Designed by famed Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, the unique Heritance Kandalama hotel is set into a cliff face among dense tropical forests, flanked by the Dambulla rock temple and Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The hotel’s buildings were planned to blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment and are covered with hanging vines and flowering plants. Each of the 152 rooms faces either Kandalama Lake or the forest – even the bathrooms were planned to showcase the view – and is decorated in an elegantly simple contemporary style. The Kandalama is the first Green Globe 21-certified hotel in Asia, and the first hotel in the world to be awarded the prestigious LEED Green Building certification. There are three restaurants to choose from, including the Kanchana Café, which has won multiple awards. Among The Kandalama’s amenities are a pool, business center and fitness center, while the world-renowned Six Senses Spa has a location here that offers Asian, Swedish, aromatherapy and Ayurvedic massage.

Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Based in the epicentre of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka the Kandelama is an architectural wonder. Shaped like a bird with its wings drawn out and carved into the side of a mountain overlooking the eighth wonder of the world (Sigiriya), this hotel offers guests something really special.

History: The hotel was constructed between the years 1992-1995 on the outskirts of an area known as Dambulla, thought to be inhabited from as early as the 7th to 3rd century BC. Here, statues and paintings dating back to the 1st century BC can be found in caves.

Service: The Kandelama has won numerous awards for service including the CNN Ultimate Service Award in 2001. It also picked up the Trip Advisor Excellence Award in 2012.