The Lake Hotel, Polonnaruwa ➤ Reviews, Rooms & Prices 2024

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Key details

About the Hotel

Potgul Pedessa, New Town, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

EKHO Lake House is situated on the banks of the Parakrama Samudraya, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the world. It positions guests close to Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in history and culture. The hotel offers a unique blend of contemporary Sri Lankan design and Tudor-style furniture. Guests can enjoy panoramic views that combine serene nature with the remnants of ancient dynasties.

Location

The hotel lies conveniently between the ancient capitals of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, providing easy access to a wealth of historical sites. Guests can reach the hotel in approximately four hours by taxi from Colombo or opt for a six-hour express train ride. For quicker options, an air taxi can take visitors to Sigiriya, followed by a short taxi ride to EKHO Lake House. Nearby attractions include the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, just 2.5 miles away.

Rooms

EKHO Lake House consists of 9 Superior Rooms, 4 Deluxe Rooms, and the Royal Suite, which was once the honeymoon suite of the Queen of England in 1954. The rooms are designed in aesthetic colors with contemporary Sri Lankan furnishings, providing modern amenities like air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and minibars. Four spacious rooms offer direct views of the vast Parakrama Samudraya, allowing guests to enjoy stunning sunrises and sunsets. All room options ensure a comfortable and immersive experience amid nature's beauty.

Eat & Drink

The hotel's dining experience is crafted by a team of food and beverage specialists, focusing on simplicity and creative flavor infusions. Guests can choose to dine indoors or opt for outdoor seating on the deck, enjoying uninterrupted views of the lake. The main restaurant operates for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, providing diverse menu selections ranging from Pan-Asian to continental. An attentive service team ensures a warm and personalized dining experience.

Leisure & Business

EKHO Lake House offers various leisure activities, including guided tours to nearby archaeological sites and access to national parks for wildlife safaris. The hotel's tour desk can help arrange activities like bird watching, fishing, and lake boat safaris. Hand sanitizers are available in prominent public spaces, maintaining a focus on safety. Business facilities are also present to cater to corporate needs.

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Getting around

A list of all available modes of transport

City Center

Polonnaruwa1000 ft

Airports

Sigiriya Air Force Base (GIU) 37.0 mi

Batticaloa (BTC) 61.7 mi

Train

Polonnaruwa Railway Station 1.9 mi

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Wonderful Pool Views

The swimming pool area was a serene place to relax, with peaceful views of the lake and even moments of wildlife sightings like elephants.view full review

Spotless and Spacious

Our room was immaculate, spacious, and equipped with all necessary amenities, making for an incredibly comfortable stay.view full review

Delicious Meals

Both breakfast and dinner at the hotel were among the highlights of our stay, offering a fantastic selection of tasty dishes.view full review

Exceptional Atmosphere

The picturesque setting of the hotel, combined with modern and well-laid-out rooms, created a truly relaxing atmosphere.view full review

General

Smoking allowed in designated areas
Wi-Fi
No parking
24-hour reception
No pets allowed
Baggage storage
Currency exchange

Services

Free airport shuttle
Room service
Housekeeping
Tours/Ticket assistance

Dining

Restaurant
Poolside snack bar

Business

Meeting/ Banquet facilities

Children

Children's pool

Spa & Leisure

Indoor swimming pool
Outdoor swimming pool
Garden area

Location

Potgul Pedessa, New Town, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Map view

Potgul Pedessa, New Town, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

City landmarks

Eastern Bank of the Parakrama Samudra Reservoir

Statue of Parakramabahu I

2400 ft

Polonnaruwa

2.0 mi

Bund Rd

Statue of King Parakramabahu I

2400 ft

Samudra Parakrama

1.7 mi

Hwy A11

Hetadage

1.0 mi

Sacred City

Archaeological Museum

1.7 mi

Mahiyangane-Dimbulagala-Dalukkane Hwy

Dimbulagala Monastery

1.2 mi

Polonnaruwa

Thuparama

1.0 mi

Isipathanaraamaya Temple

2500 ft

Weijantha Prasada

1.7 mi

Polonnaruwa

Royal Palace of King Maha Parakramabahu

1.7 mi

Quadrangle

1.1 mi

Council Chamber

1.7 mi

Bund Rd.

Pothgul Viharaya

1.8 mi

Polonnaruwa

Bathing Place

3500 ft

Angamedilla

Angammedilla National Park

1.2 mi

Kumara Pokuna

1.7 mi

Siva Devale No 2

1.2 mi

Naipena Vihara

1.2 mi

Audience Hall

1.7 mi

Polonnaruwa

Dalada Maluva

4.7 mi

Pagoda

Polonnaruwa Vatadage

4.7 mi

Sacred square

Nissanka Latha Mandapaya

4.7 mi

Polonnaruwa Old City

Siva Devalaya

4.7 mi

Pagoda

Hatadage

4.7 mi

Polonnaruwa

Gal-Potha Stone Book

4.7 mi

Sathmahal Prasada

4.7 mi

Polonnaruwa Vatadage

Sandakada Pahana

4.7 mi

Nearby

Mary Immaculate Church

1100 ft

Restaurants

Hotel Mahanuge Restaurant

1.2 mi

25th Mile Post Bendiwewa

Chilli's Lathpadura

1.2 mi

Batticalo Road Number 126

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

74%

liked the hotel and would stay again

Beautiful gardens

Friendly staff

Cold food

Limited amenities

7.4/10

Very good

Rooms

8.1

Location

9.7

Service

8.0

Dining

5.0

Alice

United States of America, September 2024

7.2/10

I had a wonderful stay at this hotel which is beautifully located by the lake, offering stunning views. The rooms were comfortable and clean, which made my stay quite pleasant. However, the dining experience was a letdown as the food quality didn't meet expectations. The staff was friendly and helpful but some areas could use improvement, particularly in the dining department. Overall, the experience was quite good, especially for the price.

Rooms

9.0

The rooms were clean, comfortable, and included a lovely balcony that added to the experience.

Service

7.0

The staff was friendly and polite, especially the restaurant manager who tried to assist us.

Location

10.0

This hotel has a great location right by the lake, which is perfect for relaxation and enjoying the view.

Dining

5.0

Unfortunately, the quality of the food was not good at all, which was disappointing.

Facilities

6.0

The facilities were decent but nothing stood out as exceptional.

Ruth

United States of America, September 2024

7.8/10

I had a lovely stay overall at the hotel. The location across the lake in beautiful gardens is perfect for relaxing, and the rooms were spacious and comfortable. However, the dining options were below average, particularly the cold buffet dishes, which was disappointing. The friendly staff made a big difference, but I wished the food quality matched their service.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were spacious and comfortable, with great views from the balcony.

Service

9.0

The service was excellent, especially the restaurant manager who was very polite.

Location

10.0

The hotel is in a fantastic location, right by the lake and surrounded by well-kept gardens. It's a beautiful area to chill out.

Dining

5.0

Unfortunately, the food quality wasn't great, and the buffet dishes were often cold.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities were decent, but there could have been more amenities to enhance the experience.

Beautiful gardens

Cold food

Kevin

United States of America, July 2024

7.8/10

The hotel boasts a wonderful location across the lake, making it perfect for sightseeing, especially the Polonnaruwa ruins. The rooms are spacious and equipped with comfortable beds, and the friendly staff adds to the welcoming atmosphere. However, the dining options were underwhelming, and the price didn’t seem quite justified for the overall experience.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were spacious, clean, and had comfortable beds, creating a very nice environment for relaxation.

Service

9.0

The service was polite and attentive, with the restaurant manager being particularly helpful in addressing our needs.

Location

10.0

Being situated right across the lake provided a stunning view and made it easy to visit local attractions like the Polonnaruwa ruins.

Dining

5.0

The food quality left a lot to be desired, as it wasn’t great compared to what I expected, with limited choices.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities are adequate, but nothing particularly outstanding, which was a bit disappointing considering the hotel’s reputation.

Greg

United States of America, July 2024

7.8/10

I had a lovely stay at this hotel with its stunning lakeside views and beautiful gardens. The rooms were clean and comfortable, which made for a great experience overall. However, the dining options could use some improvement, as the food quality was lacking. The location was perfect for sightseeing, especially being close to the Polonnaruwa ruins, which added a nice touch to my trip.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were clean and very comfortable, offering a cozy atmosphere with nice views from the balcony.

Service

9.0

The service was polite and attentive, especially from the restaurant manager, who went out of their way to help us.

Location

10.0

The hotel is situated across the lake, which provides a peaceful and relaxing environment, and it's very close to the Polonnaruwa ruins, making sightseeing convenient.

Dining

5.0

The dining experience was disappointing as the food quality wasn't very good, particularly the salads.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities were decent, but I felt that they could be enhanced for a more luxurious experience.

Charles

United States of America, July 2024

7.0/10

The hotel has a great location right across the lake and close to the Polonnaruwa ruins, which I really appreciated. The rooms were comfortable, and I enjoyed the beautiful views. However, the dining experience was lacking in quality, and the amenities could be improved. Overall, it's good value for money considering the location and comfort.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms are comfortable with nice views, making for a pleasant stay.

Service

7.0

The staff was friendly and polite, but there was room for improvement in response time.

Location

9.0

It's situated in a lovely area right by the lake and close to nature, which made for a relaxing atmosphere.

Dining

5.0

The food quality was not great, though the fresh salads were enjoyable.

Facilities

6.0

The amenities were decent but could use some upgrades for a more luxurious feel.

Joe

United States of America, June 2024

7.4/10

I had a delightful stay at this hotel, thanks to its great location right across the lake, offering stunning views. The rooms were comfortable with nice balconies, making it a pleasant retreat. The staff were friendly and attentive, although the restaurant service could use a little more polish. Overall, the place is well-kept, but the dining quality didn't meet my expectations for the price I'm paying.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were very comfortable and came with lovely balconies that added to the experience.

Service

7.0

The staff, especially the restaurant manager, was friendly and polite, but there were some delays during meal service.

Location

10.0

The hotel is in a fantastic location right next to the lake, surrounded by beautifully maintained gardens.

Dining

5.0

Unfortunately, the food quality was lacking, and the warm dishes did not meet my expectations.

Facilities

7.0

The amenities were decent, but I felt there could be more variety to enhance the overall experience.

Great location

Dining quality

Thomas

United States of America, June 2024

7.2/10

I had a pleasant stay at this hotel, with a beautiful view across the lake and a comfortable atmosphere. The rooms were clean and well-kept, providing a nice spot to relax. Though the dining options left something to be desired, the overall value for money was decent. I really enjoyed the location surrounded by well-maintained gardens, but the service could definitely use some improvement.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were clean, spacious, and offered a lovely balcony view, making it a comfortable stay.

Service

7.0

The service was polite, but not quite as attentive as I would have hoped.

Location

9.0

The location is fantastic, right across the lake and in beautiful gardens, close to sites like Polonnaruwa.

Dining

5.0

The food quality was not the best, especially the udon soups, which was a letdown.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities were pleasant but could have been more modern and luxurious for the price.

Robert

United States of America, April 2024

7.2/10

I had a pleasant stay at this hotel, which is situated in a beautiful location near the lake with well-kept gardens. The rooms were comfortable and had a nice view. The service was polite, but I did find the dining options somewhat lacking in quality. Overall, it offers good value for money, but there’s definitely room for improvement, especially in the dining area.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were comfortable and offered a lovely view, which made my stay enjoyable.

Service

7.0

Service was polite, especially the restaurant manager, but more attentiveness would have been appreciated.

Location

9.0

The hotel is located across the lake and is surrounded by really pretty gardens, making for a great scenic experience.

Dining

5.0

The dining experience was not great as the food quality was below expectations, lacking flavor and variety.

Facilities

7.0

Facilities were decent, but nothing particularly stood out as exceptional.

Donald

United States of America, March 2024

7.8/10

The hotel has a great location next to the lake, which offers beautiful views and a serene atmosphere. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, but the dining experience left something to be desired due to the quality of food. Overall, it's a decent choice for the price, though improvements could be made in the dining area.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were spacious and comfortable, featuring a lovely balcony.

Service

9.0

The service was polite and attentive, especially from the restaurant manager.

Location

10.0

The hotel is located right next to the Parakram lake, offering stunning views and a peaceful environment.

Dining

5.0

I was disappointed with the dining experience as the food quality wasn't up to par.

Facilities

7.0

The amenities were decent, but nothing stood out particularly.

Barbara

United States of America, March 2024

8.0/10

I had a wonderful stay at the hotel, located just by the lake which offered stunning views and a very relaxing atmosphere. The rooms were spacious and the beds were quite comfortable, although I wish the dining experience had included better quality food. The staff was friendly and the gardens around the property were beautifully maintained, making it a great place to unwind. The value for money was decent; however, there were some areas that could use improvement.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were spacious and the beds were comfortable, making for a pleasant stay.

Service

9.0

The friendly staff provided polite and attentive service, which I appreciated during my stay.

Location

10.0

The hotel is located right by Parakram Lake, which is known to be the world's largest manmade lake, and the views were absolutely fantastic.

Dining

5.0

Unfortunately, the dining experience was a bit of a letdown as the quality of the food didn't meet my expectations.