HotelChatter

Eco-Hotels / → All Tags

Eco-Luxury in Mud Huts at Galapita, Sri Lanka

Where: Galapita, Sri Lanka

With the late 2004 tsunami in Asia starting to fade in our memories, this week's UK Guardian lodge review brings it up again, with a reminder that we should support locally owned and run accommodation if we travel to Sri Lanka.

In particular, writer Richard Hammond highlights the Galapita Eco Lodge in the jungle heart of Sri Lanka, ranked amongst the ten best eco-lodges in the world, according to the owners. Tree houses and mud huts form the accommodation here, right next to a natural outdoor spa and close to a national park where elephant-viewing is possible. Herbal baths and massages are available at the lodge, along with freshly-caught seafood meals. Or the sweet story of Galapita's development might be reason enough to visit:

When two friends, on a pilgrimage to the sacred site of Kataragama, went exploring off the beaten track in south-east Sri Lanka, they discovered two large rocks with a natural pool and a waterfall on the banks of the Gem River - and Galapita on a rock was born. They began by visiting, sleeping on mats under the stars. Eventually they built a hut so thier families could join them for weekends. Then they rebuilt it bigger and better, so that friends could join them for weekend escapes.

And now it's an eco lodge for normal people like you and me to drop by. Plus you can feel like you're helping the local economy.

Related Stories:
· Galapita Eco Lodge [TripAdvisor]
· Clean Break [Guardian UK]