Junglevista Backpackers is a wonderfully backpacker-y hostel in a setting of trees and rice fields, with a very outdoorsy, Swiss-Family-Robinson feel.
The Location
This hostel is a little out of the action, located in Inamaluwa instead of Sigiriya itself, which has only a couple of shops and veg stalls nearby (hence the in-house cafe). To get there, you'll need first to get a bus to Dambulla, then get on the bus to Sigiriya -- these run hourly. Alternatively you can take a tuk tuk from Dambulla. The hostel is located up a dirt road opposite the road leading into Sigiriya. It's a beautiful, although inconvenient, location. You can take a walk around the area and discover a few lakes and many rice fields.
Rooms and Bathrooms
You have the choice of several room types -- there's an actual dorm room with en suite, a large open-air terrace with random single/double beds on it, an open-air private double room on the terrace, a large teepee (for six or seven people), a small teepee (for four or five people), plus three different privates with en suite (one of which has air conditioning). The rooms are all different and at different levels of luxury, but for the ultimate backpacker experience, the "random bed" option is wonderful. It's located on a terrace with an open side to the view of the jungle and a nice breeze. All beds have mosquito nets, which is quite necessary in this location, but the mattresses are thin and not terribly comfortable. There are various multi-plugs around the terrace but nothing for each individual bed. The real dorm room is without mosquito nets and can get a little stuffy.
The shared bathrooms are just two toilet/shower cubicles among the approximate twenty-five beds. They have a toiletry shelf and towel rail in each and the water gets hot but has low pressure. They are cleaned daily, but as they are quite open air, ofttimes they'll be strewn with leaves from windblown trees, plus are home to ants and other such insects, so the same goes for the whole terrace. The whole of the terrace has the feel of camping rather than hostel dorm, but that adds to its charm.
Common Spaces
The main common space is the cafe, which has a long table with stools, plus lounger chairs dotted around the edges looking out into the gardens. In the cafe there is a small book exchange, cards, chess, and guitar and ukulele. There are many other chairs and hammocks around the hostel, plus in the garden there is a little workout zone and treehouse. There is also a yoga shala where they run two classes daily.
There's free breakfast of toast, fruit and tea, plus you can order eggs or pancakes for an additional fee from the in-house cafe. Other food, dessert, and drinks can be ordered from here anytime, plus there's organised group meals every lunch and dinner time. You sign up on the board to join the group meals. Cooking for yourself is not possible here, making it a little tricky for budget travelers.
There is also an activity board with many options to join trips such as an elephant safari, group trips to climb the famous Lion's Rock, yoga classes, and much more. There's Wi-Fi throughout the property and it is possible to do laundry.
Everything you owe is collected in a book over your stay and everything, including your accommodation cost, is paid upon checkout.
The vibe is very cool, social, friendly, and chill. The guests are real backpacker types, and even in low season this place is guaranteed to be busy because it's so unusual.
Summary
This is one of the quirkiest and coolest hostels we have ever stayed at -- it's a real gem. It's a little expensive considering the lack of facilities, but worth the price for the experience it delivers. It's a must-stay for nature lovers, but expect to spend a little extra here, as nothing is for free.
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Sadly, this hostel has closed.
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How is Junglevista Backpackers rated?
Junglevista Backpackers Reviews
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+3
Looci
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on Sep 22, 2018
Location and Contact
Location
• From Colombo, Kandy or Dambulla, take a bus to Trincomale, Polonaruwa or Kaduruwela and get down at Inamaluwa Junction. From Colombo it should take you 4:30 hours and cost you around 350 LKR. From Kandy it should take you 2:00 hours and cost you 150 LKR. And from Dambulla, 20 minutes and 30 LKR.
• From Dambulla you have two options:
• Take a tuk tuk to the hostel. It should cost 700RS.
• Take a local bus Sigiriya or Trincomalee and ask the driver to drop you off at the Inamaluwa Junction. From there look for a sign for Jungle Vista and walk 5 min towards the hostel.
Facilities and Amenities
Party Hostel
Solo Traveller
Breakfast
Parking
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Airport Pickup
Bike Rental
Lockers in Lobby
Luggage Storage
Towels
BBQ Grill
Bar
Board Games
Currency Exchange
Food/Restaurant
Gameroom
Hot Showers
Laundry
Lounge Area
Credit Card Payments
Curfew: No Curfew
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