Ulpotha (meaning `water spring, named after the numerous underground springs throughout the land on which it is located) is not a hotel: it is an experience of Sri Lankas traditional lifestyle of a `balanced existence, a balance which is attained through ones relationship to family, community, nature, and the spiritual world, as well as ones outlook towards work - which needs to be a lifestyle that is practiced with pleasure rather than as labour - and an appreciation for the need for adequate rest to ensure an unhurried lifestyle all of which ensures healthy living. Thus, Ulpotha is about experiencing a relaxed and contented lifestyle that is still practiced in many of Sri Lankas rural villages, areas where so called `economic progress hasnt completely overtaken this lifestyle of a balanced existence. Surrounded by low mountains, a lotus-ringed lake, and green paddy fields, Ulpotha is a place of total peace and tranquility where one lives among trees, sunflowers, marigolds and vegetable patches, in simply furnished wattle and daub houses with roofs thatched with woven coconut palm leaves. This eco-retreat, hidden away in the heart of the Cultural Triangle close to Anuradhapura, is situated on land that is rich with potent therapeutic medicinal herbs, which are used for specific Ayurveda treatments.

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Accommodation
Ulpotha has no large concrete buildings, electricity, phones, television or radio. Instead, visitors stay in wattle and daub huts within this village and eat traditional Sri Lankan food cooked in clay pots over a hearth. Rooms have oil lamps, spring water in a pot to drink, and mosquito nets covering the beds.  There are also bedrooms, a modern kitchen and an office in the main `Walauwa, a restored manor house with its courtyard, verandah and bedroom walls drenched in vibrant hues.

Facilities
A central `Ambalama (an open-sided pavilion for relaxing and eating) provides the sprawling property with a central focus for both relaxation during the day and eating in the evenings. .   Yoga classes are conducted in an open sided building with a leaf-thatched roof or in the cool shade of a Banyan tree. There are 13 fortnightly courses planned each year.  In addition, Ulpotha is a particularly suitable place in which to undergo Ayurvedic treatment as the food and the environment will complement the therapies and serve to underscore the holistic approach of Ayurveda itself.  Ulpotha is open for 13 fortnightly periods between June and August and also from November to March. Between these periods Ulpotha is closed to allow the village time to revert to its natural state between visits. There is a maximum of only 19 places for guests per holiday. Guests are encouraged to visit Ulpotha for a whole fortnight with bookings running from Sunday to Sunday. Short stays are available on request subject to availability.

Excursions
Ulpotha is a traditional working village that focuses on the restoration of an ageless agricultural way of life; it is a community where travelers can experience the warm and generous hospitality that Sri Lankans are known for. You can swim in a lake strewn with water lilies, go on nature walks in the woods and the hills, cycle, boat, and dance to the rhythm of the village music - all special experiences of this lifestyle.