Heritance Kandalama is an architectural masterpiece by Geoffrey Bawa , built overlooking the eighth wonder of the world – the rock fortress of Sigiriya. The hotel sits at the heart of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, close to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The unpaved road through the jungle gives no clue to what to expect – there are no views of the hotel on the horizon. Then suddenly, as guests drive up a ramp, a cave-like entrance appears. And even as guests step into another world of minimalist white pillars and cool curving corridors, enormous boulders intrude and birdsong hangs in the air. The theme continues throughout the hotel. Heritance Kandalama is shaped like the outspread wings of a bird, following the line of the cliff from which it seems to emerge. The hotel is a staggering 1km from end to end, and rises up seven floors, yet appears to be a perfectly natural extension of the mountainside. The flat roof and timber pillars support a screen of vegetation that attracts local wildlife.
The Superior Rooms in the Dambulla wing have private balconies with a view of the lake and the Dambulla Rock. The shower cubicles are equipped with giant rain shower heads to provide a refreshing, invigorating experience.
The main restaurant is on the sixth floor, with full-length glass windows providing superlative views over the lake. Sometimes guests can dine outside, accompanied by the haunting flute music of Siripala. By day guests might spot a purple-rumped sunbird sipping nectar from the flowering shrubs planted outside; in the evening, candlelight reflects off the carefully crafted metal tree sculptures, creating a more intimate ambience. There is always something going on at the chef action stations, from waffles and omelettes at breakfast to Mongolian stir fries or barbecues on the theme nights.
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