Grand Tamarind Lake

Grand Tamarind Hotel made our visit to Kataragama very convenient, with the temple less than a five-minute drive away. The rooms were spacious, clean, and well kept, and we enjoyed the tasty food and range of choices. From the moment we arrived, the team greeted us warmly and made us feel at ease. Thank you to everyone for the kindness and excellent service. We had a wonderful stay and look forward to coming back.

We stayed in a Presidential Room, and it was spacious, comfortable, and luxurious, with careful attention to detail and upkeep. The staff were professional, very friendly, and ready to help throughout. We had a great experience and highly recommend it.

We booked this hotel for a Yala safari at first, but our plans changed and we cancelled the safari. The staff were still friendly and helpful, and made us feel welcome. Our room had plenty of space and a large balcony with a decent view, though the bathroom tiles were stained, the sink looked old, and the lighting in both the room and bathroom was dim. Maintenance could be better. The buffet choices were limited, mostly Sri Lankan and Western dishes, but the food was delicious and worth trying. Since we were travelling with a child who has food allergies, the kind chef prepared something special for us. We enjoyed our stay.

For a hotel rated five stars, this was disappointing. The website listed a triple room at 24,000 BB, but at reception I was charged 35,000. I thought the higher cost might be justified, but breakfast was poor. The food wasn’t tasty, the milk for tea was too cold, and there was no hot water for tea. One foreign guest left without getting any. The pool didn’t look clean. The TV in the room was unplugged, and I couldn’t connect it when I tried. Our third bed was a bunk, with black tape on the headboard, the worst bunk bed I’ve seen. The bathroom was also in bad shape: both sink taps were wobbly, parts were broken, and there was mould around the commode. I hope they address these problems and improve the facilities. Many foreigners visit, and these conditions could leave a bad impression.