[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"ge":3,"en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fglobal\u002Ffooter":221,"story-\u002Fen-gb\u002Fdestinations\u002Fasia\u002Fsri-lanka\u002Fheritance-kandalama":295},["Reactive",4],{"name":5,"created_at":6,"published_at":7,"updated_at":8,"id":9,"uuid":10,"content":11,"slug":18,"full_slug":206,"sort_by_date":207,"position":208,"tag_list":209,"is_startpage":210,"parent_id":211,"meta_data":207,"group_id":212,"first_published_at":213,"release_id":207,"lang":214,"path":207,"alternates":215,"default_full_slug":207,"translated_slugs":207},"Header","2022-07-25T09:41:40.982Z","2026-10-09T14:45:33.722Z","2026-10-09T14:45:35.812Z",167377631,"aedb7dba-a9c4-4919-a156-7811e7dfa393",{"_uid":12,"logo":13,"items":17,"title":14,"component":18,"metaTitle":19,"nav_menus":20,"strapline":201,"search_page_link":202,"search_bar_placeholder_text":205},"79db3d30-00b1-497c-987c-f5f00938f54f",{"name":14,"filename":15,"fieldtype":16},"","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1663659218\u002FPicolo\u002FAssets\u002Fpicolo_logo_black-1_yml543.svg","asset",[],"header","Picolo Travel Tips",[21,59,93,139,191],{"_uid":22,"items":23,"title":57,"component":58},"308eea60-0253-48ab-98d9-615c6d12ffc0",[24,33,39,45,51],{"_uid":25,"link":26,"label":31,"component":32},"a7139461-6c37-4a7d-9cec-581d691d477f",{"id":27,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":30},"159f3d9c-5d41-4fe5-9ffa-82c8e9f0839b","story","multilink","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fhotels\u002Fwhere-is-hot-in-november","Where is hot in November","link_list_item",{"_uid":34,"link":35,"label":38,"component":32},"931e80d8-c47f-47c2-a8c9-202cb4a3454b",{"id":36,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":37},"b13cdf89-fddd-41f1-b2b0-c33dd41651f8","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fhotels\u002Fwhere-is-hot-in-december","Where is hot in December",{"_uid":40,"link":41,"label":44,"component":32},"4c50e61d-6cdf-4486-8e7b-eef2f9cfd596",{"id":42,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":43},"eadd2a7c-1ee1-4e43-ae8c-af0cbedece52","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fhotels\u002Fchristmas-breaks","Christmas breaks",{"_uid":46,"link":47,"label":50,"component":32},"1bf43ffc-1684-49e0-af0c-f0e9a29f7a53",{"id":48,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":49},"e2fca915-bfea-4138-a458-6030be48ab28","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fhotels\u002Fchristmas-market-breaks","Christmas market breaks",{"_uid":52,"link":53,"label":56,"component":32},"6374e290-023a-47a4-8770-41619ef1adb2",{"id":54,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":55},"77521228-5783-4dbf-b797-e28a625dd37e","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fhotels\u002Fnew-years-eve-breaks","New Year's Eve breaks","Right now","link_list",{"_uid":60,"items":61,"title":92,"component":58},"076dab03-0dc1-4428-b543-541e4f74c20a",[62,68,74,80,86],{"_uid":63,"link":64,"label":67,"component":32},"0467df0d-120e-47da-9167-7c59a66264d1",{"id":65,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":66},"2e2c00b1-d5f1-481e-9075-66f57043529e","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fhotels\u002F","Hotels by theme",{"_uid":69,"link":70,"label":73,"component":32},"6a60804e-9f79-4a67-a83e-d29f8581b578",{"id":71,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":72},"7227e7b7-1e79-4544-9a16-4947234ba7da","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fflights-and-hotels\u002F","Flights and hotels",{"_uid":75,"link":76,"label":79,"component":32},"cf311dbb-ff85-48f0-a805-848523029511",{"id":77,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":78},"3a730dc4-4926-4589-b1a4-11f85f26ca22","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fhotels\u002Fwinter-sun-destinations-europe","Winter sun in Europe",{"_uid":81,"link":82,"label":85,"component":32},"85334270-beb3-4a12-afd0-0937a2cb43a8",{"id":83,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":84},"e869e6a5-4388-456b-9e67-d5494078f88e","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fhotels\u002Fnature-spa-breaks-europe","Nature spa breaks",{"_uid":87,"link":88,"label":91,"component":32},"33981365-4783-43ce-9dc3-4f73aa12b20f",{"id":89,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":90},"4197aa74-299f-4c2c-bb89-3bf995e8d516","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fhotels\u002Fvalentines-breaks","Romantic weekends","Find a hotel",{"_uid":94,"items":95,"title":138,"component":58},"bb4c77e6-620a-4cb5-a558-e9509808c4f9",[96,102,108,114,120,126,132],{"_uid":97,"link":98,"label":101,"component":32},"20873083-1a6b-480f-9d6b-e9487fdd3896",{"id":99,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":100},"d4bec25e-b0ce-454e-94d6-aabab96617a1","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fexperiences\u002Fnordics\u002F","Nordic experiences",{"_uid":103,"link":104,"label":107,"component":32},"926badc3-b116-47b1-96c7-8e5b1639334d",{"id":105,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":106},"e854f0f1-1618-4117-88a7-069db9211b76","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fexperiences\u002Feurope\u002F","Europe experiences",{"_uid":109,"link":110,"label":113,"component":32},"22ce5e3a-5767-4673-a037-557ccaea4318",{"id":111,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":112},"71798c40-9b2b-4115-b340-77f2006f4054","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fexperiences\u002Fski-resorts\u002F","Ski holidays",{"_uid":115,"link":116,"label":119,"component":32},"168333e8-fcea-4b43-82fd-0db41ecb0600",{"id":117,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":118},"13108ae9-ca64-4510-a112-6b1c3ea2944e","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fexperiences\u002Fusa\u002F","USA",{"_uid":121,"link":122,"label":125,"component":32},"2b26525f-4bf3-4242-a85e-d30a4900507e",{"id":123,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":124},"904ed885-bd21-4400-97a4-830a30341989","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fexperiences\u002Flong-haul\u002F","Long-haul",{"_uid":127,"link":128,"label":131,"component":32},"a0c1883d-a044-4509-b2c3-83d565975dfb",{"id":129,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":130},"3c8767b2-37cc-487c-b4c8-ce277e4e8cbb","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fexperiences\u002Ffood-and-wine\u002F","Food and wine",{"_uid":133,"link":134,"label":137,"component":32},"41561fb3-d852-4cc3-81b8-59a72d343ffe",{"id":135,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":136},"65b6931b-f03f-42c5-83b4-51a22d0c53f3","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fexperiences\u002F","See all experiences","Things to do",{"_uid":140,"items":141,"title":190,"component":58},"faf95dbe-68cc-42ec-9f95-c047b12f6445",[142,148,154,160,166,172,178,184],{"_uid":143,"link":144,"label":147,"component":32},"f88be9cb-56b1-43bd-87e5-61b909e6d028",{"id":145,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":146},"4cfd8153-93bc-4589-8f91-f4ea9e124b55","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fnorway\u002F","Norway",{"_uid":149,"link":150,"label":153,"component":32},"71215f2d-3d4b-4631-aeaf-ade259f4c4f5",{"id":151,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":152},"bee8a472-ed8a-4679-8c3f-8c0a8cab414f","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fitaly\u002F","Italy",{"_uid":155,"link":156,"label":159,"component":32},"bedbfc2b-15df-45e0-bb55-5cfa5d962be1",{"id":157,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":158},"3d2c1717-b78f-46be-886c-a50329a1d5fb","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fspain\u002F","Spain",{"_uid":161,"link":162,"label":165,"component":32},"05d2e472-f3ab-499e-aed0-309c563eb265",{"id":163,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":164},"43400836-9ef5-4c7d-8738-8b52cf2ea330","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002F","Europe",{"_uid":167,"link":168,"label":171,"component":32},"b9d4845c-7006-4b34-a8e3-38256248a729",{"id":169,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":170},"75196b14-bd87-4113-9065-94eacad4509e","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Fasia\u002F","Asia",{"_uid":173,"link":174,"label":177,"component":32},"9adf8203-f8af-417f-a8e6-584e36f1a052",{"id":175,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":176},"869bd101-b4f3-4ef6-99b7-aeffb194bb1a","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Famericas\u002F","Americas",{"_uid":179,"link":180,"label":183,"component":32},"5fc3e140-ef59-4467-be36-edf30539e8f7",{"id":181,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":182},"522bcfc3-baa4-49f3-9403-8a65dc026d65","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Fafrica\u002F","Africa",{"_uid":185,"link":186,"label":189,"component":32},"af7c3323-096e-4eb2-a0d3-e3ce3a41d313",{"id":187,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":188},"9c79c139-575e-48ee-8138-b26efe313f6a","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002F","All destinations","Destinations",{"_uid":192,"items":193,"title":200,"component":58},"bb82266a-cfdd-407d-a157-0072051f2228",[194],{"_uid":195,"link":196,"label":199,"component":32},"4ce71de8-1754-4a12-ba25-520eb1c2e279",{"id":197,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":198},"a8814b43-4a19-4ed2-9002-41ea88f575d6","nb-no\u002Fpicolo\u002F","Norsk","Language","Inspiring and exciting experiences",{"id":203,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":204},"a9877681-b62b-4eae-8125-e96847aca2b1","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fsearch\u002F","Where to?...","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fglobal\u002Fheader",null,10,[],false,167377332,"5ce8deff-b415-4f40-bb4b-c82a15584076","2022-07-28T21:11:26.000Z","default",[216],{"id":217,"name":5,"slug":18,"published":218,"full_slug":219,"is_folder":210,"parent_id":220},187661765,true,"nb-no\u002Fpicolo\u002Fglobal\u002Fheader",187661764,["Reactive",222],{"name":223,"created_at":224,"published_at":7,"updated_at":225,"id":226,"uuid":227,"content":228,"slug":284,"full_slug":286,"sort_by_date":207,"position":287,"tag_list":288,"is_startpage":210,"parent_id":211,"meta_data":207,"group_id":289,"first_published_at":290,"release_id":207,"lang":214,"path":207,"alternates":291,"default_full_slug":207,"translated_slugs":207},"Footer","2022-08-01T10:17:45.534Z","2026-10-09T14:45:35.849Z",170410593,"a3c27be4-5ddf-4376-9917-39ec88c6de35",{"_uid":229,"logo":230,"text":234,"columns":235,"component":284,"copyright":285,"strap_line":201},"aa4a67f6-5d8d-423e-b53f-a4c6411af5e0",{"id":231,"alt":232,"name":14,"focus":207,"title":14,"filename":233,"copyright":14,"fieldtype":16},5439798,"Picolo","https:\u002F\u002Fa.storyblok.com\u002Ff\u002F166375\u002Fx\u002F377c9060a6\u002Fpicolo_logo_black.svg","Picolo gives you lesser-known stories about the best destinations and experiences around the world.",[236,257],{"_uid":237,"items":238,"title":256,"component":58},"6a300a87-a4c4-4643-9b24-1928696fcb77",[239,242,246,250],{"_uid":240,"link":241,"label":190,"component":32},"72634048-c738-4699-9680-b44f47d6b3ff",{"id":187,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":188},{"_uid":243,"link":244,"label":245,"component":32},"175aaac6-aab6-44c8-ac79-4e0b025e273c",{"id":65,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":66},"Hotels",{"_uid":247,"link":248,"label":249,"component":32},"89c14a67-b335-4516-9ace-d532414548bb",{"id":135,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":136},"Experiences",{"_uid":251,"link":252,"label":255,"component":32},"0d5b99cc-091c-42e4-9f9c-90705b181a16",{"id":253,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":254},"e33d1592-d92e-4d10-9fc5-bcd5d9a5fc47","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Foffers\u002F","Offers","Be Inspired",{"_uid":258,"items":259,"title":232,"component":58},"0c687126-87ed-4cb2-9072-be77225de293",[260,266,272,278],{"_uid":261,"link":262,"label":265,"component":32},"b9bedb2d-0db0-4467-bfd6-513146efcc43",{"id":263,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":264},"fdbc39a5-b257-491d-bb4f-dd2e97b0757d","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fabout\u002F","About Picolo",{"_uid":267,"link":268,"label":271,"component":32},"094480ff-71fb-4df7-a5c1-bf3ab81cda3e",{"id":269,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":270},"4873e643-35c6-43ae-951c-9fee3b82596c","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fabout\u002Fprivacy-policy","Privacy Policy",{"_uid":273,"link":274,"label":277,"component":32},"00851bfe-b5bd-4153-8110-822904a67d47",{"id":275,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":276},"0b522400-1ca4-43e2-aba3-c05be57bec77","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fabout\u002Fterms-conditions","Terms and Conditions",{"_uid":279,"link":280,"label":283,"component":32},"a419e3c8-e0ed-4ef6-8e4c-bb88839fae2a",{"id":281,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":282},"35c57c05-32a6-4878-a541-59c7e9d650e9","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fabout\u002Fcontact-us","Contact Us","footer","© Picolo 2026","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fglobal\u002Ffooter",0,[],"235946ca-f453-4f27-9755-dad13461f1b9","2022-08-02T09:14:29.527Z",[292],{"id":293,"name":223,"slug":284,"published":218,"full_slug":294,"is_folder":210,"parent_id":220},187661766,"nb-no\u002Fpicolo\u002Fglobal\u002Ffooter",["Reactive",296],{"name":297,"created_at":298,"published_at":299,"updated_at":300,"id":301,"uuid":302,"content":303,"slug":735,"full_slug":736,"sort_by_date":207,"position":737,"tag_list":738,"is_startpage":210,"parent_id":740,"meta_data":207,"group_id":741,"first_published_at":742,"release_id":207,"lang":214,"path":207,"alternates":743,"default_full_slug":207,"translated_slugs":207},"Heritance Kandalama","2026-10-09T20:00:53.124Z","2026-10-09T21:38:56.156Z","2026-10-09T21:38:56.176Z",228910912030809,"81e4b9ac-c28e-4715-8f0e-7dab14259f0f",{"SEO":304,"_uid":312,"body":313,"tags":14,"no_index":210,"component":734,"canonical_url":14,"transparent_header":218},{"_uid":305,"title":306,"plugin":307,"og_image":308,"og_title":309,"description":310,"twitter_image":308,"twitter_title":309,"og_description":311,"twitter_description":311},"f452b189-c89b-45ad-aef5-a54bb6e752f8","Heritance Kandalama: the Sri Lanka hotel lost in the jungle","seo_metatags","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1791580553\u002FPicolo\u002FCountry\u002FSri-Lanka\u002FSigiriya\u002Faerial-sigiriya-rock-fortress-sri-lanka.jpg","The hotel the jungle took back","Heritance Kandalama in Sri Lanka is built into a cliff and covered in jungle. What to expect, what to see nearby and when to go. See rooms and prices.","A hotel along a cliff, draped in green, looking out towards Sigiriya. Heritance Kandalama is Sri Lanka at its strangest and most beautiful.","ed15fbd2-ea91-400f-8544-d456c49105cf",[314,322,332,336,339,352,374,425,439,449,491,503,513,616,637,692],{"_uid":315,"label":316,"theme":317,"component":318,"bread_crumb_link":319},"4e285053-cc4b-4e8f-8fc6-ebd34a0153e4","Sri Lanka","noon","BreadcrumbBar",{"id":320,"url":14,"linktype":28,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":321},"8adadb48-022e-4ed6-992c-3f2e68646a4a","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Fasia\u002Fsri-lanka\u002F",{"_uid":323,"text":324,"theme":14,"title":325,"cta_link":326,"overline":329,"component":330,"cta_label":331,"align_text":14,"reduced_width":210},"7b490265-f6b2-49b4-a706-8c452dfe1dd0","In the middle of Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle stands a hotel so overgrown you can barely see it. Heritance Kandalama runs along a cliff, and the monkeys are the regulars.","Heritance Kandalama: the hotel the jungle took back",{"id":14,"url":327,"linktype":328,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":327},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hotels.com\u002Faffiliates\u002Fhotelscom-norway.qW2oO9C","url","Picolo recommends · Jungle hotel by Kandalama Lake","CategoryHeading","See dates and prices",{"_uid":333,"content":334,"component":335},"7c69449e-f7ce-4981-a017-d27794fc9f0d","\u003Cstyle data-picolo-spacing>.blok__page>div:not(:first-of-type){margin-top:3rem;margin-bottom:3rem}@media (min-width:1024px){.blok__page>div:not(:first-of-type){margin-top:4rem;margin-bottom:4rem}}.blok__block-listing>.pb-40{padding-bottom:2.5rem}.blok__article-footer .grid{row-gap:1rem}.blok__page>div:has(style[data-picolo-spacing]){display:none!important}\u003C\u002Fstyle>","Embed",{"_uid":337,"content":338,"component":335},"80ffd304-d660-4d5e-873a-f41f9393c3f9","\u003Cstyle data-picolo-bookbar-css>.pbb{position:fixed;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;z-index:2147483000;isolation:isolate;background:#FBFAF3;border-top:1px solid rgba(109,1,63,.2);box-shadow:0 -6px 20px rgba(0,0,0,.07)}.pbb-in{max-width:1536px;margin:0 auto;padding:12px 14px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:16px}.pbb-n{font-family:pt-serif,Georgia,serif;font-style:italic;font-size:20px;line-height:1.2;margin:0;color:#000}.pbb-f{font-size:13px;margin:3px 0 0;color:#444}.pbb-b{display:inline-block;background:#6D013F;color:#fff!important;border:1px solid #6D013F;border-radius:60px;padding:14px 22px;font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.02em;text-transform:uppercase;text-decoration:none!important;white-space:nowrap}.pbb-b:hover{background:#fff;color:#6D013F!important}@media (max-width:640px){.pbb-f{display:none}.pbb-n{font-size:16px}.pbb-in{padding:10px 16px}.pbb-b{padding:12px 16px}}body{padding-bottom:84px}.blok__page>div:has([data-picolo-bookbar]){margin:0!important;height:0;overflow:visible;position:relative;z-index:2147483000}.blok__page>div:has([data-picolo-bookbar]) .blok__embed{z-index:2147483000}@media print{.pbb{display:none}}@media (max-width:1023px){.blok__section-heading .grid,.blok__about-block .grid{column-gap:1rem!important}.blok__about-block>div{margin-left:-14px!important;margin-right:-14px!important;padding-left:14px!important;padding-right:14px!important}.blok__about-block .grid>*{grid-column:1\u002F-1!important}}\u003C\u002Fstyle>\u003Cdiv class=\"pbb\" data-picolo-bookbar>\u003Cdiv class=\"pbb-in\">\u003Cdiv>\u003Cp class=\"pbb-n\">Heritance Kandalama, Dambulla\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp class=\"pbb-f\">Built into the cliff · lake views · Sigiriya on the horizon\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003Ca class=\"pbb-b\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hotels.com\u002Faffiliates\u002Fhotelscom-norway.qW2oO9C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\">See dates and prices\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Fdiv>",{"_uid":340,"image":341,"theme":14,"author":14,"component":350,"caption_text":351,"caption_title":343,"image_caption":14},"91410614-aade-45aa-81c2-cc84f1ab895c",{"id":14,"alt":342,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":343,"width":344,"height":345,"source":346,"filename":308,"copyright":346,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":347,"public_id":348,"aspect_ratio":349,"is_external_url":210},"Sigiriya: The rock fortress you can spot from the hotel on clear days","Sigiriya",3840,2880,"Photo: Dylan Shaw \u002F Unsplash",{"alt":342,"title":343,"source":346,"copyright":346},"Picolo\u002FCountry\u002FSri-Lanka\u002FSigiriya\u002Faerial-sigiriya-rock-fortress-sri-lanka",1.3333333333333333,"FullImage","The rock fortress you can spot from the hotel on clear days.",{"_uid":353,"body":354,"card":371,"layout":372,"component":373,"article_rounded":210},"af6d8766-7143-4255-9367-f887f0fc595c",{"type":355,"content":356},"doc",[357,363,367],{"type":358,"content":359},"paragraph",[360],{"text":361,"type":362},"The first time you see Heritance Kandalama, you do not really see it. You see a cliff, a blanket of creepers and trees, and then, somewhere in the green, a row of windows. In the morning you hear monkeys running across the roof, and from the pool you look out over a lake where, with a little luck, you may spot elephants at the water's edge.","text",{"type":358,"content":364},[365],{"text":366,"type":362},"The hotel stands by the Kandalama reservoir in the heart of Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle and was designed by the Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. The idea was that the building should defer to nature, not the other way round. A few decades on, nature has taken him at his word: the facade is so overgrown that the hotel is often described as one of Asia's first eco hotels.",{"type":358,"content":368},[369],{"text":370,"type":362},"Below you will find what makes Heritance Kandalama special, an alternative close by and when to go. The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.",[],"0","BodyBlock",{"_uid":375,"images":376,"component":424},"81803a00-4cfa-40df-83ff-b87c408e5464",[377,390,401,412],{"_uid":378,"image":379,"theme":14,"author":14,"component":387,"caption_text":388,"caption_title":389},"622c46a6-7efc-4e8c-bb57-4d6ac8c46a7e",{"id":14,"alt":380,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":380,"width":344,"height":381,"source":382,"filename":383,"copyright":382,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":384,"public_id":385,"aspect_ratio":386,"is_external_url":210},"The architecture, Heritance Kandalama",2559,"Hotels.com (Expedia Group)","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1791580295\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Farchitecture-jungle-heritance-kandalama.jpg",{"alt":380,"title":380,"source":382,"copyright":382},"Picolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Farchitecture-jungle-heritance-kandalama",1.5005861664712778,"image_with_caption","The forest has grown over the facade.","The architecture",{"_uid":391,"image":392,"theme":14,"author":14,"component":387,"caption_text":399,"caption_title":400},"45eb0168-2f39-4782-89bf-7821ccff1d3c",{"id":14,"alt":393,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":393,"width":344,"height":394,"source":382,"filename":395,"copyright":382,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":396,"public_id":397,"aspect_ratio":398,"is_external_url":210},"Kandalama Lake, Heritance Kandalama",2157,"https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1791580295\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Faerial-view-kandalama-lake-heritance-kandalama.jpg",{"alt":393,"title":393,"source":382,"copyright":382},"Picolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Faerial-view-kandalama-lake-heritance-kandalama",1.7802503477051461,"The hotel along the cliff above the water.","Kandalama Lake",{"_uid":402,"image":403,"theme":14,"author":14,"component":387,"caption_text":410,"caption_title":411},"216de66e-37af-44e6-b5b1-88bdfde2a780",{"id":14,"alt":404,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":404,"width":344,"height":405,"source":382,"filename":406,"copyright":382,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":407,"public_id":408,"aspect_ratio":409,"is_external_url":210},"The restaurant, Heritance Kandalama",2560,"https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1791580296\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Frestaurant-lake-view-heritance-kandalama.jpg",{"alt":404,"title":404,"source":382,"copyright":382},"Picolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Frestaurant-lake-view-heritance-kandalama",1.5,"Meals with a view of the lake.","The restaurant",{"_uid":413,"image":414,"theme":14,"author":14,"component":387,"caption_text":422,"caption_title":423},"6052e00b-5d07-445a-87ef-d880bcd332ea",{"id":14,"alt":415,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":415,"width":416,"height":417,"source":382,"filename":418,"copyright":382,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":419,"public_id":420,"aspect_ratio":421,"is_external_url":210},"Evening, Heritance Kandalama",2978,1978,"https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1791580295\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Fexterior-dusk-heritance-kandalama.jpg",{"alt":415,"title":415,"source":382,"copyright":382},"Picolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Fexterior-dusk-heritance-kandalama",1.5055611729019212,"The hotel at dusk.","Evening","ImageGallery",{"_uid":426,"image":427,"theme":317,"title":434,"column_1":435,"column_2":436,"overline":437,"component":438},"685a3788-fa7b-4443-846c-cfeece3eb6fc",{"id":14,"alt":428,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":428,"width":344,"height":429,"source":382,"filename":430,"copyright":382,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":431,"public_id":432,"aspect_ratio":433,"is_external_url":210},"Exterior, Heritance Kandalama",3044,"https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1791575623\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Fheritance-kandalama-jungle-covered-facade.jpg",{"alt":428,"title":428,"source":382,"copyright":382},"Picolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Fheritance-kandalama-jungle-covered-facade",1.2614980289093298,"Why we like Heritance Kandalama","The hotel stretches along a long cliff, and in several places the rock runs straight into the corridors. The rooms have large windows facing the lake or the forest.","The roof terrace and the pools look out over the water, and on clear days you can spot Sigiriya. It is quiet, green and a little wild. Close the balcony door, the monkeys are quick.","Picolo’s verdict","AboutBlock",{"_uid":440,"image":441,"theme":14,"author":14,"component":350,"caption_text":448,"caption_title":443,"image_caption":14},"b2eb77d6-2ff2-4ff9-be97-6648f11cb8e7",{"id":14,"alt":442,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":443,"width":344,"height":405,"source":444,"filename":445,"copyright":444,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":446,"public_id":447,"aspect_ratio":409,"is_external_url":210},"Safari: Elephants on safari in Sri Lanka","Safari","Photo: Tom Paisley \u002F Unsplash","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1791580553\u002FPicolo\u002FCountry\u002FSri-Lanka\u002FSigiriya\u002Felephant-safari-jeep-sri-lanka.jpg",{"alt":442,"title":443,"source":444,"copyright":444},"Picolo\u002FCountry\u002FSri-Lanka\u002FSigiriya\u002Felephant-safari-jeep-sri-lanka","Elephants on safari in Sri Lanka.",{"_uid":450,"body":451,"card":490,"layout":372,"component":373,"article_rounded":210},"bc9e96a8-5962-4e78-81f3-0ea956ea0d40",{"type":355,"content":452},[453,460,466,470,474],{"type":454,"attrs":455,"content":457},"heading",{"level":456},2,[458],{"text":459,"type":362},"Why Heritance Kandalama is worth the trip",{"type":454,"attrs":461,"content":463},{"level":462},3,[464],{"text":465,"type":362},"Heritance Kandalama: a building that became part of the cliff",{"type":358,"content":467},[468],{"text":469,"type":362},"The hotel stretches along a long rock face, and in several places the rock runs straight into the corridors. Rooms have big windows facing the lake or the forest, and the roof terrace and pools are placed so you look across the water to the horizon. On clear days you can make out Sigiriya rock in the distance.",{"type":358,"content":471},[472],{"text":473,"type":362},"It is a large hotel with several restaurants, yet it never feels like one. It is quiet, green and a little wild. Close the balcony door when you go out, as the monkeys are quick to help themselves to anything left lying around.",{"type":358,"content":475},[476,481,483],{"text":477,"type":362,"marks":478},"Book your stay:",[479],{"type":480},"bold",{"text":482,"type":362}," ",{"text":484,"type":362,"marks":485},"See rooms at Heritance Kandalama",[486],{"type":487,"attrs":488},"link",{"href":327,"uuid":207,"anchor":207,"target":489,"linktype":328},"_blank",[],{"_uid":492,"body":493,"card":14,"link":494,"image":495,"theme":317,"title":500,"component":501,"cta_label":331,"overline_text":502,"auxiliary_card":14},"0e73fadf-6171-49cd-85ff-2d2e43ff204a","Rooms with large windows facing the lake or the forest.",{"id":14,"url":327,"linktype":328,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":327},{"id":14,"alt":496,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":496,"width":344,"height":405,"source":382,"filename":497,"copyright":382,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":498,"public_id":499,"aspect_ratio":409,"is_external_url":210},"Book your stay, Heritance Kandalama","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1791580295\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Froom-sunset-lake-view-heritance-kandalama.jpg",{"alt":496,"title":496,"source":382,"copyright":382},"Picolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Froom-sunset-lake-view-heritance-kandalama","Heritance Kandalama in Dambulla","FullWidth","Book your stay",{"_uid":504,"image":505,"theme":14,"author":14,"component":350,"caption_text":512,"caption_title":507,"image_caption":14},"6746c2cd-c1f3-45d0-bad1-f117bd638e09",{"id":14,"alt":506,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":507,"width":344,"height":405,"source":508,"filename":509,"copyright":508,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":510,"public_id":511,"aspect_ratio":409,"is_external_url":210},"Dambulla: The golden temple by the Dambulla cave temples","Dambulla","Photo: Matt Dany \u002F Unsplash","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1791580553\u002FPicolo\u002FCountry\u002FSri-Lanka\u002FSigiriya\u002Fgolden-temple-dambulla-sri-lanka.jpg",{"alt":506,"title":507,"source":508,"copyright":508},"Picolo\u002FCountry\u002FSri-Lanka\u002FSigiriya\u002Fgolden-temple-dambulla-sri-lanka","The golden temple by the Dambulla cave temples.",{"_uid":514,"body":515,"card":615,"layout":372,"component":373,"article_rounded":210},"07b661ca-48c4-40f3-8e3a-b3a1a376960e",{"type":355,"content":516},[517,522,556,569,574,578,583],{"type":454,"attrs":518,"content":519},{"level":456},[520],{"text":521,"type":362},"Things to do nearby",{"type":523,"content":524},"bullet_list",[525,536,546],{"type":526,"content":527},"list_item",[528],{"type":358,"content":529},[530,534],{"text":531,"type":362,"marks":532},"Sigiriya:",[533],{"type":480},{"text":535,"type":362}," the famous rock fortress, best climbed early in the morning before the heat.",{"type":526,"content":537},[538],{"type":358,"content":539},[540,544],{"text":541,"type":362,"marks":542},"Dambulla:",[543],{"type":480},{"text":545,"type":362}," the cave temple with Buddhist paintings and statues, a short drive away.",{"type":526,"content":547},[548],{"type":358,"content":549},[550,554],{"text":551,"type":362,"marks":552},"Safari:",[553],{"type":480},{"text":555,"type":362}," the national parks in the area are known for elephants. The hotel can help arrange a jeep and guide.",{"type":358,"content":557},[558,560,567],{"text":559,"type":362},"Read more in our ",{"text":561,"type":362,"marks":562},"Sri Lanka travel guide",[563],{"type":487,"attrs":564},{"href":565,"uuid":320,"anchor":207,"target":566,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Fasia\u002Fsri-lanka\u002F","_self",{"text":568,"type":362},".",{"type":454,"attrs":570,"content":571},{"level":456},[572],{"text":573,"type":362},"When is the best time to visit Kandalama?",{"type":358,"content":575},[576],{"text":577,"type":362},"The Cultural Triangle is usually driest from January to September, while October to December are often rainy months. The rain does make the jungle around the hotel even greener. Many travellers combine a few nights here with the beaches on the south coast.",{"type":454,"attrs":579,"content":580},{"level":456},[581],{"text":582,"type":362},"When should you book?",{"type":523,"content":584},[585,595,605],{"type":526,"content":586},[587],{"type":358,"content":588},[589,593],{"text":590,"type":362,"marks":591},"December to April:",[592],{"type":480},{"text":594,"type":362}," peak season for European visitors, so book early.",{"type":526,"content":596},[597],{"type":358,"content":598},[599,603],{"text":600,"type":362,"marks":601},"Summer:",[602],{"type":480},{"text":604,"type":362}," good conditions in the Cultural Triangle and often easier to find rooms.",{"type":526,"content":606},[607],{"type":358,"content":608},[609,613],{"text":610,"type":362,"marks":611},"Round trip:",[612],{"type":480},{"text":614,"type":362}," put Kandalama in the middle of your route, close to both Sigiriya and Dambulla.",[],{"_uid":617,"theme":14,"title":618,"people":619,"cta_link":633,"overline":634,"body_copy":635,"component":636,"cta_label":14},"dc2de994-4b2b-4602-bafd-dae1d7c06b7e","Would you rather stay somewhere else?",[620],{"_uid":621,"name":622,"text":623,"image":624,"cta_link":630,"component":632,"job_title":14},"b9d9091c-b4d6-4615-9556-dac98aba9a7b","Jetwing Vil Uyana","For privacy: villas in the wetlands near Sigiriya.",{"id":14,"alt":622,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":622,"width":625,"height":626,"source":382,"filename":627,"copyright":382,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":628,"public_id":629,"aspect_ratio":409,"is_external_url":210},2640,1760,"https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1791575623\u002FPicolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Fjetwing-vil-uyana-villas-wetland-sigiriya.jpg",{"alt":622,"title":622,"source":382,"copyright":382},"Picolo\u002FHotels\u002Fsigiriya\u002Fjetwing-vil-uyana-villas-wetland-sigiriya",{"id":14,"url":631,"linktype":328,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":631},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hotels.com\u002Faffiliates\u002Fhotelscom-norway.rbXuFSv","person",{"id":14,"url":14,"linktype":328,"fieldtype":29,"cached_url":14},"Alternatives","An alternative in the same area.","HalfAndHalfBlock",{"_uid":638,"body":639,"card":691,"layout":372,"component":373,"article_rounded":210},"5dde2e12-f0e4-45ec-99d4-d573b98f449f",{"type":355,"content":640},[641,646,651,655,660,664,669,673,678,682,687],{"type":454,"attrs":642,"content":643},{"level":456},[644],{"text":645,"type":362},"Frequently asked questions about Heritance Kandalama",{"type":454,"attrs":647,"content":648},{"level":462},[649],{"text":650,"type":362},"Where is Heritance Kandalama?",{"type":358,"content":652},[653],{"text":654,"type":362},"Heritance Kandalama is by the Kandalama reservoir in the Cultural Triangle in central Sri Lanka, near Dambulla and a short drive from Sigiriya. The drive from Colombo takes several hours.",{"type":454,"attrs":656,"content":657},{"level":462},[658],{"text":659,"type":362},"Who designed Heritance Kandalama?",{"type":358,"content":661},[662],{"text":663,"type":362},"The hotel was designed by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka's best-known architect. He wanted the building to merge with the cliff and the forest, and today the facade is almost entirely covered in vegetation.",{"type":454,"attrs":665,"content":666},{"level":462},[667],{"text":668,"type":362},"Are there monkeys at Heritance Kandalama?",{"type":358,"content":670},[671],{"text":672,"type":362},"Yes, monkeys live around the hotel and are used to people. Keep your balcony door closed and do not leave food out.",{"type":454,"attrs":674,"content":675},{"level":462},[676],{"text":677,"type":362},"Where should I stay to visit Sigiriya?",{"type":358,"content":679},[680],{"text":681,"type":362},"Stay at Heritance Kandalama for the views and the architecture, or at Jetwing Vil Uyana to be closest to the rock. Both make a good base for Sigiriya and Dambulla.",{"type":454,"attrs":683,"content":684},{"level":462},[685],{"text":686,"type":362},"How many nights should I spend in the Cultural Triangle?",{"type":358,"content":688},[689],{"text":690,"type":362},"Three nights gives you time for Sigiriya, Dambulla and a safari, plus time by the pool between trips.",[],{"_uid":693,"body":694,"card":733,"layout":372,"component":373,"article_rounded":210},"7b021053-cfdb-43cd-bce1-d9fddc998d11",{"type":355,"content":695},[696,701],{"type":454,"attrs":697,"content":698},{"level":456},[699],{"text":700,"type":362},"Read more",{"type":523,"content":702},[703,711,722],{"type":526,"content":704},[705],{"type":358,"content":706},[707],{"text":561,"type":362,"marks":708},[709],{"type":487,"attrs":710},{"href":565,"uuid":320,"anchor":207,"target":566,"linktype":28},{"type":526,"content":712},[713],{"type":358,"content":714},[715],{"text":716,"type":362,"marks":717},"The world's most unique hotels",[718],{"type":487,"attrs":719},{"href":720,"uuid":721,"anchor":207,"target":566,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fexperiences\u002Fadventures\u002Funique-best-hotels-in-the-world","7c041a36-0443-489e-b8e5-14ce1bde1df6",{"type":526,"content":723},[724],{"type":358,"content":725},[726],{"text":727,"type":362,"marks":728},"Best honeymoon destinations",[729],{"type":487,"attrs":730},{"href":731,"uuid":732,"anchor":207,"target":566,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fexperiences\u002Fadventures\u002Fbest-honeymoon-destinations","54cf3bbb-4294-41ed-970e-e44f4633f28a",[],"page","heritance-kandalama","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Fasia\u002Fsri-lanka\u002Fheritance-kandalama",-10,[316,739],"Unique Hotels",228793714910664,"51066ade-01fe-4cc2-a791-3ff8a52f2b30","2026-10-09T20:15:42.385Z",[]]