Taprobane was the ancient Greek name of Sri Lanka, first reported to Europeans by the Greek geographer Megasthenes around 290 BC. Most probably, Taprobana was a transliteration of the then authentic Pali name of the island, Tambapanni, which meens copper-red.

However, there is a much smaller island now known under the very same name, viz. a private island with one villa, located in the cove of Weligama. The original name of this small Taprobane Island is Galduwa, which means Rock Island in Sinhalese. It was renamed after the ancient Greek word for Sri Lanka by Maurice Talvande, who purchased the island as his private paradise and built a villa and garden on it. Today, the villa on Taprobane Island is a charming boutique hotel providing 5 bedrooms, living areas and a modern infinity pool.

One of Sri Lanka most scenic hotel locations is right in the centre of the Hunasgiriya Tea Estate. The Hunas Falls Hotel, opened in 1971 and once operated by the Tea Estate, the Government, then by Jetwing Hotels, now belongs now to the Amaya Resorts and Spas.

The resort is situated in the hills high above the village of Elkaduwa, 26 kilometres away from Kandy. This area is the western edge of the “misty mountains”, that’s the translation of the original Sinhala name of Knuckles Range, Dumbara Kanduvetiya.

This mountain hotel is a haven of peace and tranquillity an an ideal starting point for trekking tours in the Knuckles Range and day trips to Sigiriya or Dambulla in the Cultural Triangle to the north as well as to Nuwara Eliya in the central highlands to the south. In particular, Hunas Falls has become a hideaway for honeymoon couples, both Sri Lankan and foreign.

The 28 A/C bedrooms of the Hunas Falls hotel are spacious and comfortable and well equipped with a range of a modern facilities, all of them have a private balcony with magnificent views to the northern parts of the hillcountry and to the well-kept hotel garden in the foreground.