ULTIMATEHotels

Bawa-designed hotel

Heritance Kandalama

Dambulla · Sri Lanka

A table set for dinner in a torch-lit rock cave at Heritance Kandalama
A table set for dinner in a torch-lit rock cave at Heritance Kandalama
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama
Heritance Kandalama, wrapped in greenery
Heritance Kandalama, wrapped in greenery
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Adheesha88, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A room at Heritance Kandalama with a timber four-poster and windows onto the lake at sunset
A room at Heritance Kandalama with a timber four-poster and windows onto the lake at sunset
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama
Heritance Kandalama at dusk, its long concrete wings sunk into the forested rock
Heritance Kandalama at dusk, its long concrete wings sunk into the forested rock
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama
Kandalama tank and the hills, seen from Heritance Kandalama
Kandalama tank and the hills, seen from Heritance Kandalama
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama
The green-roofed wings of Heritance Kandalama rising out of the forest
The green-roofed wings of Heritance Kandalama rising out of the forest
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama
The pool at Heritance Kandalama from above, cut into the rock by the water
The pool at Heritance Kandalama from above, cut into the rock by the water
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama
A table set on the lawn at Heritance Kandalama above the tank at dusk
A table set on the lawn at Heritance Kandalama above the tank at dusk
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama
An open corridor at Heritance Kandalama looking out over the water
An open corridor at Heritance Kandalama looking out over the water
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama
The restaurant at Heritance Kandalama, long tables under a timber ceiling
The restaurant at Heritance Kandalama, long tables under a timber ceiling
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama
A room at Heritance Kandalama with timber panelling and a lake-view balcony
A room at Heritance Kandalama with timber panelling and a lake-view balcony
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama
A room balcony at Heritance Kandalama among the forest
A room balcony at Heritance Kandalama among the forest
Photo creditImage courtesy of © Heritance Kandalama

Geoffrey Bawa’s celebrated hotel, built along a rock face above Kandalama tank and slowly covered by jungle.

Heritance Kandalama, built along a cliff above the Kandalama reservoir near Dambulla, is one of Geoffrey Bawa’s most famous late works: a long building that the jungle has slowly covered, with views across the water to Sigiriya. Monkeys are frequent visitors, so keep windows closed. Who it suits: Bawa admirers and travellers visiting Sigiriya and Dambulla. Things to know: monkeys are regular visitors, so keep windows and balcony doors closed.

  • Designed by Bawa
  • Jungle-covered
  • Lake views

From the ULTIMATE Sri Lanka guide

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