It is also the only villa with its own, fully equipped Sri Lankan traditional kitchen. You will find two bedrooms, an attached bathroom for each, a common living area and a dining area with a spectacular sea view. This would be a perfect villa for a family/party of five (Above the age twelve).

There were only two bedrooms in the original layout of Villa Walauwa, but I wanted to share my home with my friends. Therefore, I decided to build Beach Hut Muhudu Bella, which translates to “seashell." My inspiration was the traditional Sinhalese earthen huts built by the native people of Sri Lanka and the Mongolian yurts. The villa is round and is shaped like a seashell, bringing life to its name. It has a very warm and unique ambiance with a set of spiral steps leading down to the bathroom from the bedroom. This is also our most popular villa.

Villa Bawana is my vision of the perfect home on the beachfront. Every element was thought out with love and attention to the local climate: from the incredibly beautiful infinity pool to the nine-meter vaulted ceilings. Vintage Portuguese roof tiles, antique furniture, and massive doors give the villa a genuine colonial feeling. You will find four suites in the Villa Bawana, two on the first floor and two on the second with a common dining area for eight people. If you prefer to dine in the comforts of your own spaces, you have access to terrace dining, facing a spectacular view of the ocean and the infinity pool. You also have a space to maintain your health while you relax and enjoy your stay as we have arranged an area for Yoga classes where up to a maximum of four people can participate for a session.

Next to Villa Bawana stands the Garden House Nelum, translated from the Sinhalese word “lotus.” The path to Nelum leads through the garden full of tropical flowers. Follow the massive stone steps leading from the porch entrance and walk up the pond with its vibrant goldfish and arrive in our beautiful Garden House Nelum. You will first approach a ‘Sandakada Pahana’ also known as ‘Moonstone’, one of Sri Lankan’s unique ancient architecture techniques. Garden House Nelum was heavily inspired by Geffery Bawa’s ‘Lunu Ganga’ and the interior is as unique as the exterior of the garden house. A perfect place for a fairy tale vacation, just for you.

Further on the property, there is another magical space – the Ambalama Pavilion. To adorn Ambalama, I found grand old doors and columns in local antique shops. I built the pavilion walls using massive glass panels and upcycled wood. My favorite detail is the huge Hemingway-style writing desk.

I love to give a second life to things as one of my biggest values in life is reuse, reduce, recycle. So, whatever I do, I try to use this principle. In Sri Lanka, there are many auction houses and amazing samples of mid-century furniture still underestimated. So, I used to go to my favorite auction house “Shockman & Samerawickreme” in Colombo in search of them and bought them in a very bad condition. After careful restoration by local craftsmen, I made my dream come true. I combined colonial architecture with mid-century furniture and industrial aesthetics and called it The Loft House. Here you have the ‘Ocean Loft’ and ‘Garden Loft’ which are both very private spaces, covered by floral and fruit trees. Faced by a statue of God Ganesh, this is a space which I designed for myself in the beginning which is ideal for a family. You also have a terrace and sitting area which we could sit and enjoy your meals. If you are a private person and would like to enjoy your time with us in your own personal bubble, then the loft house would be a dream come true.

Now the entire space with six unique villas, in which I have enclosed so much love and care, exists as a boutique hotel. We received positive reviews in the Telegraph, National Geographic, and Lonely Planet called Eraeliya Villas & Gardens the best place in Weligama. However, for us, the number of loyal guests who continue to return is the best reward for putting all our love and care into the hotel. I am happy to welcome you at Eraeliya Villas & Gardens – our jewel of the bay.
-
A beautiful slice of paradise, wonderful all around, marvellous, and fully deserving serving its 5* rating! - Eraeliya is fully deserving its 5* rating. The rooms, suites and villas are tastefully and uniquely decorated with much love and attention to detail. The beautiful grounds and gardens are... Read More maintained immaculately. The undisturbed oceanfront location affords stunning views over the ocean with unforgettable sunsets. Even though jungle beach is a favourite launching point for surfers, the sandy cove is also one of the few Sri Lanka beaches for safe swimming. The high level of service and quality of food are additional highlights. Breakfast is huge and stunning, and the catch of the day is the freshest and most tastefully prepared fish you will find anywhere. The owner Njuri, and the entire staff are fully dedicated to pamper their guests, and ensure their wellbeing. They provide service at its best! The relatively small size of the estate with only 9 rooms and villas affords a much more private and intimate atmosphere. Once you arrive, you have no desire to go outside again. Truly, a small slice of paradise!
dieter w
February 17, 2024 -
Outstanding - We had a wonderful, relaxing stay, especially the service was very attentive, caring and super friendly, thanks a lot to Sandun! We will come back and recommend it... Read More to our friends and families in Europe.
Jeannette F
July 24, 2023 -
Unique and one of a kind - My first 3 nights in srilanka was spent in Weligama, a unique experience at Eraeliya hotel. Specifically in Alaya Suite. This suite offered an unparalleled panoramic view of the Indian... Read More Ocean, coupled with a private balcony that seemed like an extension of the horizon itself. The room's design was aesthetically pleasing, illustrating a perfect blend of modern comfort and traditional charm. we had the luxury to enjoy our breakfast at our own specified time and location. The freshness of the food and the variety on offer was commendable. And a special mention has to be given to the front desk reception staff - Thareka and Dulshan, their professionalism and attention to detail significantly enhanced our stay. It is safe to say that Eraeliya hotel is not just a place to lodge, but a unique experience that leaves lasting memories.
Omdoubi
January 23, 2024 -
This is the best place we have ever stayed. Ever. We stayed here for 4 days at the beginning of our honeymoon, and then later on... Read More were booked at a 5 star hotel (Anantara Peace Haven). We literally left early from Anantara, despite the fact that it was non-refundable, and booked two additional nights at the Gardens.
The setting is absolutely beautiful, the dinner area overlooks the ocean, where you can see surfers and sunsets every night as you have curry and wine. The rooms are completely unique from one another with incredible attention to detail. And then we move to the service. The staff is small, and you get to know them by the end. I will miss them all. Dulshan the concierge is professional, relaxed, kind. Sandun, Rex, Dean, and Jayntha of the restaurant staff are always positive, attentive, and work extremely hard. The kitchen is wonderful with Sri Lankan and western dishes.
We are from the US, and its a long trip to Sri Lanka. However, if we come back, we will definitely be staying here again.N657NUpaulw
March 12, 2024 -
Amazing Experience - Amazing staff and always having a wonderful attitude.
Special appreciation for Pramith who went over and above to make my son taken care of.
The property was meticulously taken... Read More care of and so much more beautiful in real lifeRehan P
October 10, 2023 -
Very stylish but small room for improvement - Eraeliya Villas was our last stop of a 12 night trip to Sri Lanka. It was a wonderful place to spend a couple of days to unwind and relax after... Read More a busy trip. The hotel is beautifully designed and decorated with the perfect mix of traditional and contemporary features/architecture. Our suite was incredibly spacious and comfortable. The hotel plot is small so there isn't space to roam/explore but the gardens and pool area are well kept and there is direct beach access. The breakfasts are served on the lawn overlooking the sea which is a great spot and the food was pretty good. Dinner menu is reasonably limited but varied and the food was decent quality. There aren't any dining options within walking distance of the hotel. Our experience with hotel staff was mixed. The chaps serving dinner and lunch were great - very polite, cheery and clearly experienced. However I got the impression some of the front of house/hospitality staff were slightly inexperienced. When we checked into our suite we found we had no water pressure or hot water. We reported the issues straight away to the front desk. I was surprised not to be offered another location to be able to shower before dinner. We were told someone would be contacted to fix the issue but the afternoon/evening went by with no updates. Checking with the front desk again, there was no update so went to the next day with no hot water. The lack of communication was slightly disappointing. Of course technical issues happen but given the price point of the hotel , you do expect staff to keep you informed/find a solution. I also booked a massage which was carried out in a tent next to very loud building works on the nextdoor property. The loud drilling made it far from relaxing. i thought perhps i might receive a discount or the offer to reschedule but I didn't. The beauty and setting of the property make it a very stylish place to stay, but the price point does demand an all round top quality experience. There is a slight danger that it tips in favour of style over substance but with a few tweaks it could provide the best of both.
twentyeightdays
September 23, 2023 -
Another Fabulous Stay - Just spent another wonderful 2 weeks at Eraeliya (main house this time). Magical as ever although sadly becoming less exclusive due to surrounding development. Also some localism has finally developed... Read More on the left hand surf break.
A special mention to the charming Rex, who once again made our stay so memorable. Also Sandun and Dean, together with Tharaka and Dulshan. Chef Kasun was new this year, and created superb meals. The gardens were beautiful as everRoam828004
December 24, 2023 -
Unforgettable - I had an absolutely wonderful stay here! The hospitality provided was top-notch, making me feel like a valued guest from the moment I arrived. The attention to detail throughout the... Read More villa was remarkable, showcasing a level of care and thoughtfulness that truly enhanced the experience. And the views... oh my! Waking up to the stunning vistas of the beach every morning was a dream come true. I can't recommend this place enough for anyone seeking a luxurious and rejuvenating getaway
Udam D
August 28, 2023 -
A gem of a boutique hotel we found in Weligama - Eraeliya is a very fine beachfront boutique hotel. well maintained and the property looks stunning. We loved all 3 meals we had during our stay with them from Dinner to... Read More the next day's lunch it was lovely. They have a really nice menu with a good number of options to choose from. The staff was really friendly and they were so presentable and always wore a smile on their face. I had a lovely birthday with them and they made it special. Thanks to the team and keep up the good work.
735dili
August 28, 2023 -
One of the greatest hotels in the south of Sri Lanka - The hotel was a dream! The whole area was a wonderful garden with different buildings, very nicely placed. The main building is a beautiful house, the unconventional hotel lobby was... Read More very inviting. We were given a large room with a veranda, right next to the pool. We liked it so much that we immediately extended our stay by 2 nights.
The staff were also extremely friendly and helpful, also in organising transport/taxis.
We have already recommended the hotel several times.flying_girl74
January 3, 2024