With a nice swimming pool and views out over a lake, this hotel has the potential to be much better than it is. The rooms haven't been updated for decades and it's a all a bit tired. The food wasn't very inspiring either.
- Free parking
- Pool
With a nice swimming pool and views out over a lake, this hotel has the potential to be much better than it is. The rooms haven't been updated for decades and it's a all a bit tired. The food wasn't very inspiring either.
We stayed at this hotel for one night. The location is good because it is in front of Giritale lake. But staff is non friendly at all. Initially, Receptionist is non friendly and lack of concerns for guests. She gave us the wrong room key which is not prepared. Food labelling is not there in the dinner buffet and choices are very limited. BF is served to table and it is worse than the dinner. Rooms are very old and bathroom is too small. No exhaust fan at Bathroom. TV having only local channels. No tea making facility at rooms. Leslie from Colombo, Sri Lanka
As part of the on the go tour we stayed here. The location of the hotel in amazing, with stunning views.
The food in the hotel was a buffet, which was ok, the local cuisine was a lot better than the attempted international food, although there is an option for a la carte.
The rooms are very dated and could definitely do with an upgrade.
The amazing thing was the amount of wildlife allowed around reception, mostly lizards, but all very harmless.
If they upgrade the rooms, this would be one very special hotel.
We stayed here in August 2013 as part of an Exodus tour of Sri Lanka. The hotel is in a good location, but the rooms are a bit tired. It has great potential but is in need of an upgrade.
The location is handy for Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya, and we had a lovely bike ride around the area.
First of all the hotel need a big refurbishment, the rooms and facilities are old. but the loacation and the view is amazing, good food but a limited selections specially beverages.nice view at the pool and limited common areas. .good place to stay when your touring polonnaruwa and anuradhapura
Not only at the lake views but also the new state of the art eco chalets which were offered in preference to the tired and cramped standard rooms which admittedly have fabulous views and a nice balcony. The chalet I stayed in 807 is a superb piece of architecture with single polished logs and cross beams holding up the roof and verandah. There is lots of marvellous timber finishes inside the split level stand alone structure and the bathroom is a massive size with bath and shower that opens to the sky, trees and monkeys overhead. Really artfully built and conceived right down to the etched paint on fabric on the walls. The downstairs sit out area is cool and does have some view of the lake. Bedding and fixtures are brand new. Fabulous!
This hotel is between the two heritage sites of Sigiriya and Polonnoruwa and 8,000rps gets you to both from the hotel. You can take local buses and get off at Giritale and is 1km off main road.
The breakfast is very good and staff are most helpful. The lobby area and entry with its lovely statue and the shiny terrazzo tiled floor mirrored in water opening out onto a vista of the lake is quite lovely. The terrazzo is polished with camphor and together with the incense creates a lovely atmosphere.
The grounds, pool, outdoor bar, change area and spa need a total renovation - at least keep it clean and dirt-free. Paths need sweeping and hosing down. The backyard looks like a rubbish tip - at least plant a row of trees to hide it. Otherwise, you do feel like you are in a national park with monkeys all round and I think I heard deer in the night. Wild elephants were drinking at the lake across from the hotel. It shows Sri Lanka at its natural best not spoilt by over-development like Bali nor by massive palm oil and rubber plantations like Malaysia.