Lunuganga or Lunuganga Estate as it is famously called is a place quite immaculate in its design, laden with terraced gardens and a collection of personal arts and crafts. A curiosity in the south that is referred to as, the Lunuganga Estate was award winning architect Geoffrey Bawa’s country home.
Geoffrey Bawa was not just a man of the arts, but he was skilled in the field of law and obtained his degree at Middle Temple, London. Born to a wealthy lawyer at the time, young Bawa schooled at Royal College, Colombo. Bawa’s interest in architecture came after the death of his mother when he took to travelling around the world and exploring his passions. When he did realize his passion for architecture, Bawa soon left for England to study the subject.
Among the many things to do in Bentota, visiting the quaint southern country home of Geoffrey Bawa is a must do. The roots of this beautiful country house can be traced back to the era of the Dutch when it was first used as a cinnamon estate. When the country gained independence in 1948, Lunuganga Estate found its new owner to be a tax collector. History also has it that the country house was used as a rubber plantation under the British. When Bawa came across this beautiful country dwelling, he instantly fell for it and soon purchased it with the intention of converting this estate bungalow into a weekend house.
The house which overlooks the scenic Dedduwa Lake of Bentota was concurrently named as ‘Lunuganga’ meaning ‘salt river’. Bawa continued to turn each aspect of the estate into something artistic for the next 40 years until his death. What’s even more interesting is, the estate houses works from other renowned artists like Donald Friend and Laki Senanayake along with many Asian and European artefacts.
The estate is within a half an hour’s drive from convenient accommodation options including Shinagawa Beach Balapitiya. Since Bawa’s death in 2003, the estate is run by a group of his close associates and is open to public viewing. The Lunuganga Estate can be viewed as a symbol of the country’s rich history.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+