While Kalutara in Sri Lanka is known for its golden beach and famous temple, it’s also home to a historic colonial mansion; Richmond Castle is certainly a captivating place to visit and has many tales to tell.
Image credit: www.turyaahotels.com
It Belonged to a Local Mudaliyar
Located within easy reach of hotels in Kalutara, Richmond Castle dates back to 1896 and was owned by a local “Mudaliyar”, a colonial title given to a landowner. His name was quite long indeed; Nanayakkara Rajawasala Appuhamilage Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena. Suffice to say, you would be hard-pressed to say it in one go on your first few attempts!
It’s Inspired by a Maharaja’s Palace
The design of this mansion was in fact, inspired by the architectural style of an Indian Maharaja’s palace, which the Mudaliyar is said to have visited. That said, the final structure incorporated western-style design too. Within a 20-minute drive from Turyaa Kalutara, this attraction offers those interested in architecture much to enjoy.
The Mansion Has 99 Doors!
A quite interesting fact is that there is a total of 99 doors at Richmond Castle which is amongst the many fascinating design elements. It also has 34 windows some of which with stained glass and a unique system that offers natural “air conditioning”.
Materials from Across the Globe
During its construction, materials were sourced from diverse destinations around the world. Burmese teak, Indian bricks and tiles and Scottish and Italian white marble were all used to create this truly wondrous structure.
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