Have you ever dreamed of building a home in the sky — not as a whimsy, but as a place you could actually live in, breathe in, sleep in? That’s exactly what Anusha and Benjamin set out to do back in August 2012, in the village of Miyanawatta. Together with their friend Nils, they hunted for the perfect tree first. Then they went and made something remarkable: The Traveller’s Hideout Treehouse.
They picked a sturdy tree, laid the foundation of a lower platform, and began introducing joints and bolts — the sort of nuts-and-bolts work that feels so far from fantasy, yet is essential so the fantasy actually doesn’t collapse. After fixing the “knees” (yes, structural pieces called knees), they built a bridge, and stairs. Those stairs were the welcome mat, the first step toward entering what became a lofty nest. Finally, when January 2014 rolled around — about 18 months later — the roof went up, topped in palm leaves in the spirit of local tradition. And the dream was real.
The Traveller’s Hideout Treehouse today has more than charm — it has actual amenities. There’s a working kitchen, flushing toilet, sinks, plumbing, and even an open-air shower just off the bridge (for those moments when you want water and air and nothing between). It does not feel like you’ve given up comfort — quite the opposite. You’re just choosing a different kind of comfort.
What makes it special, though, is its setting. It sits in a village hugged by terraced paddy fields, banana groves that toss fragrance into the breeze, and pepper gardens that climb slopes. This isn’t some remote, barren wilderness — it’s life-rich, alive in green and earth tones. The treehouse is cradled by a mango tree, right next to a little stream, with rainforest whispering all around. It’s built for two people, so it doesn’t feel cavernous or empty; it feels intimate, like someone built it for you.
Location-wise, you’re in Sri Lanka’s Uva Province, in Monaragala district. The village is about 10 km north of Monaragala town. It’s roughly 260 km from Colombo and only 80 km from the surf waves of Arugam Bay on the East Coast — so you get a mix of remoteness and reachable. The air here is curious — a mix of highland freshness and tropical humidity, mixing in with the mountain range nearby. On clear days, you might scale a neighboring hill and see the east coast’s blue meeting sky.
Will your nights be perfect? They might not be perfectly quiet. Branches shift. Small sounds echo. But that’s part of the magic. Those noises make you aware you’re in something living, breathing. It’s not sterilized. It’s real.
If you’re a writer, a reader, someone who seeks quiet, someone who needs space — this is your kind of hideout. It’s made for decompressing, for slow mornings with birdsong, for stepping into your own thoughts. And yes — sometimes those thoughts wander aloud, messy and beautiful.
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