ULPOTHA: A Utopian Community in Serendib

Text by Daniel B Haber
Photos by Thomas L. Kelly

As the dusk darkened around the yoga pavillion, the teacher's voice gently guided us into various asanas. The muezzin's call to prayer in the distance mingled with the rhythmic chirping of frogs and crickets and the soft twilight cooing of wood doves. After several days of unwinding, unhurried life at Ulpotha, a Sri Lankan retreat dedicated to living in ecological
harmony, it was easy to drop into calmness and concentrate on my breathing............

Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
Ulpotha grows all it's organic food, including paddy. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
Overview of Ullpotha.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
Natural swimming pond above Ulpotha retreat center. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
Bamboo garden, Ulpotha. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Nature walk to Therevadan Buddhist monastery above Ulpotha. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Evening stillness and cold breeze lends itself to soothing meditation on rock outcrops above Ulpotha. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Assana practice on boulder at Ulpotha. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Walking paths around Ulpotha but no signposts. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
Guest accomadation offers a natural setting with hand smooted mud clay floors and outside shower. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
Sanctuary in Serendib. Ulpotha.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
With its studied simplicity the Ulpotha sanctuary exudes an atmosphere of peace and relaxation. Inner Courtyard. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
Accomodation is in traditional, adobe-style mud huts an dguests spend their time in meditation and message session. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
Accomodation is in traditional adobe-style mud huts and guests spend their time in meditation and message session. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Accomodation is in traditional adobe-style mud huts and guests spend their time in meditation and message session. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Ayurvedic massage oil is produced at Ulpotha and applied on guests by professional masseurs. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Ayuvedis massage to the nose eye socket region relieves pressure. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
With feet soaking in soothing spikanard herbal bath, legs are massaged. Ulpothaa, Sri Lanka
Ayurvedic massage oil is produced at Ulpotha and applied on guests by professional masseurs. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
With its studied simplicity, the Ulpotha sanctuary exudes an atmosphere of peace and relaxation. Ulpotha main courtyard building. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Fresh flowers are gathered daily and grace the interior space at Ulpotha. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Resting posture, known as "shavassana" after yoga practice. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Accomodation is in traditional adobe-style mud huts. Ulpotha, Sri lanka.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
Guests dine on a pure vegetarian meal in an open air gazebo. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
The food is vegetarian and grown on the estate. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.
Seeking Sanctuary in Serendib-Ulpotha
Ulpotha produces it's own ayurveda oil from squeezed nut. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka.

Thomas L. Kelly Photography

ULPOTHA: A Utopian Community in Serendib