Questions and Answers

This page has been compiled by our agents from the typical questions they are asked before guests book their holiday.

For specific Q & A's on our Ayurveda programme click here.

General

I'm travelling alone, will I feel awkward?

No, these holidays are perfect for singles! Ulpotha is also great if you come with friends or as a couple but the overwhelming majority of our guests come alone.

I'm not sure that I fancy sharing with a stranger. Can I have a single room?

All the huts at Ulpotha are allocated on a twin share basis. We will match you up as best we can with another guest. There are places for a maximum of 19 guests at any one time and no single huts are available.

People are surprised to discover that the huts are spacious and airy and that sharing with someone is actually very pleasant. The unusual jungle noises can be bit strange and its quite reassuring to have a companion sharing your space. In any case - you will find that you don't really spend much time in your hut.

Will I be bored?

There always seems something to do if you want to, yet many people discover that the magic of Ulpotha is about finding enjoyment in simply being. Often guests take loads of books and only read a few pages! Your day can be filled with twice daily Yoga classes, treatments, excursions or walks to special sites surrounding Ulpotha. There are always many interesting people to chat to. However, if you want to be alone - it's easy to find a peaceful spot, like a hammock or a tree house.

I've never done any Yoga before. Is this OK?

The teachers at Ulpotha are teaching all levels of experience and ability. Just go at your own pace and remember - that it's a holiday! If you don't feel like going to Yoga classes that's fine. Everything is optional and you do as much or as little as YOU like!

Where is Ulpotha located?

In the heart of Sri Lanka by a lakeside at the foot of the Galgiriyawa mountains - off the beaten track. About 1 hours drive North from Kurunagala or 2 hours Northwest from Kandy.

Where do I fly to?

Colombo airport in Sri Lanka. Direct flights with Sri Lankan Airlines take about 10 hours. Please be aware that departure tends to be the day before arrival and start of the holiday due to time difference and journey time. In order to ensure the best prices on flights we recommend that you book early. We have an updated list of the best travel agents through which to buy your ticket. We also have block booked seats on some of the more popular holidays. Please contact us for details.

How do I get to Ulpotha from the airport?

You will be collected by a driver from Ulpotha. The car journey takes about 3 hours. The airport transfers to Ulpotha are free for those arriving on the designated group flight. This is the direct flight from London Heathrow to Colombo with Sri Lankan Airways, UL506 departing Saturdays approx 15:00, arriving Sundays approx 06:15. The return flight is UL505 on Sundays at approx 06:10, arriving Sundays at approx 13:05. If you are not on this flight, transfers will be arranged separately through us. The cost is about £35 which is paid directly to the driver in Rupees.

Is Sri Lanka a safe country to travel to?

There has been a cease-fire between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan Government since February 2002. Whilst the peace talks have stalled over various issues there appear to be no signs of a return to the previous hostilities that affected large parts of the north and east of the country. Ulpotha is a very safe place well away from former trouble hot spots - which were located in the far North and East coast of the island. The great thing is you don't even need to go into Colombo if you don't want to - the transfer from the airport to Ulpotha avoids the city.

How much money will I need?

Very little! Once you are in Ulpotha everything is included. Around £50 to £100 would be plenty for fees at ancient sites and donations at temples. Bring more if you intend on buying souvenirs etc. Sri Lankan Rupees are best bought at Colombo airport and they are open at all times of the day and night.

Food?

The food at Ulpotha is simply delicious and very healthy. It is almost entirely vegan, naturally wheat free, with an abundance of fresh vegetables, organic red rice and tropical fruit freshly picked from Ulpotha's gardens. A good opportunity to detoxify your system without fuss. Special diets can not be catered for but it is fairly easy to pick and choose depending on your taste from the many dishes served at each meal. If there is anything that you feel that you simply can't do without (coffee, a gin & tonic, chocolate and the like) - we suggest you bring it with you.

What medical precautions do I need to take?

Recommended injections are Tetanus and Polio boosters, Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Your GP or travel centre may also recommend Malaria tablets. However Ulpotha is not a known malarial zone and if you intend to only visit Ulpotha and its surrounding regions then Malaria tablets are not absolutely necessary. Though this is a very personal choice and it is up to the individual to make their own decisions on this matter. Please note that the East Pole Foundation can not be held responsible for medical decisions or conditions.

For those wishing to choose alternative ways Ainsworths Homeopathic Pharmacy are a good quality supplier of Homeopathic remedies inc anti malarial remedy available by mail order, tel 020 7935 5330 or from their London shop.

 Ayurveda

What does an Ayurvedic treatment programme consist of?

All treatments, regardless of the personalized elements of a treatment that stem from a personal consultation, contain preparatory and elimination therapies. The preparatory therapies are the ones everyone likes and most ayurveda is known for - massages, oil applications, steam baths, saunas and herbal baths. Elimination therapies on the other hand, are the ones that some - if not most - people will find a little bit more challenging to accept. They consist of what is more commonly known as panchakarma (ie. the five specialized elimination therapies): emesis (vomiting), purgation, inhalation, enemas and blood-letting.

If a treatment is short in length, say one week or ten days, then you only have enough time for preparatory treatments that would support inhalation as an elimination therapy. If you have two weeks, then you can also undergo purgation. For emesis, enemas and blood-letting you need at least three weeks and ideally four weeks. However, the consultation is critical to determine which of the elimination therapies are required. If someone is particularly weak, then they will be subject to much more of the preparatory treatments and very little of the elimination therapies regardless of how long a program they have chosen. In other words, while you need to be on a long program to get into say emesis or enemas, it's not necessarily the case that you will definitely be subject to them if you choose a three or four week program if the consultation determines otherwise.

For the one week and ten day programs, guests will receive treatments everyday. Each day will consist of roughly two hours of treatments. The two week program will have one or two rest days, the three week will have two or three rest days and the four week will have three or four rest days.

If we take an example of a one week program, the first day will consist of a full head and face and body massage (superficial tissue, or relaxing massage) followed by a herbal bath. Guests will also be given appropriate remedies to take, starting the first day for each day of their treatment - these remedies are meant to facilitate the treatments being received. The second day will consist of intensive, deep tissue body massage (no head and face) followed by a sauna or steam bath. The third day will consist of a relaxing body massage followed by shirodara oil application. The fourth day will consist of an inhalation therapy accompanied by a head and face massage and a face steam. The fifth day will be a sarvangadara oil treatment (from a layman's terms, this is a shirodara but one for the whole body) followed by a steam bath. The sixth day will be a full body massage carried out using poultices made of a special milk rice made using medicinal decoctions followed by a warm water bath. The seventh day is a herbal facial treatment consisting of cleansing scrub, face steam, massage and herbal pack.

What does the day look like for someone who takes the ayurvedic package?

Treatments will typically last for about two hours each day and could be scheduled either in the morning or in the afternoon. They will have the rest of the day to hang out and do other things, including yoga. However the doctor says the more relaxing the yoga the better, which means astanga yoga would be better avoided.

What is the minimum length of treatment in order to receive a beneficial effect?

The one week treatment would be the minimum.

What choices can I make - would it be extreme? Can the treatment be adjusted to my preferences?

The healthier a guest is, the greater the opportunity for flexibility. However, if there is a specific ailment, then the options for flexibility are less if a meaningful result is what is required.

Can the wonderful food in Ulpotha still be enjoyed?

Because of the nature of the food in Ulpotha, chances are that guests can enjoy it all with no restriction. The ones that guests have sometimes been told to avoid is pineapple or curd - but one who is told to avoid one can have the other.

Essentially, ayurveda tries to either increase the healthiness and balance of someone who is healthy and has no specific health issue (prevention), or tries to relieve a specific health problem (cure). If someone is healthy, then the treatments will be more as described above. If someone has a specific health problem, then the chances are greater that their treatment may be different. It may consist of more oral remedies or focus on particular types of therapies (for example, if you have a back ache, your treatments will use more specific types of oleation therapies, where oil applications and massages of different kinds will be used to deliver localized relief together with appropriate oral medicines).

Any more questions?

Do feel free to call or email us:

Email: info@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.

Skype username: ulpothavillage

info@ulpotha.com