Our Story
A home in the hills. An open door.
Crowell House Cabanas is a small, family-run property in the Matale hills of Sri Lanka — built on the belief that the best travel experiences happen when someone who truly knows a place invites you in.
How It Started
Crowell House is our home.
Crowell House bears the name of our deeply loved, adopted family from Nashville, Tennessee. With their love and support over the past decade, we established our country home in Matale, the heart of Sri Lanka. The land at Crowell House has stood in the Matale hills for generations. The property sits at an elevation that catches the morning mist, looks out over a valley that changes color with the seasons, and sits close enough to the island's most extraordinary sites to make it a natural base for exploration.
The decision to open the house to guests wasn't a business calculation — it was a natural extension of how our family has always lived. Hospitality here isn't a service. It's a way of being.
The three cabanas were built to give guests their own space while keeping them close to the rhythms of the house — the smell of breakfast being made — the sound of the garden in the morning, the unhurried pace that this part of Sri Lanka demands.
"We don't want you to feel like a tourist. We want you to feel like you've been invited home."
— The Crowell House family
Your Host
Your host knows the island the way most people know their own street.
Dilhan Suraweera, the owner of Crowell House is a 3-time award-winning certified Sri Lankan guide. His footsteps are all over the island — from the ancient kingdoms of the Cultural Triangle to the tea country of the Hill Country, from the wildlife parks of the south to the temples of Kandy.
He's spent decades guiding travellers through Sri Lanka, and the awards reflect something real: a depth of knowledge, a genuine warmth, and an honesty that guests remember long after they've gone home.
When you stay at Crowell House, you're not booking a room in a hotel. You're staying with someone who will tell you the truth about what's worth seeing, what's overrated, and what secret places most visitors never find.
How We Host
Authentic Sri Lankan hospitality.
Meals made from scratch
Breakfast and dinner are included with every stay — fresh, home-cooked Sri Lankan food made daily. Not a buffet. Not a menu. Just good food, made with care.
Small by design
Three cabanas. That's it. We stay small so every guest gets real attention — not a room number and a key card.
Honest guidance
Ask anything. Your host will tell you the truth — what's worth the trip, what's best avoided, and what you'd regret missing.
No itinerary required
Come with a plan or come with nothing. We'll help you find the right pace for your time here — whether that's a 30-day journey or three quiet days in the hills.
Where We Are
Matale, Sri Lanka.
Matale sits in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, in the foothills of the Knuckles Mountain Range. It's close enough to Kandy (25km) to make day trips easy, and central enough to reach Sigiriya, Dambulla, and the Cultural Triangle without long drives. The town itself is famous for its spice gardens — cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and pepper have been grown here for centuries.
"Come as a guest. Leave as a friend."
Plan Your Stay
Ready to visit?
We're a small property and we like to keep it that way. Reach out directly — we'll get back to you the same day.