Cityscape Yala by 999 Hotel & Restaurant

For a budget stay in Tissamaharama, I’d recommend Cityscape Yala. The team was phenomenal and always reachable on WhatsApp. The place was clean, the bed comfortable, and the doors locked, which was plenty for the good price. I got more than I paid for.

It’s not far from the bus station, and the checkout timing worked really well. You can go on a morning safari in Yala National Park and get back before checkout. For the later bus to Ella, the route is simple: take the Matara bus to Weerewila Junction, then a bus to Welawaya, and a third one to Ella.

The courtyard-facing rooms were very quiet, though rooms looking onto the street may be noisy. Ours was clean and cosy, with toiletries in the bathroom. The walls were a little dirty, but everything else was fine, and the staff were okay. They did mix up the reservation, but showing them the booking sorted it out. It’s about a five-minute walk from the bus station, and good value for the price.

We booked Cityscape Yala on the spur of the moment for one night. At 5000 LKR, the room was okay for the price, especially with air conditioning and the location right beside the city bus station. The street noise was quite noticeable, though, and the bathroom needs renovation. The 17-year-old staff member who looked after the rooms was very helpful. Communication was a little difficult because his English was limited.