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.
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Stunningly beautiful location, lousy service given the high price. - Stunningly beautiful. The hotel is located in front of the sea in a colonial style villa with a garden and old world furnishings and beautiful artwork. Our suite... Read More was spacious and had an enormous terrace overlooking the pool and the sea where we had breakfast each morning. Unfortunately, the level of the service was not at the standard one would expect from such a facility. There was hardly ever someone at reception. Usually the receptionist could be seen roaming the garden on her cell phone. One always had to ask for beach towel since the bin labeled “clean beach towels” was always empty. Surprisingly there was no turndown service in the evening which meant we had to lower 5 or 6 blinds on the doors to the terrace. This was complicated by the fact that some of the blinds were in disrepair. The price for a massage was $50 on the villa website but $63 in the in-room brochure and an espresso cost $12. We asked if we could keep our room until 1PM instead of 12 noon and were told that the latest was 12:30. We left the room at 12:30 and sat in the lobby waiting for the receptionist to appear 20 minutes later and send someone to get our bags. Clearly there was no urgency to make up the room.
February 27, 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 life
October 10, 2023 -
Wonderful - We really enjoyed our stay at Eraeliya villa. The place is beautiful and relaxing and the staff is super nice and accommodating. A big thank you to everyone who made... Read More our stay so special. tharaka and Dulshan at the front office, Dean, Sandun,Rex and Praneeth for their wonderful service and accommodating our requests. Hemantha, Damith and Hadhan of house keeping. Deemal, Shan and Kavinda for the wonderful meals served to us. The wonderful lady at the spa and last but not least shantha, bandu and Rasika for their tireless efforts in making our surroundings so beautiful.
Can’t wait to come again.
August 7, 2023 -
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.
July 24, 2023 -
The first thing that struck me about Eraeliya villas & Gardens was the breathtaking natural beauty that surrounded us. The scenery was nothing short of spectacular, with lush greenery, crystal-clear... Read More waters, and picturesque landscapes at every turn. Whether you're a nature enthusiast or simply looking for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this place has it all.
Accommodations at EraEliya were top-notch. We stayed in a Samaya Villa and it was not only clean and comfortable but also thoughtfully designed with all the modern amenities one could ask for. The views from our room were postcard-worthy, and we felt completely immersed in the beauty of the surroundings
Also I should mention Pramith- Butler who severed us gave us a great service, and was very active and kind hearted and very attentive to his work. He never fails to fulfill our needs on time without failing- Kudos to Pramith, keep up the great service.
September 4, 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.
September 23, 2023 -
All you want your tropical holiday to be and more! - Walking into Paradise @eraeliya_villas on Weligama Beach felt magical ✨️
This property is truly a boutique hotel with a big soul. With an array of suites and villas... Read More to choose from, it felt like we were walking into a Tropical Heaven. Every detail had been thoughtfully put together and you can instantly feel the love, comfort, and serenity this property had to offer.
From breath taking views from the terrace to amazing bedrooms to wrap around balconies to swims in the stunning infinity pool to baths in one of a kind stone bathtubs to beautifully landscaped gardens to amazingly delicious food and drinks. This place is Perfection. It truly is the Jewel of the Bay! Don't think about it, go right ahead and book in a few days here, you won't regret it!
May 27, 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
August 28, 2023 -
Delightful stay - Our beachfront villa was simply perfect, enjoying the view from our private terrace was amazing. The style and design of the villa in beautiful. The main area with pool is... Read More the perfect spot to spend your day relaxing on the sunbeds or the hammocks. The staff is very nice and the food is delicious.
February 7, 2024 -
Paradise - Lovely site , busy this time with a few children which the pool and garden are unsafe for . Lovely food friendly accommodating staff as always. Rooms spacious.Weather was appalling... Read More but it was still beautiful and-very tropical. Sadly being encroached by more out of keeping buildings
December 16, 2023