Sandali Walauwa, formerly listed as Panchi Villa, is a small hotel built around a walauwa, the Sinhala word for the ancestral home of a nobleman. The house dates from 1871 and was the residence of the village headman of the area. It has since been renovated with modern comforts while keeping its original character: a mix of Sri Lankan and Dutch-influenced architecture, wooden floors, colonial-style furniture and an art gallery of paintings inspired by Sri Lankan temple drawings.
The hotel stands at 339/7A Kurudu Watte in Warahena, on the southern edge of Bentota on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka. Induruwa railway station is about 1.3 km away and Bentota station about 2.7 km, and the hotel says the beach is around 100 metres from the property. It also offers free transport to and from the railway station for guests arriving by train.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is about 110 km from Bentota by road, and the drive around Colombo and down the coast usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic. The easiest way to arrive after a long flight is a private airport transfer booked in advance with Lakpura: an English-speaking driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you straight to the hotel in an air-conditioned car, van or coach sized for your group, from 2 up to 15 guests, at a fixed price for the whole vehicle rather than per seat. The same service works in reverse for your departure flight. Book the Colombo (CMB) Airport transfer to Sandali Walauwa.
The hotel has 17 bedrooms in two wings. The colonial wing is the original house, with eight rooms, shared inner lounges and sit-outs that open onto a tropical garden of coconut palms and plenty of birdlife. The modern wing has nine rooms, each with its own balcony overlooking the swimming pool and the garden. The hotel lists Walauwa Deluxe rooms on the ground and upper floors and Walauwa Garden View rooms in the old house, with Superior, Super Superior and Family Superior rooms in the modern wing.
The kitchen follows southern Sri Lankan traditions, and the signature meal is a rice and curry spread prepared to a traditional recipe, alongside fresh seafood and Eastern, Western, Chinese and fusion dishes served from the menu or as a buffet. Meals can be taken in the restaurant, out in the garden or in your room, and a candlelit dinner for two can be arranged on request. The Sanduni bar serves local and international drinks, or you can take a cocktail out to the pool.
The hotel has an Ayurveda spa with its own qualified Ayurveda doctor and therapists offering traditional head and body massages and other treatments, as well as a swimming pool and large gardens. Beyond the gate, Bentota is known for its long beach and water sports, boat trips through the mangroves of the Bentota River, and river and deep-sea fishing. The turtle hatcheries along this coast, village temples and the rural interior of rice fields and coconut plantations are all within easy reach. Lakpura can arrange private transfers and day tours from the hotel.
If you are looking for a cozy, authentic escape away from large, soul-less resorts, Sandali Walauwa is an absolute gem in Bentota. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with genuine Sri Lankan hospitality and made to feel…
A wonderful experience at Sandali Walauwa — Outstanding service!
We arrived around 11:30pm for a two night stay... and the next day at 8am we had already left. While the exterior may look pretty at first glance, the room was simply unspeakable. Bed linen stained and holed, bathroom in catastrop…
Ratings and reviews provided by TripAdvisor for Sandali Walauwa.
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