Number 11 is a cool house in a quiet spot off Bagatelle Road in Colombo. You would not think it is special from the outside because it has a white exterior.. When you go inside you will see that it is actually a very interesting house with lots of different spaces and levels. The man who designed this house, Bawa was very clever. He used ways to bring sunlight into the house.
The house is like a story with different parts. There are corridors and open spaces that let the sunlight in. The house has a lot of things inside like modern art and old Sri Lankan furniture. There is an old Rolls-Royce car in the garage.
If you want to visit this house you need to plan. The people who take care of the house only let a people in at a time and you have to make a booking in advance. You can only visit the house at times and it costs LKR 5,000 for people from other countries. You are not allowed to take pictures in some parts of the house.
The Country Wilderness: Lunuganga Estate, Bentota
Lunuganga Estate is another cool place that Bawa designed. It is two hours south of Colombo near a lake. Bawa bought this place a time ago in 1949 and he spent many years making it into a beautiful garden. He wanted to make a kind of garden that is like the ones in Europe but with tropical plants.
Lunuganga Estate is very beautiful. Bawa changed the landscape to make it look nice. He planted trees. Put statues in the garden. The main house is very nice with verandas and windows that let in the breeze. There are interesting things to see in the garden like the Gate House and the Water Garden.
You can visit Lunuganga Estate by joining a guided tour. The tours start at 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. They cost USD 20 for people from other countries. You should bring repellent because there are many mosquitoes near the lake. If you want a tour you can book a private tour with an expert.
Travel. Route Planning
If you want to visit both Number 11 and Lunuganga Estate you need to plan your trip. The best way to travel is to rent a car with a driver or use a ride-hailing app. You can also take the train from Colombo to Bentota. Then you need to take a tuk-tuk to get to the estate.
It is an idea to visit Number 11 in the morning and then go to Lunuganga Estate the next day. This way you can see how Bawa designed the house in the city and then see how he designed the garden, in the country.
