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The Sanctuary at Tissawewa

3.0 star property
Hotel with restaurant, near Mirisawetiya Stupa

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for The Sanctuary at Tissawewa

Bicycling
Property entrance
Front of property
Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk
Restaurant

Reviews

8.0 out of 10

Very good

Popular amenities

  • Airport transfer
    Airport transfer
  • Spa
    Spa
  • 24/7 front desk
    24/7 front desk
  • Laundry facilities
    Laundry facilities
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning
  • Free parking
    Free parking
Main amenities
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Restaurants
  • Breakfast available
  • Room service
  • Spa services
  • Airport shuttle
  • Area shuttle
  • Terrace
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Garden
  • Front desk safe
  • Self-serve laundry
Feel at home
  • Playground on-site
  • Fridge
  • Private bathroom
  • Separate dining area
  • Premium TV channels
  • Garden

Room options

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About the area

Map
Old Puttalam road, Old Town, Anuradhapura, 50000

What's nearby

  • Mirisawetiya Stupa - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Sri Maha Bodhi - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Ruwanwelisaya - 4 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Thuparamaya - 4 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Nuwara Wewa - 19 min drive - 12.7 km

Getting around

  • Colombo (CMB-Bandaranaike Intl.) - 87.7 miles/141.2 km
  • Airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)

Restaurants

  • ‪Pizza Hut - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Seedevi Family Restaurant - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Palhena Village Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Mango Mango - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Walkers - ‬5 min drive

About this property

The Sanctuary at Tissawewa

The Sanctuary at Tissawewa is a great choice for a stay in Anuradhapura. You can grab a bite to eat at the restaurant, or indulge in massages, facials or Ayurvedic treatments. Other features include a terrace and a garden.

Languages

English

At a glance

Hotel size

  • 21 rooms

Arriving/Leaving

  • Check-in start time: 2 PM; check-in end time: midnight
  • Late check-in subject to availability
  • Minimum check-in age – 18
  • Check-out time is noon

Restrictions related to your trip

  • Check COVID-19 restrictions

Special check-in instructions

  • Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival

Required at check-in

  • Credit card, debit card or cash deposit required for incidental charges
  • Government-issued photo ID may be required
  • Minimum check-in age is 18

Pets

  • No pets or service animals allowed

Internet

  • Free WiFi in public areas
  • Free WiFi in rooms

Parking

  • On-site parking only available on request
  • Free secured on-site self-parking

Transfers

  • Airport shuttle on request (available 24 hours a day)*

Off-site

  • Area shuttle*

Other information

  • Designated smoking areas

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Full breakfast (surcharge) each morning 7 AM–9:30 AM
  • Restaurant
  • Room service (limited hours)

Travelling with children

  • Playground

Services

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Concierge services
  • Tour/ticket assistance
  • Laundry facilities
  • Free newspapers in reception
  • Luggage storage
  • Bike hire

Facilities

  • Built in 1906
  • Safe-deposit box at front desk
  • Garden
  • Picnic area
  • Terrace
  • Spa services

Accessibility

  • Lever door handles
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance

Room amenities

Be entertained

  • 32-inch TV
  • Premium satellite channels

Home comfort

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Ceiling fan
  • Minibar
  • Electric kettle
  • Dressing gowns

Sleep well

  • Turndown service
  • Premium bedding

What to enjoy

  • Separate dining area

Freshen up

  • Private bathroom
  • Bath or shower
  • Bidet
  • Hairdryer (on request)
  • Towels

Stay connected

  • Desk
  • Free WiFi
  • Phone

Food and drink

  • Fridge
  • Free bottled water

More

  • Daily housekeeping
  • In-room safe
  • Restaurant dining guide

Special features

Spa

Guests can pamper themselves by indulging in the on-site spa services. Services include massages and facials. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including Ayurvedic.

Fees & policies

Optional extras

  • Full breakfast is offered for an extra charge of approximately USD 7 for adults and USD 7 for children
  • Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge of USD 110 per vehicle (one-way. Maximum occupancy 3)
  • Local area shuttle service is offered for an extra charge

Parking

  • Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve on-site parking

Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)

  • Reservations are required for spa treatments and can be made by contacting the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation

Policies

This property does not have lifts.
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash.
A fee for a mandatory Christmas Eve gala dinner is included in the total price displayed for stays on 24 December.
A fee for a mandatory New Year's Eve gala dinner is included in the total price displayed for stays on 31 December.

Also known as

Sanctuary Tissawewa Hotel Anuradhapura
Sanctuary Tissawewa Hotel
Sanctuary Tissawewa Anuradhapura
Sanctuary Tissawewa
Tissawewa Resthouse Anuradhapura
The Sanctuary at Tissawewa Hotel
The Sanctuary at Tissawewa Anuradhapura
The Sanctuary at Tissawewa Hotel Anuradhapura

Frequently asked questions

Are pets allowed at The Sanctuary at Tissawewa?
Sorry, neither pets nor service animals are allowed.
Is parking offered on site at The Sanctuary at Tissawewa?
Yes, there's free self parking.
Is an airport shuttle service offered by The Sanctuary at Tissawewa?
Yes, an airport shuttle is available. The charge is USD 110 per vehicle one-way.
What are the check-in and check-out times at The Sanctuary at Tissawewa?
Check-in start time: 2 PM; check-in end time: midnight. Check-out time is noon.
What is there to do at The Sanctuary at Tissawewa and nearby?
The Sanctuary at Tissawewa has spa services and a picnic area, as well as a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near The Sanctuary at Tissawewa?
Yes, there's an on-site restaurant.
What's the area around The Sanctuary at Tissawewa like?
The Sanctuary at Tissawewa is a short 10-minute walk from Mirisawetiya Stupa and 12 minutes' walk from Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum.

The Sanctuary at Tissawewa Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very good

8.0/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

7.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Very good

Nice heritage hotel
Very quiet when we stayed so lacking atmosphere, particularly in the the restaurant. The service in the restaurant was excellent but reception was less helpful, except the lady who seemed to be the manager. Room was nice but could easily be updated to a much higher standard. Lots of monkeys, and they get up close, we quite enjoyed watching on our veranda but others might be put off by.
Paul, 3-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Beautiful, well maintained colonial mansion in large, tree-filled grounds, close to archaeological museum and sacred sites. No traffic noise, plenty of birdsong. Furnishings appropriate to period. Plain and simple but quite luxurious in an old-fashioned way. Very helpful staff. Good but limited menu. No alcohol. Nearest shops in new town a couple of kilometres away. If you like old-fashioned, you will love it.
3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Beautiful, well maintained colonial building set in large grounds on the edge of the sacred sites. No traffic noise, lots of birdsong in the morning. Plain and simple but luxurious in an old-fashioned way. Good bathrooms, wi-if OK. Good food, set meal times. Complimentary bicycle loan. Downsides: no alcohol, service rather slow, monkeys in grounds may decide to storm unlocked bedrooms. We loved this place.
1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

I chose this hotel for may last 3 days travelling in Sri Lanka. It is not cheap but the old colonial charm of a repurposed goverrners mansion in a large private park was irrisistsble. On top of that, it is about the only hotel that is actually inside the ancient Buddhist city of Anuradhapura which makes visiting the sites much easier. The rooms are of the epoch so don't expect all the facilities of a modern chain hotel. Rooms are fairly small but with pretty much all you need and of course clean. Beds are with mosquito nets. There are, for me essential, a chair and writing desk and on the wide veranda there are chairs and tables for books from which to appreciate the park with its families of monkeys, peacocks, parrots an a resident eagle. Take binoculars. WIFI is free and available seemingly everywhere even if only advertised in the WIFI Zone in the veranda lounge by the front desk. The staff are helpful and will organise trips to the sites, though I had not required that. There is of course a restaurant with good food served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. One niggle I had with the service was waiters pouring my tea. Milk is always poured first , then the tea. They couldn't get the hang of that and not pouring didn't appear to be an option. The front desk were happy to change the large denomination notes served by ATMs into the lower values needed for tipping, riding the tuc-tucs, eating in restaurants, visiting sites etc. An altogether plesent stay.
3-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Very atmospheric
2-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

In the middle of a nice park with animals everywhere ! The staff is great and very helpful.
2-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

Lovely, relaxing place to stay
We stayed 3 nights mid April. The grounds are very impressive. The hotel is set back on a hugh front lawn with mature trees and wandering peacocks. Checkin was quick. We had a deluxe king room on the upper floor. There are only 5 rooms on the upper floor. Our room was spacious, had good AC and a decent bathroom with shower. Shower had good pressure and hot water. Towels were okay but not luxury. Bed was comfortable. Furniture dark wood style. Room lighting very good. Breakfast good but coffee was so-so. Sri Lanka is better known for its tea which we had out on the main floor verandah in the afternoon after coming back by tuk tuk from seeing the ancient ruins - just lovely. I would recommend this hotel. The staff are nice. The hotel is in a good location near to the sites. The front desk will arrange a driver or guide if you would like. They arranged for us to do a morning safari to Wilpattu N.P. We would go back.
Joyce, 3-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

Proximity to places of interest.excellent service from the staff. The old world charm maintained with a lot of effort
2-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

Authentic British era rest house
We really enjoyed our stay in this old government resthouse. The building felt very authentic and had a nice atmosphere. We stayed in the deluxe rooms on the first floor that were very comfortable. For those wanting luxury and alcohol this isn’t the place to come. It is a bit spartan but in a way this makes it feel more authentic. The grounds are really nice in front of the hotel. In the evening there is often a cricket game. The hotel is well situated next to the sacred city and about 4km from the new city.. overall a memorable experience
philip, 2-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

Colonial administrators dwelling now an atmospheric hotel.
2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

This is a well maintained, beautifully restored historic hotel.
SusanMcCalmont, 3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

This place is the Guv'nor
This old governor's house is a gem. Long verandas to chills out on and set in gorgeous gardens (with monkeys and peacocks). Food is very good and excellent warm service. Rooms and communal areas full of character and atmosphere. probably due for a refurbishment soon however. Free bike hire great for exploring the historic sites.
Paul, 2-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

The hotel was quite nice as it was an converted old colonial building.
1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

6/10 Good

Every thing was ok but just realised that I was charged twice. I was charged on my card but at checkout the reception said there was no payment. Paid cash after receiving my cred card bill noticed I was charged!! I wrote to hotels.com but no response! Very disappointed!!
ishara, 1-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

A property which has great potential. Location is great. Minor upgrades needed. Toilet door could not be locked and needs to be upgraded. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Comfortable bed.
1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

Sunimal, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

6/10 Good

Stay 2 nights. First night everything was great. Second night, noise neighbor, no hot water, safe box doesnt work, and bath floor mat was dirty. First night 4.5 out or 5. Second night 3 out of 5.
1-night trip
Verified Orbitz guest review

8/10 Very good

Atmospheric and pleasant
Lovely atmospheric rooms - we were on the first floor which has just a few rooms. This was the British Governor's house. The hotel is perhaps the only one located in the old city in the middle of the ruins and many sites are just a walk/cycle ride away. The hotel offers old but complimentary bicycles to ride around Anuradhapura. It's a pity there's no swimming pool. The restaurant has a limited selection which is nice for a couple of meals but gets tiring thereafter.
1-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

It really is a sanctuary
Lovely, calm setting and a delight to return after a day in the sun touring around the historical sights. Beautiful grounds. Helpful staff. Great food. Wifi doesn't work in Annex rooms, but no hardship to sit on the gracious balcony drinking mocktails and checking emails.
3-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Staff very interested and informative. Free bike hire. Close to ancient temples etc. Close to the lake. Good dinner and very good breakfast. A lot of wildlife. Spacious grounds
Corinna, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

6/10 Good

Lovely hotel in a great location but no alcohol.
This is a lovely hotel in a great location for exploring the Sacred City and ruins. Staff are attentive and very helpful. The only reason for the lower rating is the hotel’s inability to serve alcohol. The reasons are understandable but this is not mentioned anywhere on this site or the hotel’s website. The guest should have the information in order to make an informed decision. Nothing like a cold beer after a day of cycling!
Gareth, 2-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

4/10 Fair

Faded charm
The Sanctuary is an old style hotel that has seen better days. The staff generally wee keen to please, but communication was sometimes a problem. Food was OK, but we were disappointed we couldn't have wine with dinner there. While understanding it is in a sacred precinct, guide books had lead us to believe we could BYO. Drinking in one's room is not much fun. Anuradhapura is very hot at times and a pool would have been welcome. The best feature is the beautiful gardens.
John, 3-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

Nice, convenient location within the sacred area. An old government rest house, not a modern hotel, but clean and spacious rooms, good food and very friendly and helpful staff. Colonial style building in spacious and tranquil grounds. Highly recommended for a relaxing stay. We enjoyed exploring the area using bicycles provided free of charge. Call hotel for directions as Google maps doesn't show the correct location.
Sarath, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review