Often visited in tandem with Lunuganga, Brief Garden is the artistic brainchild of Bevis Bawa, elder brother of Geoffrey Bawa and a creative force in his own right. Located just inland from Bentota, this secluded estate is a lush, labyrinthine garden brimming with sculpture, tropical plants, and bold artistic flourishes.

The garden is delightfully eccentric — stone nymphs hidden in groves, winding stairways that lead nowhere, and sudden clearings that frame the jungle like a stage. The house itself is a charming colonial-era bungalow filled with Bevis’s personal art collection, photographs, and mementos of a flamboyant life that welcomed writers, dancers, and royals.

Visitors often describe Brief Garden as a walk through the imagination of a 20th-century romantic, and for those seeking something different — intimate, strange, and beautiful — it’s a must-see.