This hotel became a destination in itself for us. We checked in and decided not to go out again to visit Sigiriya or Dambulla till we left. The views were fabulous; the rooms, excellent; the pools, delightful; staff, top notch (though not all brilliant in English), à la carte dining, excellent and the buffet breakfast… probably one of the best we have ever enjoyed. We spent 90 minutes just enjoying it all, looking at the lake, and exploring the Sri Lankan cuisine options.
The monkeys amused us. They came up to the top pool and inspected us but it was interesting rather than unnerving. We had been warned not to interact or feed them.
It is hard to fault the place. Yes, it is a bit gloomy on a sunless day, yes some of the rooms are far away from the reception and dining area, and yes, it is in the middle of nowhere and the wifi wasn’t always speedy BUT the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. I’d go back and spend a few more days just hanging out.
It would be a real bonus if the hotel designed and built a board-walk along the lake’s shores. It would be a great walk and a fine place to observe nature and the prolific bird life. And how about kayaking?