overview
In the jungle heartland of Sri Lanka, sits Ulpotha, a remote retreat offering traditional Ayurveda healing and world-class yoga in the tranquil Galgiriyawa mountains. The wellness sanctuary is open seven months a year, with the rest of the year being closed to fulfill the property's self-sustaining village and eco-ethos. Retreats are held every two weeks, starting and finishing on Sundays with a minimum stay of one week. The all-inclusive rural retreat strips living back to bare essentials so guests can truly embrace the beauty of the natural landscapes.
Ulpotha is open from June to August | November to March and is closed from April to May | September to October
Image credit to ©Ulpotha
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- Accommodation
- Food
- Things To Do
There are 11 guest huts in Ulpotha, 10 of which are for two guests and one for three. All of them are built using traditional wattle and daub and feature comfortable beds, excellent mosquito nets, fresh water, towels and a sarong to wear and take home.
The huts are of an open, airy design that facilitates the sense of being one with nature. Twice a year, each hut is hand painted using different coloured clays, where no designs are ever repeated. Much use has been made of clay, stone, wood, pottery and fabrics that reflect traditional village practices and aesthetics. With one or two exceptions, Ulpotha adheres to the Sri Lankan village tradition of keeping toilet spaces separate from living spaces. The enchanting showers are open to the stars and the toilets are modern.
All the huts at Ulpotha are allocated on a twin share basis. By design there is no electricity in Ulpotha and life is lived by the rhythm of the day. Paths and accommodation are lit by lamps and lanterns with the twinkling firelight creating a captivating and romantic sense of times gone by.
Guests will stay in twin sharing rooms, which is included in the cost of the programme.
Ulpotha supports yogic lifestyle practices so it serves traditional Ayurvedic vegetarian cuisine. Most of the ingredients of Ulpotha’s healthy menu are harvested from the retreat’s bio-diverse organic farm. Much of their produce is sourced here, including organic tropical fruits, vegetables and red rice.
The menu is wheat-free and vegan-friendly, although special diets cannot be catered for. Since there is no electricity at Ulpotha, all food is cooked fresh on open fires. Breakfast generally consists of herbal teas, fresh fruit, fresh coconut water and Sri Lankan herbal rice porridge, while lunch and dinner include a wide selection of vegetarian dishes, salads, curd, fresh juices and fruits. Ulpotha also its own cookbook, A Kitchen in Paradise, so guests can replicate retreat recipes at home.
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Spa Treatments
- Explore surrounding area on bicycles
- See local wildlife
payment policy
- Payment is inclusive of tax
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location
7.907945, 80.365928 Embogama, 60718
Ulpotha is a traditional working village in Sri Lanka cradled on the one side by low mountains and a lotus-ringed lake and on the other by tiny emerald green paddy fields. Ulpotha’s focus is on the restoration of an ageless agricultural way of life and creating an idyllic environment for Yoga and Ayurveda retreats. This includes biodiverse organic farming and reforestation of the land and its immediate surroundings. Ulpotha is about a four-hour drive from the airport.
Ulpotha Village, Dambulla, Sri Lanka
