Water Garden Sigiriya
“Peaceful Indulgence.”
Do you have that one place you keep visiting over and over? That’s Water Garden for us. This was our third stay and first visit to a hotel after 2.5 months of lockdown here in Sri Lanka. Water Garden Sigiriya is just a 25-minute drive from Dambulla Town and a 4.5-hour drive from Colombo via the Colombo/ Kandy Road (A1).
1. Ambience
What’s there not to like about this hotel? This breathtakingly beautiful hotel located in Sigiriya boasts a modern-day water harvesting design revisiting the famous 2000-year-old water garden on Sigiriya Rock. Therefore, wherever you go you will see pristine waterways and lush paddy fields with an outstanding view of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Lion Rock) and the surrounding countryside. Designed by renowned architect Channa Daswatte, this luxury hotel is as much about the views as it is the interiors.
Spread across 35 acres, each villa has been carefully styled in keeping with its setting. There are 30 villas in total divided into three categories. The Deluxe Villas, The Superior Deluxe Villas with Plunge Pool and the Duplex Twin Villas with Plunge Pool.
Water Garden Sigiriya has won many awards over the years. Conde Nast Johansens award, World Luxury Hotel Awards 2017, Traveller Made, Hotel Partner are a few that can be named.
2. Accommodation
The Villa we stayed in was a Duplex Twin Villa with Plunge Pool. This is ideal if you are travelling with your family. Whenever we visit this beautiful property our parents tag along with us. Hence, we always get a Duplex Villa.
As the name suggests, this villa has two floors. It has two very spacious and beautifully decorated bedrooms, two massive washrooms with bathtubs and rain showers (one for each room) and a very large lounge area retrofitted with all amenities and a plethora of other features, designed to ensure your stay at one of the foremost luxury hotels in Sri Lanka is nothing less than extraordinary. The villa also features a private plunge pool with jacuzzi and a beautiful sundeck.
3. Service
You might think after 3 visits and a COVID lockdown the service levels have gone down. But as always Water Garden proved us wrong. The service was exceptional from the moment we checked in. The staff at the front office was so friendly and helpful at all times. The service staff was so attentive and properly looked after us throughout our stay.
4. Food
We went on FB basis so had all 3 meals at the hotel. And all 3 meals (each course) served on both days were absolutely delicious. For all three meals we sat outside and during daytime you have uninterrupted views of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress while you indulge in your meals.
Breakfast was our favorite meal as the spread was delicious and delightful! It was a real breakfast of champions with juice, tea/latte, bacon and sausages, eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce, homemade croissants and marmalade, fruit platter and a plate of cheese and crackers to finish with. We also loved the different flavored spreads (fusion) that were served along with the breadbasket during dinnertime.
5. Poolside
An outdoor swimming pool is situated in close proximity to the many waterways and paddy fields with fantastic views of the Sigiriya Lion Rock.
6. Things to do
- Visit to the Sigiriya Lion Rock (Guided Tour)
- Cycle tour to the Sigiriya Lion Rock
- Dambulla guided tour
- Minneriya Jeep Safari
- Polonnaruwa Guided Tour
- Ritigala Monastry Guided Tour
- Guided nature walks around the hotel
- Archery lessons
*All of the above can be arranged through the hotel itself.
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