Hotels with Pools in Dambulla

Amba Yaalu — A Swan-Like Masterclass in Women-Led Luxury I arrived at Amba Yaalu by Thema Collection without quite knowing what to expect—after all, it was my first time staying in a “women-led” hotel. I wondered what the experience would feel like, and what new energy the concept might bring. What I found was exceptional: the service was of the same highest standard I would expect from this caliber of hotel chain—yet delivered with a distinctive style, unmistakably described as “swan-like.” 🦢 There’s no question the women are working ferociously—in the way a swan’s feet move beneath the water to create effortless beauty. And that’s exactly what you feel here. Under the surface, everything is operating with precision, speed, and strength. But what guests experience is something else entirely: grace. poise. warmth. smiles that arrive with such ease that it feels like the entire property glides. The atmosphere is genuinely welcoming. I noticed it not only from the staff, but in the way kindness seems to move through the whole guest experience—women, men, and children all smiling in a way that is tender, natural, and beautifully effortless. And yes—because luxury should be truly thoughtful—all of my bags were carried to my room for me. No fuss. No lifting. Just seamless, dignified care from arrival onward. If you’re looking for a stay that pairs top-tier hospitality with a rare, elegant spirit, Amba Yaalu is it. A hotel that doesn’t just host you—it makes you feel quietly cared for, beautifully welcomed, and entirely at ease. Truly unforgettable.

We had a wonderful stay in Sigiriya Cashew Palace Resort, very good hotel, well located, super clean, peaceful atmosphere and the staff had been incredibly friendly. We would definitely recommend it to anyone!

Stayed in room 234. Lets start with the bad. The shower rose did not work. Extreme caution is needed when using the shower, as the water could potentially give you third degree burns and the floor was very slippery. Now the average. I personally thought the dinner menu was a little restrictive and food quality lacked. Now the good. Very spacious room and bathroom. Quality bed linen and towels. Comfortable bed and good AC. Staff very polite, responsive and helpful. Would stay again, but they need to get the shower sorted, as it is dangerous.

We chose this hotel based on the location! We arrived, looked and booked 3 rooms. Moreover, it was cheaper to book through the website than at the hotel. When they showed us the rooms, a very sharp, specific smell hit our noses, I asked what it was, they told me that these were their air fresheners and they could be washed off. I said that I could not live with such a smell and needed to be removed, they said ok and we went to check in. Then I threw my things and went swimming and eating. In the evening, I returned to the room, the smell was there and then it dawned on me that it was a cockroach repellent!!!!!! The victims were already lying all over the room, and very large ones. At the reception, they silently moved me, without even apologizing. This moment, of course, spoiled the impression. After all, I immediately said that the smell was very sharp. The bathroom is very interestingly made, it is as if outside, in the shower there is a net and an outside nook. Leaving the cool room there is a strong contrast, but this does not spoil the rest. I liked the design of the disposable sets, they looked very stylish. In the evenings, musicians played in the restaurant (the first day there were mantras to the music, on the second day a guy sang very chicly. In the restaurant you can eat from the menu or dinner/lunch buffet. We tried both options, everything is very good. Very attentive staff in the cafe, the administrator saw us and ran to prepare a table for us. They also served by the pool. The territory is not large, but it is conducive to relaxation. Monkeys even came running. Friends went to the spa, they said the massage was good. From the hotel we went to Sigiriya (20 minutes by car) and on a safari in the park.

The moment we walked in, the staff greeted us with a refreshing juice and walked us to a viewpoint — the sight of Sigiriya Rock was absolutely mesmerizing. The room is incredibly cozy with beautiful, interesting wooden decor that gives such a warm local feel. Breakfast was delicious with plenty of fresh fruit and great coffee. A perfect stay for exploring the ancient rock fortress!

The location is quite suitable for visiting Sigiriya. They also have triple rooms. It's clean and tidy. The only drawback might be that the entrance is a bit hard to find. Even our local driver had trouble finding it at first.

Great place to stay if you want to explore the lions rock and the area around. Pidurangala rock is only 15min away by tuk tuk, the lions rock can be done by walk (~20min walk to entrance). But the best experience was the kindness of the hosts. The helped us in every way (explaining routes, advices on activities, organizing tuk tuk, etc.). The food was amazing and we had a lot of interesting conversations with the friendly stuff. Special thanks to Daushna, Larush & Nimal for making our stay remarkable.

Abbiamo pernottato qui due notti per poter godere delle due attrazioni principali della zona. I ragazzi sono molto disponibili ed il responsabile è un giovane simpatico che ci sa fare! La posizione è molto tranquilla anche se non molto lontano dai locali. Camera buona e anche la colazione servita all'ultimo sulla terrazza che guarda sulla rocca. Di notte la strada sterrata è completamente buia e vi sconsiglio di andarci a piedi meglio se con una macchina o un tuktuk.

Set in a lovely, peaceful location beside the Kandalama Reservoir, Amaya Lake Dambulla offers a relaxing retreat within a large property with plenty of mature trees, giving the resort a natural and spacious feel. The property features a good range of amenities, with the swimming pools being especially refreshing after a long day exploring the surrounding area. The buffet breakfast offered a comprehensive selection, catering to a variety of tastes. The chalets were clean and reasonably well maintained, and the staff throughout the resort were warm and friendly.

This hotel is located in the forest within walking distance of Sigiriya. Since it’s in the forest, I expected there to be a lot of insects, but to my surprise, there were hardly any inside the room, and I was able to stay comfortably. I had booked for two nights, planning to climb Sigiriya Rock in the morning and then relax by the pool in the afternoon. However, it seems that the hotel has a policy of turning off the electricity in the rooms during the daytime. Although I asked a staff member to turn the main power back on and they did, it was soon turned off again. When the main power is off, the room becomes completely dark, and neither the Wi-Fi nor the air conditioner works. It was clear that even if I asked them to turn it back on again, the same thing would just keep happening. I felt it would only add to my stress, so I decided to move to another hotel.