At Palatota, a little inland, is located Richmond Castle, a fine country house in a 42-acre fruit garden estate. Richmond Castle is a beautiful example of Indian and British colonial period architecture. Originally a spice plantation mansion, the house is now open to the public. Built in 1896, it originally belonged to landowner turned philanthropist NDA Silva Wijayasinghe, the local Padikara Mudaliyar and was used during the British period as a circuit bungalow for officials. Wijayasinghe copied the plans of an Indian Maharaja's palace designed by a London architect. The audience hall has intricately carved pillars and beams (two shiploads of teak were brought from Burma for its construction), and a spiral staircase leading to a gallery of some fascinating photographs from that period. The house and grounds are open to the public. You could plan a nice riverside picnic or go on a bike ride near Richmond Castle.