"Pros: Quiet and private environment, beautiful scenery, good quality breakfast and room service, good service. Cons: Arrived around 3pm, and waited for a full hour to check in, almost collapsed. The room has no air conditioning and simple facilities. Open bathroom, don't take a shower at night, it will be cold."

"The hotel has a beautiful building and setting, rooms are big enough and staff is friendly, but that is about where it stopped for us. Our booking was not made or lost, we luckily got two rooms, took about 30min to get ready, safe was locked, no toilet paper and shower went cold after 2 min. Smaller bed than expected and room looks and feels like it is neglected. Bar only has one red and one white wine and one beer, although the bar menu is about 1 full page of items. On the dinner menu about 30% of the menu was not available. I must say the dishes that was available was very tasty. The whole hotel lacks a vibe, that touch that makes one feel home is just not there and more availability of F&B Proximity to nature reserve is great, but I think one can do a bit better and still be in the same area."

"This was a full natural experience and the hotel was full of nature. There are lots of places where we can take photoes.btw don't ask me how the food was because I can't describe those delicious food and the cook is an Australian cook with great potential."

"Stay at this Hotel at your own risk, while accommodation was ok with all the ammenites like safe & wifi connection, clean & serviced thoroughly the food was awful and the resturant staff rude and disinterested in anything remotely resembling service, unless you were Indian. The location was certainly ok and we managed some lovely works outside the Hotel grounds. Pool area was fine but the pool itself was encrusted with dirt about 2ft below the waterline. In all with a good clean and some staff training this could once again be a lovely place to stay. We are surprised at the 4 star rating. In our view this Hotel should rate as three stars."

"Incredible location, lovely hotel. Amenities were super - the food was so good! Kalu was there when we went and was so kind to come and talk to our group. Really close to the National Park too so the morning safari was great to do from here. Butterfly gardens and all the fruit and vege gardens on site were well maintained, and there is even a small playground for kids. A perfectly family friendly hotel."

"A small‑scale hotel in the middle of nature. The rooms are simple, which actually makes them feel original. The air conditioning works very well. The food in the hotel is prepared with local ingredients and tastes great. The manager of the hotel often acts as the guide for both the boat and jeep safaris. He’s a very pleasant person who knows a lot, explains things well, and seems to know every path in the area. The staff is very friendly too. I can highly recommend this place."

"Very quaint and secluded property very close to the safari park. Individual cabins were very spacious, great AC, private porch for sitting and the outdoor shower and bathroom was very cool! The staff were very friendly and accommodating as well. There is not much to do out in the wilderness but after a no day of safari it was nice to go to Hantara to relax."

"Whilst I’ve stayed at Mandara Rosen many times, I’ve honestly never taken the time to write a review. But this time, something felt different — and I thought it was time to finally pen my two cents. In the past, my experiences have always been lovely. The staff have been helpful, the rooms clean and well-kept, and the atmosphere calming — a perfect space to unwind after a day in Kataragama. The pool has always been a personal highlight, especially after being out in the hot sun during religious observances. It’s been a place I’ve recommended without hesitation. The food, too, has never disappointed. I remember the buffet spreads — generous, delicious, and satisfying in every sense. Something for everyone, and nothing to complain about. This time, however, was a shorter visit. I was in Kataragama briefly, with two things planned — lunch at the hotel, and arrangements for a day room so those of us traveling (a group of five) could freshen up before heading back to Colombo. I had called ahead and was informed that a day room would be provided for Rs. 15,000, which I agreed to. But once at the hotel, that offer was off the table. Instead, I was told I’d need to take two rooms — totaling Rs. 30,000 — just for a quick change and refresh. That felt unreasonable. In today’s context, where most travelers aren’t staying overnight and hotels are struggling to fill rooms, this seemed like a short-sighted way to recover costs — at the guest’s expense. I did have lunch at the restaurant, and once again the food was fantastic. Though it was à la carte this time (understandable given low occupancy), it was still flavorful and well prepared. The restaurant staff were kind and welcoming, and I appreciated their service. In the end, I went to another hotel that offered a day room at nearly one-fifth the price. A hotel of similar standard was also willing to offer one room at the same rate of Rs. 15,000, as initially promised here. Unfortunately, the only reason I didn’t go there was the distance — otherwise I would have. What saddens me is that instead of gaining business, Mandara Rosen lost it that day. All for the sake of an extra room rate. And that’s the only reason I’m giving this a 4-star rating — not for the hospitality, the setting, or the food, which remain excellent — but because it felt like the focus shifted from understanding the guest to maximizing the margin."

"We had a memorable trip to udawalawe with our guide Solomon and driver Keri who showed us over 50 species of birds plus elephants crocodiles mongoose jackals turtles often in ares of the park where we saw no one else. Solomon’s clear identification and keris sharp eyes made the trip for us. Thank you both!!!!"