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4.0
#6 of 42 hotels in Anuradhapura
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Charming Colonial hotel dating back to 1907, Built with luxury, the only hotel within the Sacred city of Anuradhapura. nestled in a 14 acre block of land which is a home to many species of birds and not forgetting the monkeys.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Historic Hotel
Quirky Hotels
Location
Old Puttalam Road, Old Town, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
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Stayed at this hotel during the last weekend of December 2019 with some friends. It's a beautiful colonial style place with lot of space and simplicity which I admired the most. Situated quite close to the pooja city which is very convenient for tourists and I recommend it for anyone who comes on pilgrimage to Anuradhapura.Excellent service and the staff is friendly and very helpful. Rooms were in excellent condition as it was very clean and comfortable. However their food was not so great. Their lunch and dinner menus need serious consideration as they were not tasty. Limited choices would have been great if the food was tasty. But their Sri Lankan breakfast was great and everyone of us enjoyed it very much. I hope the management will take a note and improve the quality of the food soon. I felt the garden was bit neglected most probably due to the severe weather conditions in past few months in the country but it can be a magnificent garden with little more care and attention. I look forward to stay at this place again soon.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A fantastic property in the heart of the sacred city (walking distance to the Sri Maha Bodhi). The hotel is housed in a beautiful colonial building surrounded by a large property where monkeys and peacocks roam. Lovely for strolling or biking (in the bicycles provided for free by the hotel). We stayed in Room 8 which is a family room on the ground floor of the main building. The room was clean and very comfortable and the long verandah outside, overlooking the garden is perfect for reading or an afternoon snooze on the comfy armchairs. The food (both Western and Eastern options) was delicious and well prepared. The service was truly exceptional with Lal (Manager), Sriya, Nadun, Shantha and the others taking great pains to ensure that our holiday in Anuradhapura was enjoyable and that we got the most out of our stay. Our every whim was graciously catered to! We really felt at home here. Will certainly visit again.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â The main building has the best rooms
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rent a bike for 500 rupees (less than $5.00 a day), ride around the dike and through the rice patties to small village Neeraiya and back. A glorious ride even in the light drizzle. Birdwatch as you go to watch - the Malabar Pied hornbill and the glorious paradise flycatcher. A beautiful tranquil ride safe from the usual Sri Lankan busy roads.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotels Q, Manager at The Sanctuary At Tissawewa
Responded 23 Jan 2020
Dear Valued Guest, We are pleased to know that you had enjoyed your visit to this hotel . We take note that you had enjoyed cycling around the city of Anuradhapura, and we welcome you back to spend a few more nights on your next visit to Sri Lanka . Thank you. Best regards,
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had high expectations of this property after reading recent reviews. We stayed here for one night. Our main issue was with the service. We have stayed at numerous hotels and guest houses across Sri Lanka and this was by far the worst service we have received. The property itself is set in lovely grounds and the rooms are clean and reasonably maintained. On arrival we found the receptionist to be very smug, almost arrogant. Service for drinks was slow ie I had to twice ask for a drinks menu when the reception staff refused to go to a drawer to take out a menu! Half of the drinks on the menu were unavailable. We dined there in the evening, food came quickly as we were asked to preorder when we reserved our table. However the quality of food was sub standard and we left our meals (first time we have ever done so in Sri Lanka!) The nail in the coffin came the next morning. After check out as we were driving away we eventually experienced the best service both reception and restaurant staff could provide! Two staff chased after the car to demand we paid for the coffee and juice we had ordered at breakfast. No-one advised us this was not included in the cost when we ordered or charged us at check out. We hope with updated training that service standards can be improved.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We enjoyed our stay here in an interesting building with great atmosphere. The location is good for visiting Arunradhapura and the grounds are restful with interesting wildlife. There are Royal Gardens nearby and also a nearby lake with wading birds and an eagle. There are peacocks and monkeys in the grounds. The breakfast was very good.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotels Q, Manager at The Sanctuary At Tissawewa
Responded 12 Feb 2020
Dear Valued Guest, We are pleased to know that you had enjoyed your stay at this hotel . Our team takes note of your satisfaction on our service and meals . We all welcome you back to spend a few more nights on your next visit to Anuradhapura . Thank you. Best regards,
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We were really looking forward to splashing out on a stay here, as it looked beautiful and was well reviewed. However, we had a very rude reception by staff who had clearly lost our prepaid booking, and tried to shunt us to an inferior room than the one we’d booked. The rooms were pretty run down and the bathroom was not well cleaned. However, the property itself was very atmospheric and historic and had its own charm, and the garden is lovely. There is no swimming pool, and it is quite hot in Anuradhapura, so if that is important to you I would stay elsewhere. The food options were limited but they were generously portioned and tasty. We emailed several days before arriving inquiring about local tours but never got a response, and once we arrived we asked staff again about getting a guide to visit the sacred city, but they were unhelpful. We ended up organising it ourselves at the site, but were surprised that a hotel with an alleged in-house travel agent couldn’t be of more help. They did let us use the hotel bicycles for free, but they had flat tyres and the gears didn’t work. Overall I’d say the hotel is overpriced for what’s on offer, we stayed at far cheaper hotels in Sri Lanka that were much cleaner and better managed.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Quickshaws Pvt Ltd, Guest Services / Front Office at The Sanctuary At Tissawewa
Responded 6 Mar 2024
Dear Valued guest. We have taken serious note of your comments which is quite disturbing; as we do have a good service reputation. We do take all negative comments positively which would help us do better, we have done everything possible to trace the issues you have mentioned to of no avail. We would have appreciated having so many issues if you would have contacted the manager in reporting of what you were experiencing which could have help us to look into the matter immediately. We are not allowed to build a swimming pool as we are in the sacred city and excavation is prohibited however this facility is available in our sister hotel for guest staying at The Sanctuary at Tissawewa which most of the guest utilise this facility.
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We had a really bad experience at the Sanctuary at Tissawewa. I would avoid this hotel at all cost.
We booked online, at the hotel's own website, well ahead. No confirmation email was provided. An email exchange with the hotel convinced us that the booking exists. The day of arrival, our guide called ahead to agree arrival time, but the hotel did not answer the phone. Upon arrival, they did not have our booking. They also claimed their internet as well as phones were down (this news was delivered without any apology). They did find free rooms for us, however these were different (ground floor, no windows, noisy) and still they insisted on full price to be charged. The wood floors are creaking a lot. The food experience is also annoying, you have to decide your dinner and breakfast choices well ahead of time, which is certainly unexpected at an establishment that pretends to have this level.
The hotel building is pretty for sure, and the surrounding park is nice.
However, in total, considering the lack of attention of management, careless service, bad internet, a noisy night of no rest, limited food, and the high price, this is an experience best avoided.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We visited the hotel, which is in a colonial building, for dinner and was treated to a delightful meal. Although the hotel was quiet we were made to feel very welcome. The service was excellent. We had rice and curry and lake fish with vegetables which were both beautifully presented and perfectly cooked. Dessert was a sri lankan favourite of Watalappan ( type of creme caramel with juggery) and enormous portion buffalo yoghurt and treacle ( kitul pani). The hotel is about 10mins by tuk tuk from the centre
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â To appreciate the setting arrive before sunset.
Note alcohol is not served as it is in a sacred...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked the hotel on 26th December 2023 for six full board packs for one night. it was informed that we were coming for lunch. When we arrived at the hotel at 11.30am they informed us that the rooms can be given at 2pm and for us to wait. So we were fine with it and said till then will have lunch. At 12.30 when we asked if the lunch is ready we were told by the receptionist that the lunch is served at 3pm! we were shocked and asked if it’s the closing time but he very boldly said its at 3pm. when we called the manager in charge he informed us that it was ala-carte and for us to order ! more than twice we informed them in Shihalese we were coming for lunch! from the time we arrived no one offered us a welcome drink nor did they bother to give us the menu to order. I’m really surprised that this hotel has survived this far with this no care attitude!! The staff was blaming each other for the mishap and was not apologetic at all. We were tired after our long journey and it was a terrible experience .Therefore we will not recommend this hotel to anyone for not having proper customer care nor common sense!
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â There are other beautiful properties with so much better hospitality!! eg. Alakamanda - one of them
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Quickshaws Pvt Ltd, Guest Services / Front Office at The Sanctuary At Tissawewa
Responded 21 Jan 2024
Dear Mr. Gunasekera, First of all, I wish to apologize for the inconvenience you experienced at our hotel on your recent visit. Clearly there were several omissions on our part which have never happened before. When you arrived before noon since you were already in Anuradhapura, we reminded you check in time was 2pm. You agreed to wait till the just vacated rooms were made up which we were able to have ready by 12.30pm. On arrrival we offer welcome drinks as standard practise and as it was close to lunch time would take your lunch orders too. This did not happen. Our staff know meal times are from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm so we cannot comprehend why our reception said 3pm. As your group was booked full board, you were entitled to the set lunch and so to send you the a la carte menu was both unnecessary and wrong. We have already taken disciplinary action in this regard and also admit to a communication lapse for which our management tenders its unreserved apology. We have learnt from this incident and can assure you it will not happen again so we hope you will give us a chance to demonstrate our commitment to customer care and that you will visit our property once again. Thank you, Janindu
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Had a very relaxing time at the hotel which is situated within the sacred city. Initially we planned to stay for only one night, however we stayed for another night as we liked the place.
Although this is an old heritage building, it was fairly well maintained. Room was clean & welcoming. Toilet was clean. Towels were hygienically packed.
Meals: Enjoyed all meals provided by the hotel - tasty & wholesome. However meal choices were limited.
All staff - reception staff & waiters were very helpful & went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable. Harshana was particularly helpful.
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Date of stay: March 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Quickshaws Pvt Ltd, Guest Services / Front Office at The Sanctuary At Tissawewa
Responded 9 Nov 2021
Dear Sharmila, it has being some time to respond to your comment, we are concerned of all those who stay with us and are happy that you enjoyed your stay with us
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Anuradhapura area.
PRICE RANGE
$273 - $274 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
tissawewa resthouse anuradhapura
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Tissawewa Resthouse
LOCATION
Sri LankaNorth Central ProvinceAnuradhapura
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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