Grand Tamarind Lake

Hotels
8 (553 reviews)
Rajamaha Vihara Mawatha , Kataragama , lk

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Family rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly, helpful and responsive staff
Beautiful lakeside location and well‑tended gardens
Spacious rooms with balconies and large bathrooms
Good breakfast buffet and tasty food
Convenient for visiting Kataragama temple complex and Yala Safari
Cons:
Housekeeping/cleanliness issues reported (stale odors, dirty mop, pool wall fungus)
Some maintenance problems: wasp infestation, damp patches, small elevator, jacuzzi not usable
Wi‑Fi could be better in at least one report

Categories

Cleanliness
7
Mixed signals: several reviews praise clean rooms and well‑tended gardens, but at least one guest reported strong housekeeping issues (stinky room, dirty mop, dirty pool walls and fungal buildup), so cleanliness is below the overall hotel standard.
Service
8.25
Consistently positive: multiple guests highlight very friendly, helpful and responsive staff (named reception team, good incident handling, complimentary gestures), making service a strong point.
Location
8.5
Very good: lakeside setting, near the temple complex and convenient for Yala National Park excursions; location praised repeatedly.
Room Quality
8.25
Generally high: rooms described as large with balconies and spacious bathrooms and kept clean by several guests, though a few noted odors or minor damp patches in places.
Amenities
7.5
Mixed: attractive pool, gardens and a pleasant atmosphere are noted, but issues include dirty pool walls, a non‑functional jacuzzi heater and small lift capacity, reducing the amenities score.
Value for Money
8
Solid value: guests mention good included breakfast and overall satisfaction with onsite offerings relative to price.
Food and Beverage
8.5
Positive: breakfast buffet and general food quality receive multiple compliments (fresh, tasty, good selection), with only minor comments about coffee/tea and pastry variety.
Overall Experience
8
Overall favorable: most stays described as peaceful, relaxing and worth repeating; minor serviceable issues and maintenance/cleanliness items temper an otherwise strong experience.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-14 04:13

Property Description

Luxurious Lakefront Accommodation
Experience unparalleled luxury at Grand Tamarind Lake, nestled in Kataragama. Indulge in breathtaking lake views from every room, complemented by top-notch amenities including an outdoor pool and a garden.

Exquisite Dining and Relaxation
Savor delectable meals at the on-site restaurant and unwind at the bar or shared lounge. With a 24-hour front desk and room service, your comfort is our top priority.

Proximity to Nature's Wonders
Explore the nearby Yala National Park and Lunugamvehera National Park for a rendezvous with wildlife. Grand Tamarind Lake offers the perfect blend of opulence and nature's bounty.

Book now for an unforgettable stay at Grand Tamarind Lake!

Important information:

Please note the below:
All children are welcome.
One Child under 5 years stays free of charge when using existing beds.
One older child or adult is charged USD 10 per person per night in an extra bed.
The maximum number of extra beds permitted in a room is 1.
Extra beds are on request upon room reservation.
Meal Supplements for additional child/Adult above 5 years sharing the same room is not calculated automatically in the total cost and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: CMB

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 553 reviews
Cleanliness: 7
Service: 8.25
Location: 8.5
Room Quality: 8.25
Amenities: 7.5
Value for Money: 8
Food and Beverage: 8.5
Overall Experience: 8
S
sanjeewa • couple • nz
8
2026-08-21 • via Nuitee
B
Bhagya • extended_group • au
9
2026-08-21 • via Nuitee
C
Chandrakumar • couple • no
10
Exceptional hospitality and an unforgettable stay! ❤️
Pros:

We had an amazing stay at Grand Tamarind Lake in Kataragama and were extremely happy with the entire experience! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From the moment we arrived, we felt very warmly welcomed. The staff were incredibly friendly, helpful, attentive, and professional. They truly made us feel like valued guests.

And the welcome drink… WOW! 🤩🤤 It was absolutely delicious and honestly one of the best welcome drinks we have ever had at a hotel. We loved it so much that we even had to ask what it was called!

One thing that really impressed us was the level of care and attention from the staff. They even called us to check whether we were coming down for the breakfast buffet. We have stayed at many hotels, but we have never experienced this kind of personal service before. It was such a thoughtful gesture and really showed how much they care about their guests.

The hotel is located in beautiful and peaceful surroundings by the lake, creating such a relaxing atmosphere. Our room was clean, comfortable, and well maintained, and we felt very well taken care of throughout our stay.

What made our experience especially memorable was definitely the exceptional hospitality and outstanding service from the staff. They truly went above and beyond.

We would absolutely recommend Grand Tamarind Lake to anyone visiting Kataragama, and we would happily stay here again. ❤️

A huge thank you to the entire team for making our stay so special and memorable!

Cons:

Honestly, there was nothing we disliked. Everything exceeded our expectations, and we had a wonderful stay. ❤️

2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
M
Mahinda • couple • gb
9
People centric customer focused hospitality marvel.
Pros:

The people and the location. People team was l managed by Ms.Dhammika whose inspirational people management was evident in the standards shown in every department. Property was very clean and the restaurant staff were very polite and helpful.

Cons:

Breakfast was excellent with a reasonable choice but the evening meal was not anywhere near the desired standards. I was told the kitchen was handled by trainees on the day we stayed. However it’s only a minor compared to the host of other services they offered to exceed our expectations.

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
H
Hemantha • couple • lk
8
2026-08-16 • via Nuitee
S
Suwimali • family_with_children • lk
10
Nice stay!
Pros:

The location is close to kiriwehera and kataragama devalaya. They arranged a tuk tuk for us to visit those places.
The room was large and clean with all the facilities.
We got dinner from the menu and it was delicious. The breakfast buffet was splendid. The staff was friendly. Overall It was a nice stay.

Cons:

Monkeys were running on the roof so we were awakened by the sound of it.

2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
M
Maha • family_with_children • sa
9
2026-08-13 • via Nuitee
A
Ahinsa • family_with_children • ae
10
2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
P
Peter • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

This is a handsome, upmarket hotel on the edge of Kataragama, with all rooms overlooking the lovely pool area and the lake beyond. The bedrooms are large with balconies and spacious well equipped bathrooms.  The gardens are well tended, and home to langurs and macaques.

It's a ten minute walk into Kataragama to the sacred temple complex with its fascinating mix of Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim worship areas.  We timed our visit for the Esala Perahera festival (15 days leading up to the full moon at the end of July/early August) and the town was thronging with pilgrims, with the ceremonial elephants being bathed in the river before the evening procession.

We also enjoyed a great visit with Janaka Safari to Yala National Park, the northern (quieter) entrance is just a few minutes from Kataragama.

Food choices are a bit limited in Kataragama, but the Grand Tamarind's restaurant is a good choice.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
P
Piyanthi • solo_traveller • gb
10
Nice stay and friendly staff
Pros:

Staff is so friendly and helpful.
Good location.
Very tasty food

Cons:

Nothing, all good

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
P
Pamoda • solo_traveller • lk
7
2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
O
oscar • solo_traveller • es
7
2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
M
Malaka • extended_group • lk
10
2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
J
John • family_with_children • gb
9
2026-07-22 • via Nuitee
W
Weerawarna • extended_group • au
8
2026-07-21 • via Nuitee
T
Tharaka • couple • lk
7
2026-07-21 • via Nuitee
S
shamali • solo_traveller • lk
10
Beautiful lakeside hotel with spacious rooms and excellent staff
Pros:

Very beautiful location with the lake. This was my first time at this hotel, and I will definitely visit again. The rooms were large, including a spacious bathroom, and everything was very clean throughout the room and hotel. The staff members were pleasant, very supportive, and handled everything in a responsive and wise manner.

The garden and pool were also lovely. There was a small incident when it took some time to get our room, and we had to wait around 15 minutes, but the staff managed the situation very well.

The breakfast buffet offered great value, fresh food, excellent service, and a pleasant atmosphere, making for a really enjoyable start to the day.

The food was fresh and delicious. There was a good selection for a breakfast buffet, and everything served was satisfying. A place worth visiting for a hearty breakfast!

Cons:

Nothing went wrong.

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee
W
Winston Suresh Kumar • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

The location and the hospitality.

2026-07-14 • via Nuitee
M
Monika • couple • sk
9
Pekny hotel
Pros:

Ubytovanie bolo ciste a pekne. Personal bol velmi mily.

Cons:

Izba bola velmi velka, priestranna. Necitili sme sa uplne komfortne.

2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
R
Randhula • solo_traveller • lk
10
2026-07-12 • via Nuitee