Search hotels in Nelluwa

We stayed in Birds Paradise Hotel for three nights and birding around Sinharaja. The staff are very friendly and always helpful to our needs. And I was satisfied with the breakfast and dinners in the hotel which comforted me whenever I needed. Highly recommend!

Such a lovely hotel, everything is even more beautifull in real life than in the pictures. Everything was very clean. And the surroundings are also stunning. The hotel is very close to the Kudawa entrance of the rainforest, where you can hire an official guide for 2500 LKR (entrance is 1250 LKR pp). The overall experience was amazing. I would definitely recommend this place.

We really appreciated our time at Sunil’s place, the view was amazing and you are surrounded by jungle. The first night he took us on a night walk to look out for wildlife ! We had dinners, lunches and breakfasts with his family and every meal was different and so delicious ! We visited Sinharaja with Sunil, he is a famous bird guide in the area and we weren't disappointed by his eye for wildlife. He is incredible ! His knowledge and understanding of the bird sounds is crazy. We walked for about 14 kms and saw many lizards, snakes, birds, dragonflies, butterflies and monkeys. We shared a lovely time together, being connected with nature and wildlife. We really recommend this place for those who love wildlife. Thank you so much for our stay !

Very happy with our stay here. This is a family-run lodge so it's not super fancy, but the hosts make you feel so welcome especially by cooking so so many dishes for breakfast and dinner. Easily the best home cooking I've had in Sri Lanka. The hosts are super nice, and the room has an amazing view on the river edge (as per the name), and you can swim in the river, which is nice. It is a close walk to Doranella entrance and the location is secluded from the main roads and village so it's great if you're looking for more privacy.

Very friendly and helpful! Thank you very much:)

You have to leave your car on a parking spot from where you're transfered few kms by a jeep. We haven't had any issues with the natural noise of waterfall and felt asleep as soon as our heads touched pillows. The house is simple yet comfortable. The hot water might have been a bit hotter though. Breakfast and dinner were fine. People working there are nice and friendly.

If we could give it an 11 we would! One of the best places we have been! Peaceful and clean with amazing views right next to Sinharaja rainforest. Our hosts were just amazing - super helpful, respectful of privacy, delicious home cooked meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and really insightful (we recommend doing ALL the tours). We left feeling like part of their family! Thanks for having us!

Where to even begin? Excellence truly sums up our stay here – easily the best accommodation of our entire Sri Lanka trip. The homestay is perfectly located on the edge of the rainforest, surrounded by beautiful, wild nature. Everything about the property feels brand new. Hemal and his family have clearly put an enormous amount of effort and care into building and maintaining the place – it is absolutely spotless. While the homestay itself already stands out, what truly made our experience exceptional was Hemal and his wonderful family. Hemal is also an outstanding guide in the Sinharaja Forest, and we joined him for both the night tour and a medium-level trek. He is extremely knowledgeable, and thanks to him we managed to spot every animal we were hoping to see. He was incredibly patient with our frequent photo stops and even has a real talent for photography himself. After returning from the tours, Hemal always made sure we had fresh drinks waiting for us. His wife is a fantastic cook – breakfast was generous, delicious, and prepared with fresh ingredients, and dinner was equally amazing. Even after our stay, Hemal continued to give us helpful tips and helped arrange a safari for us a few days later with a fantastic, knowledgeable local driver.

During our three unforgettable weeks in Sri Lanka, this was undoubtedly THE best place we stayed. Everything about it was flawless, but what made it truly stand out was the magical setting. Nestled amidst lush greenery, the villa offers an unparalleled connection to nature – you genuinely feel like you’re immersed in the rainforest, which isn’t surprising given that the stunning Sinharaja Forest Reserve is just moments away. The views are absolutely breathtaking. Whether you’re lounging by the serene pool or relaxing on your private balcony, the vistas are like nothing I’ve experienced before – vibrant, tranquil, and endlessly captivating. The villa itself is equally impressive, with a warm wooden chalet vibe. It was spacious, impeccably clean, and thoughtfully equipped with all the amenities you’d need, including a fridge, plenty of sockets, and cosy furnishings. It felt like a luxurious home away from home. The attention to detail here was exceptional. Having stayed in several five-star hotels, I can confidently say this villa meets, if not exceeds, that standard. The staff deserve special mention – they were incredibly friendly, attentive, and genuinely seemed to care about making our stay perfect. Nothing was too much trouble. They arranged everything for us, from TukTuks to local tours, and even went above and beyond to make my 30th birthday celebration extra special, complete with personalised touches. The pool was another highlight – beautifully maintained, it was the ideal spot to unwind after a day of exploring. And the food? Simply sublime. Dining in their charming greenhouse-style restaurant, surrounded by the garden’s lush greenery, was an experience in itself. Each meal was a delight, made even better by the panoramic views. In short, everything about this place was exceptional. If you’re looking for a blend of luxury, nature, and outstanding hospitality, this is it. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

If you are looking for a quiet and cozy retreat right at the edge of the Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve, this is the place for you! You can literally watch wildlife, like the purple faced Monkey, white Monkeys and countless birds - right from the balcony. While the lodge is simple, it has everything that is needed for a simple stay. It offers a spacious bathroom with warm water shower, a big bed plus a third smaller one. Everything is held clean upon request by the owners, including a laundry service. The owners deserve a special mention! Such friendly, helpful and welcoming people. Often times we felt like part of a family instead of just customers. The food (traditional Sri Lankan cuisine or western cuisine) is delicious and prepared and presented with love. The owners also take “special requests” if you want to dive deeper into Sri Lankan cuisine, like Kithul Raa (Sweet Palm Wine), home grown Manioka Mallum (Cassava root with Coconut) and probably much more. Another special praise we want to give is to Ruan, a guide provided by the owners, for visiting Sinharaja protected area. While his price might seem rather high, it is totally worth it. He has deep knowledge and can show you some secrets of the forest. And did I mention that the rental price is more than reasonable? All in all, we were 100% happy with our stay at Sunshine Forest Lodge, would love to visit again and would recommend a stay to everyone visiting the area.