Last House, Tangalle Sri Lanka, The Deep South

For a beautiful architectural property in Sri Lanka, look no further than this wonderful place in Mahawella, near Tengalle, on the forgotten and beautiful southern coastline.

The Last House was designed by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka's pre-eminent architect and it can either be booked per room or exclusively. The house is characteristically Bawa; a wrap-around veranda encircles the house while the natural light and the wonderful views play seductively from every angle.

The rooms are spacious and designed in a simple, uncluttered but elegant style. The first floor rooms have sea views, while the ground floor rooms are wonderfully private. The last room is raised on stilts at the back and commands a view of the lagoon behind, complete with a wonderful array of water birds such as adjutant storks, pond herons, Indian darters and many, many others.

The interiors are simple but lovely: planter’s chairs face out to sea and rattan daybeds offer magnificent repose while whitewashed walls. Original wooden doors and a polished cement finish lend a crisp counterpoint to the Asian sculptures and temple wall hangings scattered tastefully about. The central courtyard surrounds a 10m swimming pool while a gate leads directly onto a deserted sandy beach from the shady coconut grove lawn.

The area is thinly populated and so staying here is a real experience, way off the beaten tourist and backpacker trail. There are some wonderful excursions nearby: Uda Walawe National Park, the best place in Sri Lanka for elephant spotting is just an hour and a half away. Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary and Bundalla National Park are much closer and offer some unrivalled and world famous bird spotting opportunities, as well as being beautiful spots in their own right. Further afield, Yala is also accessible on a day trip and is one of the finest places in the world to see the elusive leopard.