Nestled in paradise, the stunning views, impeccable service, and exquisite amenities create an unforgettable experience. A true gem where every moment feels like a cherished memory. Pure indulgence in paradise! Though still a trainee,  we would love to make a special mention of Maleesha, who provided us with personalized service that exceeded our expectations together with her executive partner Lakmi...Maleesha's attentiveness and care made our stay even more memorable.  The staff was incredibly friendly, and their genuine care and attention to detail truly enhanced the overall experience of our entire family of six members.The food at the hotel was amazing, offering a wide variety of options that catered to every palate, and Rasika at the restaurant was always there to go that extra mile to make us feel comfortable and happy. We also want to appreciate the attentiveness of Jithendra, the night manager on duty.  Overall, a pure indulgence in paradise! Highly recommend.

the staff in the kitchen and restaurant was exceptionally good the food extraordinary the "dine in a cave" experience superb Chef Dinesh went out of his way to organise a live cooking under the rock! we will not forget this

reception was as bad as it gets: unfriendly and treatment like thieves: pay first, than enter

To be honest, it is hard to say that the room condition or service quality is equal or better than 5-star hotels. So if you expect perfection as a hotel, you may be slightly disappointed. The room condition is a bit old. However, the experience of staying here cannot be evaluated simply by the quality of the accommodation. It is the best. Here, you can feel the philosophy of Bawa that you should be immersed in nature. If you understand Bawa, such as the depth of experience, the meaning of space, and nature and architecture, Heritance Kandalama is a place that has more value than that. The best hotel

The room condition is a bit old.The refrigerator is on the verge of death

Everything! One of the best hotels in Sri Lanka. Ecologically conscious, great staff, a lot of activities nearby, and architectural gem. We hired a jeep through hotel and had the best experience with driver Bandara. Do ask for him if you need a guide with immense local knowledge and connections. Naturalist Navindu also provides great knowledge on surrounding area and can help organise fantastic outdoor experiences

Great location and fantastic views over the lake and Sigiriya in the background. We first came here when we were living in Colombo 18 years ago - was our favourite then and good to see it still is one of our family favourite hotels in Sri Lanka. Liked how the hotel has integrated with the natural surroundings and maximising its position with great views - we were fortunate to even see some wild elephants while having breakfast!

In the evenings the infinity pool bar is very busy and I suggest have a couple more extra bar staff there to assist and get more $$ from us tourists as waiting for over 20 minutes for a drink takes away the enjoyment of the spectacular views and tranquil surroundings. A little more urgency wouldn’t go astray. However, Staff attentiveness at the buffet restaurant was fantastic!

Beautiful hotel in beautiful surroundings... You feel fully immersed in the jungle which is an amazing experience. The staff is amazing - lots of smiles and a really great service. Having said all of this, I don't think the hotel is a true 5 star hotel by western standards. The hotel is getting a little old and in some places it just feels a little run down, example the sun beds by the pool could do with an upgrade, certain equipment at the gym as well. Overall a great hotel, great service, amazing location - it just needs some attention and probably renovation to help bring it back to its former glory.

The views and sceneries were breathtaking. Local wildlife ensures entertainment. Dinner buffet was very good. Opening hours of the buffet. The staff is very attentive. Balinese massage was excellent. Gym was well equipped.

Only a view chairs available at the pools, making it a race of the quickest to get them. No evening activities or vibes. Only a few plugs available in the room. No entertainment for children. Live music and lounge area not utilized enough. The hotel is so big and so wide, yet it seems they just did not know what to do with all the space they have which all have amazing views. For example a supermarket, a souvenir shop, a Kids Playing area, more bars, you name it... but it felt all underused and unused. And lastly, high prices for rooms (we had a Junior Suite) for a hotel which does not offer much besides food. Other than that the hotel was great in general.

We visited Kandalama about 15 years ago when it was more of a business hotel. Now it seems to cater for mass coach groups, primarily Chinese groups who seem to be coming for one day stays. I was surprised to hear a Sri Lankan singing songs in Chinese to welcome a group! As previous comments, the buffet was like "feeding time at the zoo" with badly behaved people pushing in as if they have never seen food before! The staff seemed overwhelmed. The rooms are a little dated and electrical sockets for charging anything are non-existent and you have to unplug something like a lamp to use the socket, which is inconvenient. The views are spectacular and our lake trip was amazing with a sighting of an elephant. The staff at reception and the naturalist were really poor. We asked several times about the various activities on offer, but all the staff told us that the naturalist deals with the activities and that he was on holiday and will be back tomorrow. We were told this everyday of our for day stay and no staff member had a clue bput the activities other than the costs,which is really poor. The assistant naturalist was terrible and it looked as if they had a stuck a safari hat on someone's head and said he was the assistant naturalist! His English was poor and the boatman who were rowing were telling him which species of bird and where the birds were. It was independence day when we visited and they put Sri Lankanflags on all the breakfast tables and that's it. No explanation, no celebration no nothing! All rather lack lustre!

Quite a bit as mentioned in my comments.

Our stay at Heritance Kandalama was truly unforgettable! From the moment we arrived, every detail was perfect, and the level of service exceeded our expectations. The staff were incredibly attentive and made sure that all our needs were met. A special thank you to the duty manager, Shantha, whose kindness and exceptional hospitality made our experience even more memorable. His dedication to ensuring we had a wonderful stay was truly appreciated. The hotel itself is stunning, offering breathtaking views and a peaceful atmosphere that made for a perfect retreat. We highly recommend Heritance Kandalama—it's a gem not to be missed!

Staying at Heritance Kandalama was an unforgettable experience. The service was impeccable—truly, I’ve never felt so pampered. The location is straight out of a postcard, nestled near Sigiriya Rock and surrounded by lush jungle and the serene Kandalama Lake. As for the wildlife, let’s just say the monkeys and birds kept us entertained, practically dropping by for afternoon tea! But the highlight? Watching elephants wander by from the balcony of our room—it was absolutely breathtaking. A perfect blend of luxury, nature, and just the right amount of wild charm.