A Geoffrey Bawa hotel built into the forest above a lake, with Sigiriya as the backdrop.
The Setting
Heritance Kandalama sits within 211 acres of protected forest in Sri Lanka's cultural triangle, near Dambulla, with Sigiriya rising behind it. The hotel was designed by Geoffrey Bawa, and Sigiriya is the backdrop.
There are 137 rooms and 15 suites, with garden, lake or mountain views depending on the room type. Teak features in several room types, and the Royal Suite has its own Jacuzzi. The hotel is about 150 km from Bandaranaike International Airport. This is a very different wedding from a beach resort, with forest, water and rock all in view.
The day itself
The hotel offers banquet weddings, intimate weddings and destination weddings, and describes celebrations among forest and water with views of Sigiriya. Outdoor moments and indoor receptions are both on offer.
The published pages do not name ceremony spaces or capacities, but the venue tells us it hosts weddings of up to 250 guests. Ask the team about where to hold the ceremony and the music curfew. Cave dinners are listed among the experiences and could be an unusual choice for a welcome evening, so ask whether one can be built into your plans. The wedding team can be reached by email or phone through the hotel.
Where your guests stay
With 152 rooms and suites, most wedding parties can stay on site together. Ask about room blocks for your group.
Guests will not run out of things to do. The hotel lists jungle trekking to Kandalama Rock, bird watching, mountain biking, hot air ballooning and its Trails of Bawa experience. Day trips go to Sigiriya, Dambulla Cave Temple, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, and to the elephant gatherings in Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks. Airport transfers can be arranged through the hotel, and the drive from Bandaranaike International is about 150 km.
Give guests a free afternoon for Sigiriya or the elephant gathering on the day before the wedding. They arrive at the ceremony with a story to tell.
Questions couples ask about Heritance Kandalama
Does Heritance Kandalama host weddings?
Yes. The hotel offers banquet, intimate and destination weddings, and the venue tells us it hosts up to 250 guests. Ask the team for details on spaces and packages.
How many guests can stay on site?
There are 137 rooms and 15 suites. Ask the team about holding rooms for your party.
How far is the hotel from the airport?
About 150 km from Bandaranaike International Airport. Transfers can be arranged through the hotel.
What is there to do for guests?
Jungle trekking, bird watching, mountain biking and excursions to Sigiriya, Dambulla Cave Temple and Polonnaruwa are listed by the hotel.
Can we marry legally here?
Ask the team about legal requirements for UK couples and what the hotel can arrange.
Facts checked against Heritance Hotels' own website and wedding page. Ceremony spaces and capacities are confirmed by the venue for each wedding.
Your next step
Photo Gallery
Say I do, with a view.
What's Included
Venue Amenities
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Chosen, never collected
Every venue in the collection is chosen by our editors for UK couples marrying abroad. We never take commission on your wedding, so our only job is to send you somewhere right for you.
Couple reviews are coming. We only publish reviews from couples who have married here, so this venue shows none yet. How we choose venues
- Weddings are a craft hereA dedicated team that hosts weddings regularly
- A named coordinatorOne person who answers your enquiry
- Prices in plain sightService charges and taxes stated upfront
- A plan for the weatherAn indoor or covered backup space
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