Nothing

A small number of beautiful lodges in beautiful green surroundings. Everything fits together perfectly and is of good quality. Very friendly and helpful owner and staff. The food is more expensive than outside but it is simply fantastic. We had one of the best vegetarian curry selection cooked after our preferences. The breakfast is also really good.

Stayed in April 2024

Beautifully designed oasis with an incredible chef, making amazing food. Close enough to the caves, using their tuktuk driver. The accommodation was gorgeously designed, very comfortable. The pool was lovely and very clean.

Stayed in April 2024

Be aware that it is a thirty minute tuk tuk ride to sirigiya and ten minutes to Dambulla so you need to allow time. As the private garden is surrounded by high walls You do feel a little removed from the real Sri Lanka but after a hectic day sightseeing that can be a good thing. I would prefer for environmental reasons that they stopped using plastic straws.

Peaceful, relaxing, quiet, clean. Set in a small private garden there are five villas surrounding a pretty and clean pool. Loved the cute private outdoor ensuites.

Stayed in April 2024

Literally nothing

10/10 because 15/10 is not available 🥰 Our stay at Kandalama Lodge for four nights in April 2024 was more than perfect. The property and the garden is absolutely beautiful and new (built in summer 2023), there are only five lodges so a lot of privacy and time to relax. The lodges are very modern and the jungle bathroom is breathtaking (noted, you will probably meet some small animals). The staff is absolutely amazing and loving, they are doing a perfect job and made our stay there absolutely outstanding and memorable. We felt like home in the first second we arrived and have been very sad to leave the place after five days. It’s a worry-free-zone 😍 There are two professional cooks that are serving outstanding food, breakfast lunch and dinner (take the curry variations!!). Best food we had during the whole trip and worth every $$ you pay. Further, the staff organises everything. They planned our pickup at the airport with a amazing driver, Mela. Our outstanding local guide from the hotel, Amila planned all our trips for us and suggested everything (siringiya rock in the morning is a must do!!, cave temple, elephant safari and piturangala rock, wood carving, batic, herbal garden) and even joined us on all our trips. We felt 100% safe all the time and we had a absolutely amazing time with Amila. We got snacks like corn watermelon and coconut on the tuktuk rides and he explained everything to us from a local perspective. We really really recommend doing the trips with him!!! We are really happy that he helped us with everything, because it’s quite overwhelming planning everything by yourself and it’s especially helpful to get his local perspectives on everything. Go on Tuktuk rides with him, he has the fastest Tuktuk on the island!!! So concluding, we cannot recommend it any more and hope to come back one day.

Stayed in April 2024

Amazing little resort! Great personnel who make the best food!

Stayed in April 2024

While the staff at the lodge were undoubtedly warm and welcoming, their enthusiasm to assist sometimes felt a bit overwhelming. For instance, they would often linger near our table, eager to refill drinks or clear plates, which, although well-intentioned, disrupted the relaxed atmosphere. Additionally, it seemed that tasks weren't always evenly distributed among the staff, leading to moments where requests prompted group discussions rather than swift individual action.

The Kandalama Lodge is a beautiful oasis and the perfect starting point for adventures in and around Dambulla and Sigiriya. We especially enjoyed the outdoor bathroom and the pool after our hikes. Also, the cook (and his curry!) are exceptional.

Stayed in April 2024

Tasty dinner but overrated, overpriced and we got it served partly cold due the kitchen's organization. The quality was good but don't expect a lot of food though. The shrimps were amazing.

It was very spacious and comfortable. A bit far from the main attractions but totally worth it. Very good breakfast, also possibility for sri lankan breakfast. The tuktuk service was priced well and the staff was very good. Super good and cheap restaurant nearby for amazing dahl (home kitchen dambulla).

Stayed in March 2024

Maybe a second roof could help reducing the noise of animals walking on it at night. They woke us up sometimes, but I guess is part of the experience :)

Everything is made with such an exceptional taste. We loved the outdoor bathroom. Everything looked even better than in the pictures. If the price was the double we wouldn’t be surprised.

Stayed in March 2024

Nothing.

Where do I even begin!! This place is exceptional right from the start to the end and we had such an incredible experience. So much so, that is was a real highlight of our whole Sri Lanka trip and that really says it all. From the beautiful grounds, to the stunning lodges with open air bathroom which was a real experience to connect with nature and to hear all the sounds. Everything in the hotel has been lovingly sourced from different parts of the world including the furniture and even the unique moon wall sculpture which is beautiful! We have never visited such a place where you can feel the love and care that has been put into this oasis. The place is spotless and so well maintained. We enjoyed spending an afternoon rejuvenating by the pool after a busy day hiking up Sigiriya. The food was another highlight!! They have a beautiful open air kitchen where there are 2 super talented chefs (chef Ananda and chef Darshan) who make all the food from scratch. The food is beautifully presented, all ingredients sourced and the food is to die for! We ate all our meals there and we were waited on by the amazing team who couldn’t do enough for us. The owner, Wedage is so friendly and he welcomed our family with open arms. He works incredibly hard for his guests and you can feel the care and effort which goes into what he does. It’s so incredibly refreshing to see how he does it and other hoteliers should definitely take note. He went above and beyond for us, even helping to source the coveted train tickets from Kandy to Ella which were completely sold out. He worked his magic and used his contacts to source tickets which were delivered to our next hotel. The team feel like one big family and you feel that across every part of the Kandalama lodge experience. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend staying here and if you are in doubt, just book it and you won’t regret it at all. The only regret you will have is not booking more nights ;)

Stayed in February 2024

Everything is Perfect for a relaxing pause inbetween cultural Visits.

Small Hotel with 5 cabanas in a fantastic Tropical Garden with Pool and lovely Team. Great Food & drinks, welcoming service and Taxi Support for visiting cultural Highlights. Open Air bathroom with plants - a Place to relax and to return. This Place is worth every Dollar you spend

Stayed in March 2024

From the moment we stepped inside the grounds of Kandalama Lodge, it felt relaxed and inviting. Each little villa was beautifully furnished with a comfortable verandah area to sit and a very spacious outdoor bathroom This was in a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle of Dambula and was perfect for visiting sites within the area, such as Dambula cave temples, Sigiriya, Pidurangala, Anuradhapura & Polonnaruwa They have a resident tuk tuk driver Amila whom will take you anywhere you would like to go safely and with helpful information and a good price Highly recommend

Stayed in March 2024

We had to leave….

Wow! Wow! Wow! This small, exclusive, delightfully built & crated collection of 5 lodges and pool is one of the most relaxing and best property I have stayed in - excellent The food is incredible 2 chefs cook your food fresh, just for you in an open kitchen, so you can see them at work This fine dining experience, is obviously more expensive than the local buffet restaurants. But it is so worth it. In the UK, I would be paying 4 or 5 times the price - and the quality is exceptional I would strongly recommend staying here for 4 or 5 nights whilst taking day trips to explore this part of Sri Lanka Oh! & the outside private bathroom is to die for

Stayed in March 2024

The rooms where a little dark, but that’s also a heat protection and we did not see this as a real issue.

Small property, which makes the place very nice and private. Very good good - we just tried the Sri Lankian dishes and they are perfect. Very friendly and attending staff.

Stayed in March 2024

Nothing couldn’t fault it

Beautiful place, super friendly staff, amazing fresh food, great location and very peaceful

Stayed in March 2024

comfortable, quiet hotel with fine cuisine, in a peaceful location with a beautiful pool and garden. The owner and his team are adorable and very professional. In short, an ideal hotel for discovering the sites of this region.

Stayed in March 2024

nothing.

The manager and staff went out of their way to help - nothing was too much trouble for them. The catering staff were very happy to accommodate special needs and the food was delicious. We loved our stay there - a small oasis after busy sightseeing every day. The pool was an added bonus.

Stayed in February 2024

Everything in our stay was perfect. The location of Kandalama lodge is great if you want to visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigirya and Pidurangala. The lodge is cleverly designed, and well maintained. The garden is a quiet oasis, peaceful and beautiful. We stayed in both the deluxe villa with the private pool and the “regular” rooms. We enjoyed both. The staff made our stay even better. I’ve never seen a manager, cook and helpers so attentive in my life. I rarely rate a stay a 10/10 but they deserve it.

Stayed in February 2024

Everything was fine!

Nice boutique hotel with swimming pool. Staff is great very helpful.

Stayed in February 2024

Nothing!! Everthing was exceptional. Staying here exceeded my expectations. I've stayed at some of the best small boutique hotels (30 rooms or less) all over Southeast Asia, Indonesia (and this part of the world) - I have to say I really loved Kandalama Lodge!!

Kandalama Lodge is the perfect oasis when looking for lodging in the Dambulla area! What a "Gem" of a place. If you like staying at boutique hotels that are more personal, have great service, aren't big hotels (where you're just a number) this is absolutely the best place to stay!! The lodge has 5 wonderful bungalows - very spacious, airy, bright and comfortable. The beds were very good, and I was very impressed with the delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Kudos to the Chef and his staff - some of the best food I had in Sri Lanka!! The grounds and pool were beautiful and it was very peaceful and relaxing, especially after going out early in the morning to see all the sites and coming back to an "oasis of calm." I think staying somewhere that you really like and enjoy comes down to the wonderful staff and people who work there! **Shout out to Nalin who really makes sure that everything runs smoothly and you're taken care of. When I booked here, I needed help with getting a driver for the daily sites, setting up the elephant safari, picking us up at the airport in Sigiriya, and driver to take us to Galle Fort, which was our next stop - they handled it all seamlessly which took the stress out of wondering how I was going to arrange all this. Our excellent driver, Mella, who took us around to all the places was very personable, fun and knowledgeable. Lastly, I want to thank Wedge (the Sri Lankan owner) for greeting us the day we arrived (their first American guests) and checking in with us to make sure we were having a great stay - much appreciated!!

Stayed in January 2024

Nothing!

We loved our time at Kandalama Lodge and wished we had stayed longer than 2 nights. It was definitely the highlight of our time in Sri Lanka. Nalinn the Manager and his team were very welcoming and made us feel very special. It is a beautifully maintained and peaceful lodge. We loved the gardens, the pool and our spacious room. The outdoor bathroom was delightful. The restaurant and bar area is quiet just what you need after a busy day sightseeing. The food here is exceptional. We liked the open kitchen and watching the chef at work. Do try the Sri Lankan breakfast it was delicious. Overall an amazing time and we would love to return. Berni & Mike

Stayed in February 2024

A lot of mosquitos, but it’s normal as you are in the middle of nature.

The staff was incredibile, especially the manager Who takes extremely good care of his guests. It’s a small, intimate hotel, the rooms are very nice, clean, and accommodating. the breakfast and food in general was excellent too.

Stayed in February 2024

This room and bathroom were incredible. The outside bathroom was such a special touch and felt like you were at one with nature. It was such a comfortable room which was a great size and the staff were absolutely incredible. Nilan looked after us like we were his own children and went above and beyond to make us feel at home, we wished we could’ve stayed longer than we did now. We had dinner and breakfast there and it was the best meal we had in Sri Lanka out of our whole holiday!

Stayed in February 2024

Superb attention from all the staff. Super friendly

Stayed in February 2024

I only have one negative. During the stay we were helped with tuk tuks and suggestions, which was really welcome and helpful, but I began to feel we were being monetized. Not by the hotel but by the driver arranged by the lodge. I began to feel as if the idea was to get as much out of us as possible. For example we were take to an Ayurvedic Herb Garden which although free to enter sold products at prices that would make even a western clinic wince. Though as a man maybe not, but a bag of half a dozen items would cost in excess of £150 - and as the average wage of a Sri Lankan is less than £5 per day it seemed way too much to me. I don't want to detract from my view of the staff and accommodation which were better than ten out of ten.

Naleen and his team are a joy. Such kind and lovely people who offer wonderful gracious hospitality with only a smile and gentle gratitude. The room with the private pool was perfect especially after the long flight and trip from Negombo via Yapahuwa Rock Fortress and we had a fabulous three days and I would not hesitate to come here again. The area, although close to Sigiriya and Minneriya is much less developed than central and southern Sri Lanka and you really get a feeling for how most people live. The elephant experience in Minneriya was wonderful (large herds with baby elephants and hardly any other jeeps to spoil the experience) and walking along the local lake taking pictures of birds and butterflies was my idea of heaven. I must give praise to the chef too. In a small immaculately clean open kitchen he created some of the best food we have eaten while here. Always with a smile and always assisted by others in the team. As a former Michelin listed restaurant owner I know skill and dedication when I see it and here it was on show both in the kitchen and front of house too.

Stayed in February 2024