House On The Rock -Kandy, Sri Lanka
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Bedrooms | 4 |
| Bathrooms | 2 |
| Sleeps | 8 |
| House | |
| Suitability |
|---|
| No Smoking |
| Suitable for Children |
| FlipKey traveler rating |
| 15 reviews |
| Stayed here? Write a review. |
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All reviews are written by verified travelers
Details
| Rental type | House |
| Minimum Stay | 2 nights |
| Bedrooms | 4 Total |
| Bathrooms | 2 Total |
| Sleeps | 8 |
| Suitability |
Pet friendlyAsk Smoking allowedNo Suitable for childrenYes Suitable for the elderlyAsk Wheelchair accessibleNo |
| Theme | Golf, Historic, Romantic, Away from it all, Mountain, Tropical |
Description from the owner
Fully furnished holiday home in Kandy, with beautiful panoramic views. For lets of up to six months. Last minute, long stay and early bird discounts available.
The House:
The house is only 5 minutes drive from the centre of Kandy, up into the hills surrounding the town. The house is beautifully decorated and consists of four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a fitted western style kitchen. There is a large garden facing fantastic panoramic views over the Knuckles range of mountains and the Mahaveli river. It is a bird watchers paradise and is ideal to use as a base to travel around Sri Lanka.
Can sleep up to 9 people.
The...Read more
Amenities
Location
House On The Rock -Kandy, Sri Lanka
Kandy, Sri Lanka
What's Nearby:
Additional Location Information
About Kandy:
Kandy is 100km (62miles) north east of Colombo and although the town lacks an airport, there are a number of buses and trains running between the two destinations.
It is Sri Lanka's hill capital and, at 488 metres above sea level, has a much cooler and more pleasant climate than Colombo or the southern towns. Kandy is classed as a World Heritage City by UNESCO and is home to the famous tooth relic of the Lord Buddha.
Kandy is the venue of the Esala Perahera, easily the most colourful festival in Asia, held in July/August each year, in honour of the tooth relic. The torch-lit streets are filled with elephants and costumed dancers as they pay homage to the casket of the sacred tooth relic carried by the king of the elephants. The procession moves along the streets for seven consecutive nights and concludes on the day of the August full moon.
The tooth relic is housed in a golden temple known as the Dalada Maligawa - the Temple of the Tooth. It is home to wonderful architecture and paintings, thanks to the patronage of the Kandyan kings.
Other attractions in Kandy include walking round the large and wonderful botanical garden, watching elephants bathing, taking in an evening show of Kandyan dancing and traditional fire walking, to say nothing of the museums, historical buildings, and the lovely views of the mountains and the lake.
Location Type Away from it all, Mountain, Tropical
Rates
Rates shown in $ USD (Rental listed originally in GBP) (change)
| Date | Weeknight | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly | Minimum Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate Summary | $59 - $73 | $59 - $73 | $341 - $458 | $1,086 - $1,396 | 2 nights |
| Jan. 9 2012 - Apr. 30 2012 Seasonal rates |
$70 | $70 | $388 | $1,086 | 3 nights |
| May. 1 2012 - Jun. 30 2012 Off Season Rate |
$59 | $59 | $341 | $1,241 | 3 nights |
| Jul. 1 2012 - Aug. 31 2012 Seasonal Rates |
$70 | $70 | $388 | $1,396 | 3 nights |
| Jan. 30 2013 - Apr. 30 2013 Seasonal Rates |
$73 | $73 | $458 | $1,396 | 2 nights |
| May. 1 2013 - Jun. 30 2013 Off Season |
$62 | $62 | $380 | $1,319 | 2 nights |
| Can't find rates for your travel dates? Contact the owner | |||||
| Jul. 1 2013 - Aug. 31 2013 Seasonal Rates |
$73 | $73 | $458 | $1,396 | 2 nights |
| Sep. 1 2013 - Nov. 30 2013 Off season |
$62 | $62 | $380 | $1,319 | 2 nights |
| All Other Dates | $70 | $70 | $388 | $1,241 | 2 nights |
| View all 8 Rate Periods | |||||
Rental fees
- Additional guests - $8 / person - Per-Person Adjustment - Fee applies to parties of more than 6 guest(s)
Additional notes from owner
We also offer package deals. Please contact us or visit our website for more details.
Offers:
Get 10% of all bookings if you book the villa a year in advance.
Get 10% of all bookings if you book the villa for 3 weeks or more
Extra services available:
(Cost in Sri Lankan Rupees)
* Airport taxi service (maximum 4 people): Rs 10,000 both ways, Rs 7,000 one way (The airport is 4 to 4½ hours drive away). For more than 4 people, please enquire ***.
* Van hire without driver (seats 4): Rs 2000 per day. (A bigger van for larger groups may be available upon request ***)
* Home made meals (mainly Sri Lankan meals) **- Menu
Dinner: Rs 800 per person (including cost of food) or Rs 500 per person (food to be bought separately by the renters)
Breakfast: Rs 500 per person (including cost of food) or Rs 300 per person (food to be bought separately by the renters)
* Taxi service from the house to the town: Rs 250 (for 4 people one way)
* Telephone access: £10 + the bill at the end of the stay.
* Internet access (Broadband 512kb): £10 per week or £7 for stays ofless than a week.
* Cleaning service: Rs 1,000 per day
* Washing and Ironing: Rs 50 per item
* Additional linen hire: Rs 200 per person (includes a set of bed linen and a towel)
* Traditional Ayuevedic treatments and massages (onsite) : Ask on site for more information
**Please note that the above prices may change slightly according to the type of food ordered
***Please note that we can only recommend reliable vehicle-rental companies / individuals. We are not responsible for the prices or any other aspect of the rental.
Availability
AvailableUnavailable Last updated: June 17, 2013 ◀▶
What Past Guests Are Saying
Overall Rating
ExcellentVery Good
Average
Below Average
Poor
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Dr.& Mrs. G.
Boulder, COFantastic tropical retreat
Left on 04/25/2013 for a stay in February 2013
My wife and I spent eight delightful days here during our visit to Sri Lanka in February. Just as we were told in advance, finding the place after dark was a little tricky, and knowing the local name of the house "Gal Bungalawa" would have helped. We arrived a little later than expected, but Mrs. M waited for us with a hot meal that was not only delicious but was enough for breakfast and lunch the next day. As many visitors have commented the location and the house are fabulous; the surroundings peaceful. We sipped tea in the mornings while watching the sun rise from behind the Knuckles range, lifting the valley mist revealing the river and the bustling valley floor below that stretched in all directions.
We found the house comfortable, spacious, and clean; there were spare sets of linen and towels, and all appliances including the water heater worked fine during our stay. Only thing to keep in mind is that even though there are four bedrooms and two baths, one of the bathrooms has to be accessed through a room, but it was just two of us and it did not matter. We cooked several meals including one for a few guests, and found the kitchen was well equipped as well: plenty of china and silverware to go around plus the usual appliances. The internet worked but we did not check the phone as we had local cellphones.
Mrs. M is a gracious host; she attended to all our needs and requests without hesitation, and cooked several traditional meals for us. The "hoppers" she got for one breakfast were the best we had in Sri Lanka; much better than those in top hotels in Colombo.
Sure, it is not a four star hotel, but if you go there knowing what to expect in the tropics, you will find beauty, tranquility and enjoyment. It is fully worth the money, and we highly recommend this place.
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Martin Kerman
Melton MowbrayOutstanding holiday experience.
Left on 04/17/2013 for a stay in March 2013
Lovely house in a great location. Probably the best holiday I have ever had, the help given by the property owner went far beyond what you would expect, a real 5 star experience. The food cooked by Mrs M was wonderfull. Loved evert day of the holiday. Very highly recommended!
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ivan
mallorca , SpainHome with a (stunning)View
Left on 01/15/2013 for a stay in December 2012
Spacious,airy,clean, comfortable, well equipped,good value - felt more like home the longer we stayed. Mum, next door, was always there to help, advise, ferry and to cook SL food when wanted. I would certainly recommend H on the R to others, especially to parties of up to 6 friends who want a tranquil retreat within walking distance (at least downwards)of Kandy Lake.
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203Amitha203
Auckland Region, New ZealandGreat place to stay and have family reunions
Left on 01/08/2013 for a stay in September 2012
Very spacious, clean and a tidy house with beautiful views. The owner Yohan and his mum were very helpful with the booking and ongoing service. This is a great place to stay and meet your family and friends while taking in the scenery.
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Alex and Edward
Al KhobarAn oasis of calm above Kandy
Left on 11/06/2012 for a stay in October 2012
House on the Rock is beautifully situated high above Kandy but only a few minutes'drive from the lake. It sits in a quiet residential area and looks out across the lush hilly Knuckles Range. We found it a perfect retreat from the busy city and a far better bet for a family or group than any of the lakeside offerings we saw, yet everything in Kandy is a short drive away (or a 20-minute walk down a steep hill). The house is well-appointed and very well equipped for self-caterers (much of it seemed to be from Ikea) and the kitchen is good enough to be able to cook and eat from home. Or you invite the caretaker (and the owner's Mum) to cook you breakfast and supper at very modest rates, which we did. In short, the house is as described and you get what you pay for: a clean, reasonably modern but well-equipped and a comfortable home from home with space for the kids to run around and explore. It was the perfect base to explore the sights north, south and around Kandy and great to come back to after a tiring day. Enjoy.
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Sarah W
LeedsA view you will never want to leave!
Left on 11/01/2012 for a stay in October 2012
First impressions of the house were that it was absolutely stunning! The open plan layout make the house bright and airy, with neutral colours throughout and fantastic wood work everywhere you look. The real bonus of this house is the fantastic view over the valley, which can be enjoyed from the beautiful (well kept) garden and also the balcony/veranda that stretches all the way around the 2nd floor of the house. I spent many hours during the day, sat with a coffee/beer looking out at the view from the comfort of the balcony, and at night star gazing. The house was very clean and had all amenities required, including a flat screen tv and a more than fully equipped kitchen. Although myself and my friend had the pleasure of having the entire house to ourselves, there are many rooms which could easily and comfortably accomodate a large party of friends or family.
Myself and my friend used the house as a base for several day trips across the hill country (Adam's peak, Dambulla, Sigirya) as well as to the north-Anuradhapura and of course to explore the many sites of Kandy and the surrounding area.
Eating out during the evening in Kandy is pretty much a non-event (there are some excellent hotel restaurants around serving Sri-Lankan and Western foods), however this was advantageous to us, as we were abe to sample the wonderful cooking of Mrs.Meegaswatte (the owner's mother) for a very reasonable price on several occasions. She was extremely helpful to us in all aspects of our stay, very friendly and most importantly-an excellent cook. I would most definitely recommend having Mrs.Meegaswatte cook for you during your stay-delicious Sri-Lankan cuisine which can be adapted to suit all taste's!
I cannot praise the house, it's owner or Mrs Meegaswatte enough, and as a result, my stay at 'house on the rock' will not be my last!
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693JohnK
Melbourne, AustraliaLocation is brilliant!
Left on 09/30/2012 for a stay in September 2012
From booking through to departure the service from Yohan and his mother was excellent. Very professional and helpful, including a train pick up and drop off. His mother will also take you on tours and give you the low down on "local" price! The house is just a short walk or ride out of Kandy but feels miles away as you gaze over the valley towards the Knuckle ranges. Plenty of space throughout the building with stunning views from most rooms. Planned bathroom renovations will only add to a great value holiday home.
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Human Stain
KSACheap but no comfort
Left on 08/21/2012 for a stay in July 2012
We were unable to a locate the house not untill we made long distance call to Mr. Yohan Galapitage who lives in UK.
We were welcomed by Yohan's Mother, she was very nice and cooperative with us during our stay.
The House has an opening ventalation around the top roofing, this allow's mosquites at night to get in. There are two rooms in the first floor and two rooms in the down floor. The two rooms in down floor are two in one with bath room, has no privacy nor vantalation.
to stay in this property you have to ensure your own transportaion is aviliable at all the time.
Response from Yohan Galapitage - 08/23/2012
Owner
Thank you for the feedback. We are obviously disappointed with the 2 star rating, particularly as we believed that the room layout in the house was clear from the floor plan on our website and the descriptions on all the other websites. Each of the bedrooms also has either a door, windows, a fan or all 3 for ventilation. Unfortunately we cannot hermetically seal the house but we do provide mosquito nets and repellent in all bedrooms so even if guests leave all doors and windows open at dusk (which they are advised not to do as this is the time that mosquitoes may enter the house), they can be protected from bites while they are asleep. We know that road signs can be limited in Sri Lanka so, to ensure that guests are able to find the house, we also provide detailed written instructions on location, a map and 2 telephone numbers (including that of Mrs Meegaswatte who lives adjacent to the house) if people require further assistance. Â
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Maggi.W.
Moers, GermanyHomely and wonderful location
Left on 08/19/2012 for a stay in August 2012
We stayed in the Villa on the rocks 6 days with 7 person and we had a wonderful time there. The house, the garden and the whole place are really great. Every day we spent a lot of time in the garden and enjoyed the view over the Knuckles and the Mahaweli Ganga. The equipment of the house is very good and there is nearly everything what is necessary.Every time when I come back to Kandy, I will stay in the Villa on the Rocks.
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Richard Garratt
LeedsFantastic Place to Stay
Left on 06/19/2012 for a stay in May 2012
I stayed here in late May with my wife, my sister and her boyfriend. The house is absolutely gorgeous, it is mainly open plan with bi-fold doors on to the garden so you can really open everything up and bring the outside in to the house, this also helps to ventilate on hot days. The location of the house is absolutely stunning, its location at the top of the hill gives stunning views of the Knuckles Mountains, you can even watch the sunrise over the mountains without even having to get out of bed. The terraced gardens are also really nice, there is a large mango tree from which we could get fresh mangos for breakfast, this also attracted plenty of beautiful bird life.
The location of the house is far enough out of town to be really peaceful but near enough to walk in to the centre (or there are always tuk tuks available); as the name suggests the house is at the top of a hill so the walk back is a bit more strenuous (good for walking off the rice and curry) or for a very cheap price you can get a tuk tuk.
Mrs Meegaswatte was a fantastic hostess and was always available to help when needed. She collected us from the station and took us shopping for provisions on the way to the house; she also organized trips to Polonnaruwa (including Dambulla and Sigirya) and adam's Peak for us for extremely cheap prices (far cheaper than you will be able to barter for yourself) as well as a very cheap airport drop off. Mrs M's cooking is extremely good, it was the best food that we had in Sri Lanka by far.
If you are thinking of staying here I would not hesitate to recommend it. There have been some (old) negative reviews of The House on the Rock, many of these issues seemed unreasonable to me or have been remedied. Life works differently in Sri Lanka, if you come with an open mind and embrace the lifestyle and culture you will have no problems at all. If you want things to be just like they are at home I think you can guess where you are most likely to find that...
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Suraj and Dawn
Salford, UKBeautiful house and an excellent stay
Left on 07/24/2011 for a stay in May 2011
Great value, beautiful house and views. Would recommend Margaret the cook. She makes some excellent authentic Sri Lankan food. Ideally located just a short distance from Kandy town
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Mathini and Jivaka
UKStunning and idyllic!
Left on 06/23/2011 for a stay in May 2011
We have stayed at the house a couple of times now and the latest was for a family get together in Sri Lanka.
We all had a wonderful time and the house was amazing as usual! We love the beautiful views and the idyllic setting, seemingly a world away from the hustle and bustle of Kandy town although it is only a short drive into town.
Margaret's cooking was excellent and she was ever willing to help, as was Mrs Meegaswatte who was hospitable and helpful at all times.
We definitely recommend this fabulous house and are already looking forward to our next stay.
Thanks guys!
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Ele Crimp
Nottingham, UKGreat Villa, Amazing Views
Left on 04/18/2011 for a stay in March 2011
This was a lovely villa, located in the mountains above Kandy.It was great to watch the sunrise over the mountains without having to get out of bed!
We went as a couple and felt a bit like we rattled round the space a bit, but it was also nice to have all the space to ourselves. There would definitely be enough room for a much larger party.
This villa was far enough pout of Kandy that we needed to get a Tuk Tuk back up the hill to the house, this should be taken into account when booking this villa. It is easy enough to walk into Kandy but the heat means that walking back up the hill would be hard work!
Mrs Meegaswatte was a lovely host, she was able to give advice on places to visit in the area. She also cooked every night for us whilst we were staying in Kandy. These meals were a little more expensive than if we had bought them in town, but they were delicious, each night we had a main curry and then 3 or 4 other dishes to complement the main. It was lovely to have traditional Sri Lankan food without the heading into Kandy every night.
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Fearless
Haverigg, CumbriaAmazing value for money - with amazing views and service.
Left on 11/07/2010 for a stay in February 2010
This was our 5th visit to Sri Lanka and our 4th to the House on the Rock. Having toured around Sri Lanka a great deal we have stayed in all types of accomodation. 5 star hotels are great - but the prices are not much different from the UK. Yohan and his Mum (who lives next door) have always done everything to make our stay as comfortable and trouble free as possible. From airport collection to delicious home cooked meals, advice on places to visit - they couldn't have been more helpful. Things might not always work out like they do in the UK - but Sri Lanka is not geared up for a UK climate or lifestyle...that is why we love it.
We understand that one previous guest complained about the geckos in the house. They come in at night and do an excellent job of eating insects - and this is normal for Sri Lanka. You cannot eradicate them because any house which does not have air conditioning needs to allow for a passage of air - otherwise with the high humidity the house would be damp all the time.
If you want to experience the real Sri Lanka, this is an ideal location, but our advice would be to do some pre-holiday reading on customs, climate etc. A little local knowledge will help you to enjoy this beautiful location to the full.
And thanks also to Yohan for recommending the Gimanhala Transit Hotel, which again was very good value and very clean - and ideal for visiting Polannaruwa etc. -
Ricardo Rego
Porto, PortugalHouse on the rock
Left on 11/07/2010 for a stay in October 2010
Amazing location and amazing view!
It was the perfect place to start our amazing trip around Sri Lanka.
Here 1 more rental located nearby.
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