ridge boundary view

The food and hospitality made this the highlight of our 14-day trip around the island. Ruwan’s motto is “come as a guest, leave as a friend,” and he really does his best to make you feel at home and make your stay special. We were looked after so well that we’d gladly recommend staying here. Thanks, Ruwan, for making our visit such a wonderful one. See you again.

Definitely have dinner here. The owner cooks with vegetables from his impressive garden and is a great chef. The room was lovely too, and the bathroom was neatly designed. It’s also rare in Sri Lanka to find lighting that’s actually pleasant.

We booked three nights at Ruwan and his family’s homestay south of Dambulla, then stayed eight because we didn’t want to leave. Breakfast and optional dinner were excellent each day, with produce from their own farm and plenty of local food. The room was roomy, clean and thoughtfully designed, with useful storage and space for our things. We felt welcome right away, like we’d been invited into their home. There’s nature all around: we took morning walks and saw monkeys, fruit trees and birds, and woke to birdsong and sunrise over the mountains. The city and nearby sites are only a short ride away, making it a handy base for exploring. Ruwan and family get 11 out of 10 stars from us. We couldn’t recommend their homestay more.

The food was excellent, varied and plentiful, just as you’d expect in Sri Lanka. Ruwan and his family gave us a warm welcome at their clean, quiet and safe place on a back country road, with rice fields and a view of the Knuckle range. Ruwan showed us around on a walking tour, explaining how things are planted and pointing out edible and aromatic plants. We also helped him and his son make lanterns for Boudha's anniversary. It was a fantastic, authentic Sri Lankan experience. Thank you to Rowan and his family for the hospitality.