Chandi Homestay

Isuru was a wonderful host, with useful advice and all the contacts we needed to make our stay special. We even took a Sri Lankan cooking course: he brought us to the market to buy ingredients, then showed us how to make Sri Lankan curry. We stayed three nights to get away from the tourist bustle. Niyagala has three double or triple rooms, so you share the lovely jungle grounds with up to six other people. The bungalow was well equipped, with a comfortable bed, AC, a fan, a bathroom, and an electric shower. Each one has an outside seating area, with more spots around the property. While relaxing, you might get lucky and see land monitors, mongoose, or elephants.

The cottages in Kibissa are wonderfully peaceful, and the village is a nice little location. Isuru is a generous, thoughtful host who’ll do anything for his guests. The rooms and bathrooms are spacious, with terrace space and room to hang laundry. We had a really fun evening cooking lesson with him. His driver, Gayan, is great for trips to either of the rocks. PickMe sunrise and sunset prices are unrealistically low compared with the market rate, because of the elephant risk and road quality, so you won’t get a driver through the app. I wholeheartedly recommend Niyagala.

We were made to feel like family by Isuru and Alan, and had such a lovely time with them. We left having made two new friends. Niyagala lodge is peaceful and quiet, a nice escape from busy Sigiriya. Isuru’s breakfast was great, and we already miss it. Be sure to try his Chef salad. Thanks for the wonderful hospitality!

We spent two nights in these houses. Inside was clean and cosy, with a fan, air conditioning, and a water heater. The grounds were very green and full of birds, and we spotted big squirrels too. The owner was lovely, made us delicious breakfasts, and even helped repair our tuk-tuk. I’d recommend it if you want to relax in nature.