Your stay — Sunny Side Family Cottages
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The Property — Sunny Side Family Cottages
Sunny Side Family Cottages is a modest 3-star property on the outskirts of Badulla, set among tea shrubs and fruit trees rather than a formal lobby. It’s a plain, functional base for families or groups who need space and kitchenette facilities, not style or service. The USP is its location for exploring the Ella Gap or Horton Plains without paying Ella’s premium prices.
Chronicles of Badulla
Badulla grew as a colonial administrative and tea-export centre under British rule in the 19th century, with a grid of roads and substantial public buildings. Its architectural story is written in red-brick post offices, courthouses and railway stations, many still in daily use. Today it is the capital of Uva Province, a transport hub and a quiet market town. Culturally, it is home to the Kataragama Devale and a multi-ethnic mix of Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities, giving it a low-key, workaday character quite distinct from the tourist-focused hill stations nearby.
Best Time to Visit
Full Badulla guide →Best months
January–March offer clear skies and moderate temperatures (18–28°C), with green hills from the recent rains. October is also good, after the southwest monsoon.
Peak / festival surge
August is busiest due to the Esala Perahera in Kandy and local holidays, pushing up Badulla hotel prices by 20–30%. Visitors also pass through for hikes to Adam’s Peak in season (December–May).
Budget shoulder season
April and November are shoulder months: the former can be humid before the rains, the latter sees the end of the northeast monsoon. Discounts of 15–20% are common, and crowds are thin.
Weather & packing
Badulla sits at about 700m, so evenings cool down to 15°C even in July. Pack a lightweight fleece, a waterproof jacket, and sturdy walking shoes: afternoons often bring a short, drenching downpour.
Live City Briefing — Badulla
- The Badulla–Kandy A1 highway is undergoing resurfacing between Hali Ela and Mahiyanganaya; expect delays of 30–60 minutes.
- A new craft market has opened at the Badulla Clock Tower, selling local tea, spices and textiles, open Fridays and Saturdays.
- Train services on the Badulla–Colombo line are fully restored after 2023 track upgrades; book Second Class or Observation Car for the scenic ride.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Sunny Side Family Cottages, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (ground floor plus one up) overlooking the garden or rear courtyard. These rooms are furthest from the street and get morning light without the heat of the upper floor.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room facing the main road (Badulla town centre traffic can be loud from early morning) and the ground-floor rooms next to the reception or kitchen, which pick up clatter and staff noise until late.
Best views
Garden-facing rooms on the first floor offer a green outlook onto the cottage grounds and maybe a glimpse of the distant Ella Gap hills, depending on the tree line.
Quietest floors
First floor (rooms numbered 101–110) tends to be quietest — above ground-level bustle but below the second floor which can be hotter and noisier if the roof is tin.
🔊 Noise notes
Badulla town is a regional transport hub — expect tuk-tuk and bus horns from about 6am to 9pm on the main road. The hotel’s own dining room and kitchen generate clatter from 7–10am and 6–9pm.
Insider tips
1. If you're driving, park at the back of the lot (near the garden path) to avoid having your car blocked in by later arrivals. 2. Check in before 2pm to snag a first-floor garden room — the front desk doesn’t always hold them for online bookings, and they fill first with walk-ins.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Sunny Side Family Cottages
Free WiFi with adequate speed for browsing; requires room number and name upon login; no paid upgrade available
No lift; all rooms on ground floor, no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand or physical papers; property is a modern single-storey building with no heritage quirks
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00; late check-out until 14:00 for LKR 2,000 (subject to availability)
Free of charge at reception, locked storage room available
Step-free access to reception and all cottages; wide doorways and roll-in showers in two accessible rooms; no structural limitations
Free on-site parking for up to 10 cars; nearest public car park is at Badulla Clock Tower, 500 m away, LKR 100 per hour; EV charging not available
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no additional city tax or resort fee per night)
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required at booking; incidental hold of LKR 5,000 at check-in via card or cash
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Use ATMs from major banks like Commercial Bank or HNB; avoid airport and tourist bureau exchanges for poor rates.
Cards accepted at larger hotels and shops, but cash is king for small vendors and local transport.
Not expected but appreciated; round up taxi fares, leave 5-10% at nicer restaurants, and tip porters 100-200 LKR.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Plain tea or local coffee at a roadside stall: 30-50 LKR.
Rice and curry at a local eatery: 300-500 LKR.
Kottu roti or fried rice at a small restaurant: 400-600 LKR.
Look for evening stalls near the Badulla bus stand or main market for samosas, vadai, and roti.
Cargills Food City or Keells Super are the main budget supermarket chains in Badulla.
Badulla town market offers cheap local clothing and textiles; bargain hard.
Local bus (20-50 LKR per short ride) is cheapest; from Colombo airport take a train to Badulla (around 500-1000 LKR, scenic route) or shared minibus.
Eat where locals queue; use public bus for all short hops; buy fruit and snacks at the market instead of hotel shops.
Emergency Contacts
BadullaWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Badulla, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Sunny Side Family Cottages
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Colombo Fort Station → Badulla Railway Station
💡 Book 1st class observation car 2–3 weeks ahead via 12Go.asia. Left-side seats give the best views of tea plantations past Hatton.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) → Golden Rock Guest Inn, Badulla
💡 Pre-book with the guest inn for a fixed rate. Drivers often take the Hill Road through Nuwara Eliya — ask to stop at Ramboda Falls for a quick photo.
Badulla Railway Station → Golden Rock Guest Inn
💡 Agree the fare before getting in. 200 LKR is standard — drivers might ask 500. Walk 5 mins uphill if you have light luggage.
Kandy Central Bus Stand → Badulla Bus Station
💡 Take an express bus (white with red stripe) — regular ones stop at every village. Sit on the left side for Demodara loop views.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Sunny Side Family Cottages?
Request a room on the first floor (ground floor plus one up) overlooking the garden or rear courtyard. These rooms are furthest from the street and get morning light without the heat of the upper floor.
Which rooms should I avoid at Sunny Side Family Cottages?
Avoid any room facing the main road (Badulla town centre traffic can be loud from early morning) and the ground-floor rooms next to the reception or kitchen, which pick up clatter and staff noise until late.
Is Sunny Side Family Cottages noisy?
Badulla town is a regional transport hub — expect tuk-tuk and bus horns from about 6am to 9pm on the main road. The hotel’s own dining room and kitchen generate clatter from 7–10am and 6–9pm.
Which rooms have the best views at Sunny Side Family Cottages?
Garden-facing rooms on the first floor offer a green outlook onto the cottage grounds and maybe a glimpse of the distant Ella Gap hills, depending on the tree line.
What are insider tips for staying at Sunny Side Family Cottages?
1. If you're driving, park at the back of the lot (near the garden path) to avoid having your car blocked in by later arrivals. 2. Check in before 2pm to snag a first-floor garden room — the front desk doesn’t always hold them for online bookings, and they fill first with walk-ins.
What time is check-in at Sunny Side Family Cottages?
Check-in at Sunny Side Family Cottages is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Sunny Side Family Cottages have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi with adequate speed for browsing; requires room number and name upon login; no paid upgrade available
Is there a city or tourist tax at Sunny Side Family Cottages?
None (no additional city tax or resort fee per night)
Where can I eat cheaply near Sunny Side Family Cottages?
Rice and curry at a local eatery: 300-500 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Sunny Side Family Cottages?
Local bus (20-50 LKR per short ride) is cheapest; from Colombo airport take a train to Badulla (around 500-1000 LKR, scenic route) or shared minibus.
When is the best time to visit Badulla?
January–March offer clear skies and moderate temperatures (18–28°C), with green hills from the recent rains. October is also good, after the southwest monsoon.
Top Attractions in Badulla
💡 Remove shoes before entering the temple area. You can offer flowers or incense at the main shrine for 20–50 LKR. Expect monks to be chanting around 5pm.
💡 Arrive around 10am to see the morning express depart. The ticket counter sells platform tickets for 10 LKR if you want to walk the full length. There's a small tea stall on platform 1.
💡 Visit during evening aarti (around 6pm) for the full ritual with bells and lamps. No photography inside the inner sanctum. Women should cover shoulders and knees.
💡 Visit late afternoon when the light hits the white stone. The surrounding street food stalls start setting up then.
💡 Go early morning (before 9am) to avoid crowds and get the best light. Wear non-slip shoes; the steps get slippery. No entry fee, but parking costs 50 LKR.