A world untouched by Western hand and a ‘sanctuary’ never forgotten and often revisited. Located 2 hours from the airport and Kandy,  bordering the Western Province and Hill Country, Ulpotha has been a pilgrimage site for thousands of years and remains a traditional working village cradled on one side by a striking mountain range and a lake and on the other by tiny emerald green paddy fields.

Funded by the East Pole Foundation, partners Giles and Viren have renovated the original manor house and expanded the adobe housing to accomodate up to 19 guests.

Daily yoga classes and ayurvedic treatments from century old principles are all included in the cost of your stay to practise or admire. Two week holidays are scheduled to combine natural living with low key party life, and guests are encouraged to join ‘like minded’ explorers.

Swim in the lily carpeted lake, paint your thoughts with canvas and oil, or just relax in cushioned pavilions or the numerous hideaways on the 22-acre organic estate. Evenings are flame lit gatherings, for delicious yet vegetarian dishes and impromptu house parties or private hut solitude.

Peace, karma and friendship can be discovered by all.

Ulpotha is open approximately 20 weeks of the year, Nov to April and just 6 weeks of June-July’s dry zone. Nov/Dec can have rain at night, Jan-Mar + June – perfect climate, Mar-May very hot and dry. The land and people then recharge for the next harvest.

Life at Ulpotha

Remote from shops and towns, Ulpotha is extremely laid back. No rules beyond a mutual respect for the local community.

Yoga

Experienced teachers join Ulpotha to teach varying levels of yoga. Hatha, Sirananda, Iyengar and Astanga yoga are most common and teachers adopt varying schedules, eg. one class/day, two classes, split level classes, some including early morning walks and classes in the hills. Power yoga enthusiasts should adjust or talk to the teachers before booking to avoid disappointment.

The yoga pavilion is large and open-air with wooden flooring. Guests should bring their own yoga mat. Cool linens and sarongs are usual attire.

The ‘Wedegedera’ – Treatment Centre, has practices more ancient than ayurvedic medicine records. Passed through centuries of families, the resident Doctors and therapists work their magic on your body to purity. All the oils/herbs sit in the temple for some time before use.

 Some detoxifying ayurvedic treatments can make you feel unwell for 24hrs and exhaust the body. Spa treatments and massages can be less intense. Mud huts, closet steam baths, temples to purify the oils, treatment tables etc. The central courtyard well provides blessed water and corner screens hide caldrons – the source of hot water showers!

The ants love this environment so beware of nests.

Buddhist monks in the hillside temple welcome meditators. Learn through example as English is not spoken.

The Environment

Twenty Two acres of land has been replanted to create a ‘Garden of Eden’. Mudiyanse Tennekoon, the farming genius of the project has echoed nature in his planting. Lush tropical trees and shrubs create a colourful array which changes with the seasons. Jasmine scents the hills, red hibiscus line the pathways, fruits of the season colour branches and Haliconia hang like fantasy claws.

Pollinators, insect repellent sunflowers and wildlife habitats have been created to provide easy living for humans and wildlife alike.  Cleared paths and bridges link lakes, rocks (gala), farmland and relaxation huts. Foxes, deer and wild elephants are known to visit by the lake, especially in the quiet of the night. Twitchers will delight at the bird life – kingfishers, sea eagles and mountain hawks sweep in on their prey. Large vibrant butterflies float by day whilst fire flies dance by night.

Farming is traditional-  bullock drawn carts and rice threshed by candle light under buffalo hooves.

Relax in the abundant hammocks and hanging beds around the estate.  A stable of bikes is shared amongst the community to reach farmland, the hills or local tailor. Some of the tracks can be heavy going because they are poorly maintained dirt roads and paths, this can however, add to the excitment for the more adventurous.

Evening time fun is optional. Sporadically, Giles, the thirty something business partner of Ulpotha or a comical guest instigates a house party in the lounge.  Upali and his friends create music. Arrack flows and everyone dances into the early hours – CD’s assisted by car batteries take over as bongo’s tire.

The local community embraces visitors but family time should be respected at key times of the day.