Heritance Kandalama 

Immerse yourself in the forest

An eco-friendly hotel which has been incorporated into its natural setting.

Built to blend with its surroundings, Heritance Kandalama is one of the renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa’s most eco-friendly designs. Integrating the rock face it nestles against, all of the beautifully designed rooms, suites and public areas look out over the forest – which is alive with monkeys and birds – the lake, and Sigiriya Rock in the distance. This is an eco-tourist’s paradise.

Why we love Heritance Kandalama

  • It’s in a wonderfully scenic lakeside setting in Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, within easy reach of five World Heritage Sites

  • The hotel offers lots of enriching adventures such as bird watching with the resident naturalists or a jungle trek to an ancient village

  • It’s a masterpiece of environmentally sensitive design from one of Sri Lanka’s most famous architects   

  • When you want to relax, there are three beautiful swimming pools, one of which seems to flow into the lake, and a spa

5 stars
Dec - Mar
Colombo 10½ hours
Approx. 4 hours by road from Colombo airport
Sustainability, Wellness

This resort has earned internationally recognised certification that conform to standards set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

Facilities

  • Restaurants & bars
  • Board
  • Spas & wellness
  • Sustainability
  • Families
  • Good to Know

With the main restaurant featuring themed buffets every evening, a fine-dining venue, an all-day café and a bar, plus several private dining experiences, there’s enough variety to keep guests happy.

Kanchana
The main restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with à la carte options, a generous buffet and live cooking stations providing a wide choice of international and local dishes.

Kaludiya
The hotel’s fine-dining evening-only venue has a global menu that incorporates anything from Persian specialities to Spanish tapas.

Kanchana Lounge & Bar
The laidback bar is the place to come for a cup of tea, a refreshing cold drink or an evening cocktail with live entertainment.

There are several ‘exclusive dining options’, all equally appealing, including a village-style lunch in a paddy field, a lavish afternoon tea, and a gourmet dinner for two in a candlelit cave.

Whats Included

Breakfast at Kanchana Restaurant.

Upgrade Options

Half Board • Breakfast and dinner or breakfast and lunch at Kanchana Restaurant
Full Board • Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Kanchana Restaurant.

The Coco Spa has a steam room, a sauna and a tempting list of massage, ayurveda and massage rituals. Opt for the 90-minute signature Coco Spa massage which combines shiatsu, Balinese and acupressure techniques to serenity-inducing effect.

There’s a small 24-hour gym equipped with treadmills, cycling machines, a step machine, a rowing machine and free weights. Outside, there’s a jogging track, tennis courts and bicycles to rent.

Group and private yoga sessions can be arranged via the spa.

At the hotel’s Eco Park, there’s a paper recycling facility, a sewage treatment plant, a plant nursery, a herb garden and beehives. The extensive grounds include a 193-acre section of protected forest where bio-diversity is promoted. Purchasing is as environmentally friendly as possible, with local suppliers and biodegradable or recyclable packaging favourekd. To support the local community, more than half of the staff come from within 20km.

Families will appreciate the option of interconnecting rooms and facilities including babysitting, the children’s menu and the under-12s playground.

Compulsory Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve gala dinners, supplements apply.

Guest reviews

4.5

Average Rating

Based on 5647 reviews

Excellent
 
3734
Very good
 
1212
Average
 
452
Poor
 
139
Terrible
 
111

New delhiJanuary 2025

Stayed here with family very nice and big resort right next to the lake. Superior rooms are very far from activity & dinning area as late minute the only room available was superior room. Although there are no Indian food options but would like to mention Chef Udara he tried his level best to serve us the Indian food.


Basel, SwitzerlandJanuary 2025

For a room rate of around 400$ a night for a panoramic room I was disappointed. The hotel while visually impressive is also old and faded and was quite disappointing. 1) room is very small and aging..it needs updating. 2) it is very noisy as all rooms back on to a corridor and the rocks makes every waking past speaking travel. Lying in bed I do not want to hear the noise of everyone in the corridor. 3) the infinity pool while nice is cold and has only 8 loungers which are ripped. 4) the bar is very soulless..does not invite one to sit and enjoy. Positives staff are friendly-food, location and view seems ok but for me for the price a real disappointment.. Note there are no restaurants in the vicinity so best to eat here.

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December 2024

Upon arrival, you pass through a cave-like pathway leading from the front desk to the lobby, building a sense of excitement and anticipation about what lies ahead. As you emerge, you are greeted by breathtaking views of the mountains and the sea, a sight so stunning it left me speechless. The infinity pool on the lobby floor, designed by Geoffrey Bawa, allows you to overlook the vast ocean while immersed in the water. The harmony between nature and the architecture was remarkable, and I encountered various animals during my stay. A family of monkeys even visited the balcony of my room. However, it’s important to note that opening windows when animals are nearby is prohibited for safety reasons. For dinner, you can choose between a buffet on the 6th floor or a course menu on the 7th floor. We opted for the 7th-floor restaurant. The course meal allowed us to select dishes from appetizers to the main course, and every dish was exquisite. I felt the quality was excellent for the price. I highly recommend waking up early to enjoy the scenery at sunrise. The view of the mountains from the 6th-floor terrace was particularly breathtaking. The breakfast buffet offered a wide variety of options, and everything I tried was delicious. Overall, it was an incredible experience, and I truly look forward to returning to this hotel in the future.

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