Villa Mount Melody is a guesthouse-style stay on Galkana Road in Aniwatta, a quiet residential hillside about three minutes by car from Kandy Lake and the clock tower. It is one of the better-reviewed stays in the city, with a high guest score from several hundred reviews, and it appeals to travellers who like a home-like feel, a garden and a rooftop terrace rather than a large hotel. There is an on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, a 24-hour front desk and 24-hour room service, so you can eat in on days when the climb out of town feels like too much. The Bahirawakanda Buddha statue is a 13-minute walk away, and Asgiri Maha Viharaya is a two-minute drive. It is a pleasant, mid-priced base for couples, small families and travellers who value service and calm over lakefront convenience.
Location and getting around
The villa is in Aniwatta, on the hill above the centre. Kandy Lake, the Clock Tower and the city centre are about three minutes by car, Asgiri Maha Viharaya about two minutes and the railway station around four minutes. The Bahirawakanda Buddha is within a 13-minute walk, though the lanes are steep, so many guests take a tuk-tuk. The airport is roughly two and a half hours by road, so plan the transfer and ask the hotel for advice on drivers.
Check-in runs from noon to 9:30 pm with no after-hours check-in, so tell the hotel if you will arrive late.Rooms and facilities: rooms are air-conditioned with daily housekeeping, and the property has a rooftop terrace, a garden, laundry and dry cleaning, free WiFi and free self-parking. The restaurant serves all three meals, and an English breakfast is available for a surcharge.
There is no pool listed, so it suits travellers who plan to spend their days out. The premises are smoke-free and pets are not allowed.Who it suits: couples who want a quiet, attentive stay, families with older children and independent travellers who plan to see the Temple of the Tooth, the lake and the botanical garden by day and return to a calm evening. It is also a sensible base for a longer stay, because the in-house restaurant and room service make it easy to rest between trips to Peradeniya and the tea country.
Good to know
Check-out is at 11 am. Rates rise in the Perahera season and the dry-season holidays, so book ahead and compare dates. The hillside setting means some walking on slopes, so ask the hotel which room is easiest to reach with luggage, and keep a rain jacket handy in the wetter months.
Why stay here
- ✓Rooftop terrace
- ✓Garden
- ✓On-site restaurant
- ✓24-hour front desk
- ✓24-hour room service
- ✓Free WiFi
- ✓Free self-parking
- ✓Laundry and dry cleaning
Good questions
Where is Villa Mount Melody?+
On Galkana Road in Aniwatta, about three minutes by car from Kandy Lake and the Clock Tower.
Does Villa Mount Melody have a restaurant?+
Yes, an on-site restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there is 24-hour room service.
Is late check-in possible?+
Check-in runs from noon to 9:30 pm and there is no after-hours check-in, so tell the hotel in advance if you will be late.
