- An experience beyond the rock
Over the Avurudu weekend, Brunch travelled to the northern corner of the Matale District to visit the ancient Sigiriya rock fortress. An interesting choice for a holiday week, we know. On our journey paying tribute to the island’s ancient chapter, we stopped by the iconic Hotel Sigiriya – one you may recognise from the images captured showcasing the property’s exclusive view of the Sigiriya rock, as it lines up perfectly with the hotel’s pool and lounge area.
Hotel Sigiriya is best known for its proximity to the rock fortress and it is frequented by one night stays who visit the property at the last leg of their cultural triangle exploration.
While the property has become part of the fabric of the landscape surrounding Sigiriya for years, it underwent some changes during the pandemic. Hotel Sigiriya Assistant Hotel Manager Thilanka Chandimal said that the property has invested significantly in elevating the numerous offerings at Hotel Sigiriya, most notably on upgrading its rooms, and undertaking renovations from August 2021 to update fittings, amenities, and the overall look and feel of the property. Chandimal shared that the hotel resumed receiving guests at the end of 2021, despite experiencing some challenges, especially with the various regulations imposed by the Government making it difficult for their suppliers to reach the property since the end of 2021.
Some key renovations and new additions at the property include the dining area and the Ayurveda Centre which offers a total of five therapy rooms complete with a steam sauna and couple rooms. It also has a resident Ayurvedic doctor available for guests to have consultations with. The hotel has 78 Superior Rooms, and by the end of April it will be adding a new suite to its repertoire.
While our visit was over the Avurudu weekend, arguably one their busier times of the year, we were pleasantly surprised at how we were able to have plenty of time to ourselves without feeling cramped, as the property layout facilitates an even distribution of guests, allowing them to relax in their own space. Chandimal shared that they will soon include a gathering area near the pool utilising some of the free space in their expansive garden area for families to enjoy time with their children.
While your main objective in visiting Hotel Sigiriya may be to visit the rock fortress and perhaps climb Pidurangala, the hotel is ready to expand your horizons well beyond what you may have planned. While most people do visit in order to climb the rock either the next morning or to rest after their climb, Chandimal explained that there’s quite a lot to do at Hotel Sigiriya if you find yourself with some free time.
The property has a resident naturalist who will guide guests out on excursions and bush walks in and outside the property. He also directed us to a nearby lake called the ‘Thalkote’ Lake, which is a key point for locals. While Chandimal shared that it is popular for its scenery, birds, and butterflies, we also came across a fantastic bathing spot, which due to its relative obscurity and off-road location, is apparently never really crowded.
While staying at Hotel Sigiriya, you can also do bike rides and experience authentic village lunches in a village only about two-and-a-half kilometres away from the main property. This experience, Chandimal said, “is mainly for foreigners, where they are able to get an authentic local experience, a live demo on how to scrape coconut, and other traditional practices.” However, he added that locals too often find the experience exciting.
Hotel Sigiriya currently stands as the number one property in the cultural triangle region on Booking.com, and as a result, a large percentage of their bookings are online bookings and they are incredibly popular in the online travel market, Chandimal shared. Due to this the hotel offers numerous services like pick-up and drop-off upon request from the highway as well. Chandimal also added that they do have a considerable number of locals visiting the property, as well as frequent walk-in guests who visit the property especially for meals and to use the Ayurveda spa.
We were also able to briefly chat with the hotel’s General Manager (GM) Suresh Athukorala, who is also the GM at their sister hotel Club Dolphin Waikkal. Athukorala noted that Hotel Sigiriya is one of the first green hotels in Sri Lanka, being especially notable for its wildlife friendly practices. “We do not do night safaris and such in consideration of the welfare of the animals, and we have received certification for being a bird friendly hotel,” he noted.
He shared that there are many educational opportunities for locals owing to the hotel’s unique location. Especially if you come with children, there are many temples, historical sites, and lakes that you can visit to learn about Sri Lanka’s heritage.
Hotel Sigiriya is also notable for its culinary efforts, with its food being a particular highlight of our stay at the property. Just as the GM highlighted, Hotel Sigiriya caters to a shorter stay. However, the rooms at the property are clean and well-equipped despite this, providing all required necessities and even more significantly, the service at the hotel is impeccable. We were well taken care of by the warm and incredibly hospitable hotel staff.
Drawing from our own experiences at the revamped hotel, if you happen to find yourself exploring the cultural triangle and heading towards Dambulla to conclude your journey, we can guarantee that Hotel Sigiriya is a place you wouldn’t want to miss.
