Helgasfolly Anti Hotel Residence

A one off place, you simply must try & experience the particular magick. I loved so many things- from the embedded history, to the delicious food & sumptuous bed. Waking up to the sounds of the jungle & tinkling chandeliers, roaming the halls covered in family pictures & murals… heavenly, very special, unique things that you won’t find anywhere else & that’s before you’ve even met the iconic Helga- who is charming & full of an ancient grace. I wish there were more places as interesting as her folly…but there just isn’t & I suppose that’s the point. A humongous thank you- to Helga & all the crew - your kindness & wonderful hospitality made my time there so memorable. Ps: Big love to the rambunctious monkeys - I miss their naughty little faces.

Such a unique and interesting place- a credit to the creative talents of madame Helga. I’ve never been to such an artistic space, it’s really unchallenged and for sure one of a kind. Special thanks to Suraweera on reception who was so kind and enthusiastic, incredibly helpful too. Thank you so much!

Holidays make memories right? Right! Well look no further than Helga’s Folly. We were truly amazed by what we found hidden within Helga’s Folly, tucked away in the jungle of Kandy. The whole house is a living history of Helga’s family, but also a truly special spectacle of the artists of the region as every nook and cranny are painted and covered with artworks, the more bizarre the better!. Make sure to ask the hotel manager to explain a little about the family, he did so passionately, and this made us more excited, and amazed at what was around us. We were lucky enough to meet Madame Helga herself, and we were honestly a bit star struck! The breakfast was also a highlight of ours, the egg curry, freshly made coconut rotis, and the coffee in the elaborate silver pot (which I imagined also served Elizabeth Taylor when she stayed). We did have quite an eventful experience with a couple of monkeys in the pool, so just keep your wits about you, and our shower was cold - but a nice relief from the sticky Kandy air.

I knew Helga's Folly was going to be different before I visited. How different? Very different and an experience not to be missed. As you go in, you are immediately transported to another world; a world of fantasy, scary, magical all rolled into one. You have to go there to truly feel the energy of this wondrous place. The house itself has a myriad number of corridors, one leading to another, all filled with wall paintings, photographs, and all sorts of interesting artifacts and objects. Pictures of her illustrious family adorn the walls - two rooms dedicated to her father's side of the family and the other to her mother's side. Also on the walls are pictures of famous people who have visited Helga's Folly. You will be blown away by who and who stayed there! She will let you wander through the house at your leisure. The Stereophonics were inspired to write a song for Helga called Madam Helga while staying there!! We met Madam Helga, gracious, charming, and warm with a dry sense of humour. She and her staff will explain the pictures and the paintings if you so wish. I stayed one night at the Folly and had a wonderful Sri Lankan breakfast. Her staff are very helpful, and courteous and will do all they can to make you comfortable. Some may struggle with their English but will make it up in other ways to assist you. She employs all her staff locally and they are very loyal and protective towards her and I can see why. She treats them very well, like her family. It is a place that you must not miss if you visit Kandy or Sri Lanka! Go with an open mind and let your imagination rip! Don't miss it, it is unique, and nothing like it anywhere else.

We loved the decor and the building and the history surrounding the place. The staff were very attentive. We were however the only people there, we should have asked about that before we booked. It would be nicer with a few people around. We were told we might be lucky to get in but it was empty. The food is ok....kind of 1970s women's weekly style. Stay away from the special house cocktail, it's awfull

We just went for a drink and were able to look around all of the communal areas upstairs and downs stairs. What an incredibly interesting place; filled with art work, antiques and family memorabilia. Not to be missed- would recommend for food, stay or a drink.

This is a must see hotel. The decor is spooky but lots of fun. A lot of time and effort has been put in to making this hotel one of a kind and certainly unique. Great host and charming location. Did not visit the rooms but suspect they are decorated in the same theme

Probably the most unique and unusual hotel in the world. It is an art installation in itself. It is perfect for the inquisitive traveller who appreciates the unusual. Words to describe Helga’s home - fantastical, magical, a huge canvas, art installation, dark, museum, bygone era, family history, faded grandeur, odd, creative, free thinking, colourful, expressive, freedom, evocative, flickering lights, cobwebs. It is an amazing place to stay if you love art and quirkiness. The music of the 70’s on loop takes you back to another era and you can only imagine the amazing people that stayed here in the past. The decoration is out of this world, has to be seen to be believed. Just magical. We stayed for two nights and had dinner there on the first night just to absorb the magic of the Folly. The rooms are just as quirky but don’t expect modern hotel standards, if you need that then this isn’t the place for you. This is all about the art and just that. The price reflects that it is a one of a kind place. We had the pleasure of meeting the charming Madame Helga on our last morning. Wonderful lady who has created a masterpiece and National Treasure. Highly recommended just for a visit but if you want the entire unforgettable experience you must stay there.

You won’t find luxury but what you will get is an experience of a lifetime. Step into the weird and wonderful world of Helga’s Folly and you will feel you have stepped back in time, and possibly into a parallel universe! Every inch of space is covered in fantastic artwork, photographs, memorabilia and antique furniture. Music from a bygone age plays in the background and there is the eerie feeling that you may just encounter a ghostly figure flitting down the dark hallways. In fact, what we did encounter was a bat flitting down the corridor. It seemed entirely appropriate! The food was superb and you should definitely visit the pool area - an enchanting space guarded by fairies, and surrounded by lush jungle and the sound of birdsong. On our last night, we had the pleasure and privilege to speak to Madame Helga on the phone. What a gracious and sweet and funny person she is. Her life story is well worth looking up - she is an extraordinary and talented woman, and a lot of the artwork at the hotel was created by her. If you are in Kandy, you should definitely stay here - or at least go for dinner or drinks, and a tour of the hotel (oops, I mean ‘anti hotel’ ….)