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| ethical accommodation |
ulpotha yoga retreat
Ulpotha
is a discovery - it tells you things you simply cannot hear from a distance...
description
Rebuilt on the layout of a deserted traditional village,
Ulpotha covers a 20 acre site situated at the base of the Galgiriyawa
Mountains in the jungle heartland of Old Ceylon.
Ulpotha literally translates as water
source, referring to the springs feeding the system of five ancient
reservoirs that irrigate the surrounding watershed. The
property is a beautiful private hideaway open to guests for part of the
year; a place of total peace, where you can experience the warm, generous
and gentle hospitality Sri Lankans love to offer.
In this sense, Ulpotha is not a hotel and does not aspire to be
one. This
oasis of tranquility is a traditional working village cradled on one side
by low mountains and a lotus ringed lake, and on the other by emerald
green paddy fields. The
bio-diversity of Ulpotha is extraordinary, with flora, fauna and bird life
of dazzling variety. Animal
life is equally varied, with even wild (but gentle) elephants visiting
from time to time. Guests
who come to Ulpotha will find a natural sanctuary of exceptional beauty,
where the main activity is simply relaxing in its remarkable atmosphere of
peace and calm while indulging in feasts of exquisite organic cuisine. However
for those more purposeful in nature, Yoga and Ayurveda therapies are
available, as are excursions to surrounding sites of archeological
interest. The yoga classes are led by some of the world's leading
Yoga teachers, while the Ayurveda is administered by an acclaimed resident
doctor. "Ulpotha
remains for me the most beautiful spot in this whole complex world that I
am lucky enough to travel around."
- Travel
Editor, Harpers & Queen.
accommodation: At the centre of the village is the Walauwwa, the traditional main house now restored around a central stone courtyard with an ancient well. The adjoining Ambalama, an open sided pavilion, provides a covered sitting area with mats, cushions, and beautiful views towards the surrounding hills and which is where meals are served. Accommodation is provided in exquisitely but simply detailed wattle and daub huts. These are built using traditional methods and materials, and consist of open sleeping/living areas covered with a pitched roof of thatched palm fronds. Each accommodates two people. Much
use has been made of clay, stone, wood, pottery and fabrics which reflect
traditional village aesthetics. By
design there is no electricity and life is lived by the rhythm of the day. Though
the loos [toilets] are modern and clean and the showers are open-air, they
are not en-suite in keeping with traditional village practice. meals:
Local village life is based on a vegetarian tradition, with the
staple diet centered on highly nutritious strains of red rice.
Meals are cooked in clay pots over open fires and are produced from
the organic crops grown in Ulpotha. Vegetables,
yams and melons fill the gardens, along with mature banana, mango, papaya,
jack and breadfruit trees. All meals are cooked in the indigenous style featuring rice, curries, salads, buffalo curd, local savories and sweets and, of course, fruits.
eco
policies: Ulpotha uses natural materials for all its
buildings, while following organic farming practices that follow the lunar
cycle and use no mechanical means. All
crops are hand planted and harvested, while the fields are ploughed and
the rice is threshed by buffalo. However,
the most fundamental of Ulpotha’s environmental policies is to limit the
number of guests it accepts (no more than 19 paying guests at a time) and
to do so for a limited period in any given year (a maximum of 26 weeks).
Though
there is no electricity, light is provided by flares, lamps and lanterns,
lending Ulpotha an ethereal quality at night.
Similarly there are no fridges either, since they were deemed by
one of the founders of Ulpotha as little more than a means of eating
un-fresh food.
community:
In Ulpotha, the villagers who live and work there are part and
parcel of the experience enjoyed by guests.
Though they have deliberately not been given any training in any
aspect of hotel-type service, they are gracious, hospitable and a lot of
fun. Ulpotha
is largely run by the villagers themselves.
facilities: There is a treatment centre where one can have complete Ayurveda treatments administered by Ulpotha’s resident doctor. Proceeds from these go towards funding Ulpotha’s newly created Free Clinic for the surrounding local villages. There is also Yoga available twice a day taught by some of the world’s leading Yoga teachers. In addition, one can go for walks in the mountains, swim in the lake, participate in meditation and Pranayama sessions, go bird watching, have massages with our visiting massage therapists, indulge in herbal steam baths and saunas, or go on excursions to some of the many intriguing cultural sites that surround Ulpotha. Alternatively, one can do what Ulpotha is most amenable to – relax and hang out in one of the many hammocks and hanging beds that dot the grounds or in our lovely tree-house or lake huts.
location: Galgiriyawa, North-Central Plain of Sri Lanka.
pricing:
£650.00
per Person/week. Specialised
Ayurvedic programmes are available from 1-week treatments to 4-week
treatments. These can be pre-booked for an additional cost. Single
Supplement: £250 Per Person Per Week (Not available at Peak Time) Holiday
Cost Peak Time £800 Per Person Per Week - Christmas and New Year Holiday
only Ayurveda
Supplement £200 Per Person Per Week - You can choose from amongst five
treatment length options (contact us for details).
contact details: Contact Sylvie Dusserre; eMail
: www.ulpotha.com Tel: +44 (0)208 123 3603 Please be patient when calling the above number as the connection is routed through to us in Sri lanka at no extra charge to yourself. Sri Lanka is 5 1/2 hours ahead of GMT.
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if you are traveling somewhere remote, or to a country with an unstable political climate, please check the travel advice section first |