ULPOTHA

To really get a feel for a country and to meet her real people it is said to be necessary to travel to her heart, to where the true spirit lies deep in her interior. Sri Lanka is no different. Ulpotha (natural spring) is an isolated village set in 22 acres of rural Sri Lanka and lies in the cultural triangle. Locals believe it is built on sacred ground and an ancient elephant trail runs through it. A Buddhist temple watches over the village from the head of the valley above a 'picture perfect' lake that nourishes the vegetation and paddy fields, as well as providing one of the most idyllic swimming pools you can find. The village is built around the main stone house (walauwa) and consists of several carefully designed freestanding wattle and daub mud huts. Each hut has a wooden frame roof and is thickly layered with Cajun grass thatching. Unlike a hotel that tries to recreate the feel of a village, Ulpotha is an authentic one. The village is a self-sustaining community with a population of over 30.

If you have ever read about the warmth of the local people from this island paradise it may well have been the people of Ulpotha that inspired the words.There are no cars; no TVs; no phones; no faxes; in fact by design there is no electricity at all. Hundreds of flares, candles, and oil lamps light up the whole village at night. A traditional Ayuverdic centre is part of the village and is there for you to indulge in herbal steams baths, oil applications, and herbal treatment. There are also European masseurs / masseuses to provide additional pampering, all of which is included in the price.

"What strikes you when you first arrive in Ulpotha is the physical beauty of the place as well as its extraordinary tranquillity.." Resurgence Magazine. Ulpotha has evolved to serve you as a complete oasis from the outside world and now that you can rent the whole village it offers you with one of the most unique villas in the world.
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Location
Resting in the cultural triangle Ulpotha is within a couple of hours drive of the major ancient cities and about 3 hours from the airport.

Sitting area
From sunrise to sunset there are several places to sit. Perched on the roof of the surrounding countryside Uncle Willie's rock (named after the owner's Uncle) is the perfect place to start the day. Catch the warmth and power of the sun as it rises and casts its golden rays over the vast countryside all around you. Throughout the rest of the day drift on a dugout on the lake or rock like a baby on one of the many hammocks placed around the village. The main sitting area is an open sided ambalamba (meeting area) with a platform running on 3 sides that is covered with colourful comfortable cushions.

Dining area
2 meals a day (midday and early evening) are served in the ambalamba whilst breakfast is available in a hut near the entrance to the village. True to the authenticity of the village knives and forks whilst provided, are optional.

Meals
All meals are included in the price. Breakfast is taken as and when you feel like it in the breakfast hut where one of the villagers will provide you with local delicacies. At around midday brunch is served and dinner appears just after dusk. All the food is grown on the land and you dine on excellent local organic vegetarian cuisine cooked on wood burning fires. " I was totally overwhelmed by the variety and sophistication of the meals, mixing bizarre salad leaves with spiced vegetables dishes, coconut sauces, various types of rices, pulses, juices, fruit bowls and herbal drinks" Financial Times.

Kitchen / Staff
There is a small kitchen in the house with a gas stove in which you can make tea / coffee as you like. The meals are prepared in the village kitchen lying in a purpose built hut. Calm noises and delicious smells seem to emanate from it all day. There are no staff as such at Ulpotha but over 30 villagers eager to offer you a truly memorable stay. Suffice to say you do not have to do, or think of, anything.

Area
Ulpotha is situated in one of the oldest inhabited parts of Sri Lanka and is within a 2-3 hour drive of most of the cultural triangle sites. There are also fascinating sites 'off the beaten track' closer to Ulpotha such as at Arankella (1 1/2 hours away) said to be the last place in SL that a Buddhist monk attained enlightenment and has a 'powerful' meditation walk through the jungle. Rather than us write any more we felt it would be better for you to read from those who have already stayed at this unique villa.

No of bedrooms

Sleeps 23. There are 2 double rooms in the main villa and 8 mud huts. You will never have seen mud look so good. Each hut is carefully designed not to intrude on nature and to take full advantage of the views over the jungle and paddy fields. " When we reached the clearing in which my mud hut stood, the dreamlike quality of the place overwhelmed me. As I stepped into the hut between earthenware bowls filled with floating petals, I felt I had arrived at my spiritual home…' Joyce Magazine. Bath / shower rooms One hut has a fabulous ensuite bathroom with outdoor shower, the remainder share outdoor showers. To stand under a shower with water cascading down on you with nothing else between you and the sky is to dream of times when we were 'free'. There is one bathroom in the house.

Pool

"The swimming pool is not the blue tiled chlorinated basin but a fresh water lake fringed with flowering lilies. Swimming below surging hills covered in giant boulders and thick vegetation sparks visions of the Garden of Eden…" Traveller Magazine

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