Last Updated on May 19, 2023 by admin
If you are wondering about where to stay while on a heritage tour in Sri Lanka, then the resorts in Dambulla are a great option! I stayed at the Jetwing Lake Dambulla, a sustainable property that is perfectly located along the tourist sites. Read on to know what I loved the most and why I recommend it.
Dambulla is a town situated in the Matale District of Sri Lanka and is known for having the largest and best-preserved temple complex in Sri Lanka.
Dambulla is perfectly located at a short distance from Kandy, Sigiriya, and Habarana all of which have heritage sites in Sri Lanka. It is also perfectly located between Minneriya National Park and Kaudulla National Park and a day trip is possible to cover the wildlife.
While there are many things to do in Dambulla and around, it is best to catch a breather here to relax. A staycation at Jetwing Lake Dambulla is the best way to go about it.
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HOW TO REACH DAMBULLA
Dambulla is ta the core of Heritage sites in Sri Lanka. It is situated close to Habarana and Kandy. It is ideal to hire a car from the Kandy airport to reach the resort of your choice. Visitors can request the resort to arrange transport for them too.
ALL ABOUT JETWING LAKE DAMBULLA
Jetwing Dambulla is nestled in the offroad from Dambulla town. A road full of tall trees almost resembling a forest, makes way for a humble-looking building.
Our group reached in the evening and the darkness did not do justice to the surroundings. We climbed a floor to reach an open long hallway.
Welcome Drink and Check-in
We were greeted with ‘Ayubowan’ (may you live a long life). And soon enough served with 2 options of welcome drink. I tried both of them and both were delicious. Alas, I forgot what they were.
We waited at the waiting lounge which had a wall full of Sri Lankan trinkets to amuse us. Red, blue, and green miniature tuk-tuks, wooden elephant statues, wooden masks, and a lot more.
The check-in was smooth and easy.
Then, we were briefed about the in-house naturalist and complimentary birdwatching tours offered by Jetwing Lake Dambulla.
A staff accompanied us with our room keys.
On the way to the room in the waiting lounge corner, I saw a board with the details of bird sightings of the day on different trails. I promised to go on at least one during my 3-night stay!
Accommodation at Jetwing Lake Dambulla
We crossed another long passage to reach an in-house bridge overlooking the alluring pool. The tiring day sure made me want to jump in the pool and on inquiring about the timings, there were only 30 minutes left on the pool. I promised to jump in the next day!
There are a total of 94 rooms divided into 3 categories at Jetwing Lake Dambulla. Contemporary rooms with all modern amenities, a stacked mini-bar, and a complimentary fruit platter welcome guests into the property.
In addition to the private balconies, all rooms at Jetwing Lake also include relaxing features that allow guests to unwind. From the plush bathtubs to soak in after a long day out in the Cultural Triangle, or the comfortable seating areas near the floor-to-ceiling windows, our Jetwing group sure knows how to make guests’ stay a memorable one.
Suite
The property houses four luxury suites, that are the epitome of comfort. The suite comes with a separate living area, a bathroom, and a small kitchenette. There is changing room along with the bathroom. The plush interiors with modern amenities make this a really spectacular option for a stay.
The key feature of the suite is the bathtub on the open balcony and a private sit-out.
Deluxe Room
Of the three variants of rooms available at Jetwing Lake, there are 78 Deluxe Rooms that complement the surrounding greenery. A huge room opens into an even bigger balcony overlooking the pool, the lake beyond it, and the mountains in the distance.
The plush bathroom with luxurious toiletries promises the same view as the bathtub.
I was put up in the Deluxe room. I crossed a long hallway to reach my room which was the second to last in the row. On the left huge trees made their presence felt with the chirping of birds. The next morning I spotted an Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Jungle Fowl, Spotted Dove, Oriental Magpie Robin, and a few common birds simply by standing on the balcony.
The first I noticed when I entered the room was drinking water served in glass bottles. I had passed several posters on the property talking about sustainable initiatives and I noticed it in the room.
On the left, there was the bathroom with miniature refillable glass bottles of shampoo and soap. Also, a note if guests wished to reuse the towels to save water.
A king-size bed, a study table, and an alluring balcony with a fantastic view welcome me into my room. It was almost dinner time and I decided to catch an early dinner.
FOOD AT JETWING LAKE DAMBULLA
Jetwing Dambulla offers a Buffet option for breakfast and dinner depending on the package you choose. Since guests mostly spend their days exploring the Dambulla area it is best to go for the MAP plan (breakfast + dinner buffet).
The menu is a combination of Sri Lanka cuisine (comprising veg curries and different types of meat) as well as international cuisine such as continental and Indian in order to cater to all types of guests. A vegetarian and vegan can happily eat here without worrying about their food habits.
The buffet consists of a huge array of bread baskets, soup with flavored butter, chutneys, salads, different types of curries with different types of rice, a live counter serving pasta and kebab, and many types of desserts and fruits.
The breakfast spread is equally good with different types of detox water, fruits with yogurts, curry served with rice or string hoppers or dosa, and other continental dishes. They also offer breakfast on the go and are happy to pack sandwiches and baked goodies.
In case the guests want to enjoy an a la, carte menu there is a Chinese restaurant on the premises as well as a bar.
THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND THE PROPERTY
Although visitors stay here while they are on a cultural tour of heritage sites, a staycation at Jetwing Lake Dambulla is a great option all year round. is the right call. This section is for visitors who always want to do something even on a staycation (includes me)!
Suwa Arana Spa
Suwa Arana Spa at Jetwing Lake has carefully designed spa experiences that refresh and reinvigorate. With an array of massages and facials, it is surely a great way for the body to relax and detox.
Enjoy the pool
The pool is a refreshing breather after a long day walking around at heritage sites. The pool is always clean and the cold water is amazing. The view is perfect with the lake and mountains as the backdrop. There is also a poo-side bar so guests can order drinks from there.
Dahaiyagala Hike
Mount Dahaiyagala is a rocky escarpment located northeast of the hotel. Located at the height of 400 MSL, the hike takes visitors through the rustic paths of the village, forest, and small reservoirs. The road will take you to the summit that offers panoramic views of the magnificent mountains, lakes, and forests.
Bird-watching on Jetwing property
Thanks to Jetwing lake, there is a thriving population of birds in the resort and around the lake area. If you are a wildlife enthusiast who will be happy clicking away pictures or trying to identify the birds’ species from the balcony too.
It was also so considerate of the staff to put up a barricade on the group around a Red Wattled Lapwing’s nest. Lapwings nest on the ground so the eggs are always threatened.
If guests have more time, then there are a couple of trails on which they arrange birdwatching activities. Siyambalagaswewa Lake Birding Trail is 90 minutes and a 1.5 km walk from the hotel premises.
Village Walk
The best way to see a country is through the countryside and what bets way than taking a walk through Sri Lankan village life.
Paddy cultivation is the occupation of most villagers and one can walk through these beautiful paddy fields, forests, teak plantations, etc. along the hike, one will be able to observe Sri Lanka’s varied and wonderful biodiversity, geography, cultural diversity, and lifestyles.
Shop for Sri Lankan souvenirs
Sri Lanka souvenirs and Handicrafts mainly made from wood are sold here in the in-house shop.
SUSTAINABILITY AT JETWING
The Jetwing group is conscious of the environment and has inculcated many sustainable values. Some of the initiatives include the type of construction, no plastic policy, solar energy, effluent treatment plant, and others. Let us look at them in detail.
Zero carbon initiatives
An in-house biomass boiler facilitates air conditioning across the property. The boiler produces 2000 kilograms of steam per hour that is used for air conditioning, hot water generation as well in the laundry. The chiller uses less than one-tenth of the electricity of a conventional chiller.
The biomass used is cinnamon wood-fired biomass stoves and all the cooking in the staff cafeteria uses this electricity.
Solar Energy Usage
The property utilizes a 300-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system that takes care of 40% of daily electricity consumption such as heating water.
Effluent water treatment
The property treats 100% of the wastewater generated on the premises through the effluent treatment plant. The ETP has a fully functional biological treatment method and gravity filtration.
Solid waste management
The property has a biogas plant with a capacity to digest 500 kg/day of waste. The methane produced after digestion is used in the staff kitchen to prepare meals. The sludge is used as a soil enhancer.
In order to cater to horticulture waste, the property has a windrow composter. All the collected garden waste is put through the composting process and the compost is used in the organic garden as fertilizer.
No plastic policy
The property owns an onsite semi-automated water bottling plant. The property has scraped using PET bottles but uses glass bottles instead that are refilled in this plant. Even in the kitchen, PET water bottles are not used.
Organic farm
Jetwing Lake Dambulla has an on-site organic farm. This 1.5 acres sprawling farm grows a variety of regional fruits and vegetables that are used in the kitchen. The compost from the property is used here as a fertilizer.
Organic honey harvesting
Jetwing Dambulla hosts 4 bee colonies. The honey collected after a 4-month harvest period is internally used in the kitchen.
FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT JETWING LAKE DAMBULLA
I had a relaxing time at Jetwing Lake and especially loved the food and birdwatching trails during the short visit that I was there. The resort is extremely beautiful, cozy, and comfortable with delicious food. Based on my experience, I would say that Jetwing Dambulla is one of the best Dambulla hotels here. The staff is friendly and one can easily pick up a conversation with them. The warm hospitality is a warrant I would love to come back and stay here.
Book your Resort in Dambulla
Contact and Bookings: Jetwing Lake
Address: Wijaya Kumaratunga Mawatha, Yapagama, Dambulla, Sri Lanka
Jetwing Dambulla contact no.: +94 66 204 0700
Email: [email protected]
Click here to book a room for yourself!
Disclosure – I was a guest at Jetwing Lake Dambulla as a part of the FAM tour organized by Destination Sri Lanka. However, all opinions in this post are unbiased and of my own.
Disclaimer – This post may contain affiliate links. It means it adds no extra cost to you if you book through the link but I get a referral bonus which helps me earn a little to keep this website up and running. Pin this Post!
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