Water Garden Sigiriya
Hotel · Dambulla
Indigaswewa, Sigiriya 21120, Sri Lanka
Highlights
Luxurious villas with plunge pools, gourmet dining, spa, butler service
Luxurious villas with plunge pools, gourmet dining, spa, butler service
"Sigiriya, one of Sri Lanka’s most treasured World Heritage sites, is the literal focus of this boutique hotel in the island’s Cultural Triangle region. Although the 200m-high rock is a few km away, it rears clearly above the surrounding grassy plains, and the hotel's stunning symmetry – designed by Channa Daswatta, a renowned student of Geoffrey Bawa – gives vistas of the ruined fortress from every angle. The namesake water gardens are crafted out of former rice terraces, and the hotel's mature tree-edged setting is incredibly tranquil. The 30 reed-fringed or over-water villas are freestanding, with cutting-edge facilities; most have private plunge pools. Communal areas are smart and chic, too, with open-sided terraces for drinking and dining, and a huge swimming pool, all carefully positioned to view Sigiriya. The local heritage sites are why you come to this region, but the hotel's idyllic setting and award-winning service are more than enough reason to stay put and relax for a few days, rather than whistling through on a tour. And thanks to its wonderful spa with sauna and steam room offering treatments and holistic yoga, a gym and separate kids pool, there's plenty to keep everyone very happy. This is an extremely indulgent and uplifting retreat. Highs An inspiring architectural design focused on Sigiriya’s silhouette Delicious Sri Lankan food, or Western options if you prefer The peaceful grounds teem with wildlife, particularly peacocks, lizards and monkeys, which you can spy from your terrace Luxurious villas are huge, with 1-2 bedrooms and separate living areas. Most have private plunge pools Well located for visiting Sigiriya, Dambulla's Unesco-listed cave temples and the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Lows Only 2 Deluxe Villas have views of Sigiriya No other restaurants within easy distance; book half board The road leading to the resort is unpaved and can get bumpy after heavy rain When we visited, some pathways weren’t lit at night, but there are torches in the rooms or you can call a golf buggy" - Emma Boyle
"Water Garden Sigiriya seems like an evocative, almost poetic name for a hotel, but in fact it’s as sensible as they come — which testifies to the magic of its setting. Sigiriya is a fifth-century fortress built atop a natural column of rock in the island’s inland center, and the hotel’s grounds, crisscrossed with manmade pools, lakes, and streams, is quite literally a water garden." - Tablet Hotels
Shenzi_W
Jervisdays
charlottemertens97
rasanjana pathirana
EWebster426
550blackw
SJP000
Rachel Treinen
