© Haritha Villa
Buildings and the pool of the Sri Lankan retreat were built in an environmentally friendly way.
December 20, 2024
Kimmy Fischer
Premium Quarterly author Kimmy Fischer traveled to Sri Lanka and found a dreamlike place there that heals both the body and the soul.
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It's a bit cooler than where I'm from. The air seems somewhat more pleasant. It's still warm, but the energy that greets me gives me a sense of balance. I'm welcomed by Lasantha. With his warm smile, he hands me a cool welcome drink made of passion fruit, ginger, and lemongrass and lets me know that he will be available as a private concierge for the next few days.
The service already deeply impresses me. The fact that someone is supposed to take care of me and my well-being around the clock not only fills me with great amazement but also with deep humility. The impressions of the last few weeks of travel have shown me how hard people here work for their money and how great their gratitude and dedication are for what they do.
That one of these people is now supposed to make my own, yet actually so privileged life even easier initially leaves me with an uneasy feeling. A feeling that should later change – through the wisdom of an impressive woman who speaks of vocation instead of hard work.
© Kimmy Fischer
The design combines clean, minimalist lines with traditional elements.
Haritha Villas & Spa is more than just a place – it is the vision of the award-winning architect Gary Fell, which became reality. With his deep love for Sri Lanka and its nature, the boutique resort was created out of the desire to create a space that combines luxury, sustainability, and cultural heritage. The modern villas, each with its own pool and unparalleled privacy, were designed with respect for the surrounding flora and fauna.
The design combines clear, minimalist lines with traditional elements: local wood, handcrafted furniture, and subtle nods to colonial architecture create a harmony that makes the place seem deeply rooted. At the same time, one senses the intention not to impress but rather the deep desire to revive the bridge between humans and nature.
The expansive garden with its spice plants, medicinal herbs, and tropical flowers was designed to feel like part of the original rainforest – a symbol of how strongly Haritha and his team want to preserve the natural cycle. The house's desire is not only to offer guests relaxation but also to acquaint them with the essence of Sri Lanka. Be it through the holistic Ayurveda concept, the local cuisine with ingredients from their own cultivation, or simply through quiet moments in which one can indulge in the sounds of nature.
© Kimberly Fischer
Before my first consultation with the doctor, I am a bit nervous.
One of the most impressive features of Haritha Villas & Spa is the holistic, individually tailored medical care that goes far beyond classic wellness. Led by experienced Ayurvedic doctors, a personal health plan is developed for each guest based on the principles of this ancient healing art. Whether it is about detoxification, stress management, or the treatment of chronic ailments – each therapy is carefully tailored to the individual's needs.
Supported by natural remedies from the in-house herb garden, traditional treatments such as massages and oil applications, as well as a specially tailored diet, you not only feel cared for here but also sustainably strengthened. It is a place where healing becomes palpable not only physically but also mentally.
Before my consultation with the doctor, I am ultimately somewhat nervous. And not because I am unsure of what to expect, but rather because I know what has been lurking inside me for days, weeks, perhaps even months. My nervous system is overwhelmed. It is in a constant fight-or-flight mode, has forgotten how to invite relaxation, to truly allow calmness. Both my personal everyday life and German society in general are characterized by performance and pressure.
My nervous system is in a constant fight-or-flight mode
And even if the latter doesn’t come from outside, we create it ourselves from within. Faster, better, higher is the motto that seemingly promises us success. Yet what I learned long ago, but too often forget: success on the outside will never be a lasting indicator of satisfaction on the inside.
© Kimmy Fischer
The warm oils used for the treatments stimulate several senses simultaneously.
Already upon my arrival, I was sure that this place will be able to touch me more deeply. My first meeting with the family doctor, Dr. Chanaka Sujeewa, confirms this feeling. His eyes are friendly and filled with warmth. His voice speaks calmly and quietly. So quietly that at first, due to my tinnitus, I have to concentrate a little to be able to follow him completely. My presence is requested.
My nervousness gives way to curiosity, and I don't want to miss anything he has to tell me. After a brief introduction to the concept of Ayurvedic healing medicine, I not only tell him about my physical complaints but also about my everyday life, my habits, and my emotional challenges. I feel seen, and holistically so. As if someone wanted to understand my inner map to gently bring it back into balance. Without pressure, without stress.
I feel seen, and holistically so.
With the help of the analysis, Sujeewa subsequently illustrates my personal constitution (also called the Dosha balance in Ayurveda) and explains how this affects my daily well-being. On the three levels of being (body, mind, and soul), he meets me where I am at and opens up new perspectives on how I can sustainably bring and keep my health back in balance. This includes tailor-made treatments, individually adjusted nutrition, and small rituals for everyday life.
For the start of my healing journey, he also recommends an aromatherapy body massage at the end. It should help me arrive in the here and now and relax my overloaded nervous system. "Because only where a free spirit lives can healing occur."
In Ayurveda, the three Doshas - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha - form the foundation for our physical and mental balance. These life energies are present in each of us in different manifestations and influence our health, personality, and well-being. An imbalance can lead to complaints, while harmonious integration is considered a prerequisite for a fulfilling life.
Therefore, Haritha Villas & Spa places great importance on recognizing the individual Dosha constitution and using it specifically as the basis for individual therapy measures.
• Vata: As the element of air and ether, Vata represents movement, creativity, and flexibility. People with a Vata dominance are often lively and imaginative but tend to become restless and dry when the dosha is out of balance.
• Pitta: Characterized by fire and water, Pitta symbolizes energy, transformation, and a sharp mind. Pitta types are ambitious and passionate but can quickly become irritable or overheated.
• Kapha: This dosha, associated with earth and water, embodies stability, calmness, and resilience. People with a Kapha dominance radiate tranquility but can become sluggish or heavy when in excess.
Through consultation with Dr. Chanaka Sujeewa, I learned which doshas dominate in myself, how crucial the balance of forces is for health and harmony, and how I can regain balance through targeted treatments, diet, and rituals. However, as inspired as I am by all this new theoretical knowledge, in the end, something can only be sustainably and holistically integrated into mind and body through experience itself.
When Sam, a petite woman with an incredibly captivating aura, greets me for my treatment in the evening, I am curious but calm. After choosing one of the many oils (quite spontaneously and merely based on the scent), she leads me into the treatment room. The windows are open, and the sounds of nature complement the grounding panorama. First, she asks me to sit on a chair to wash my feet. And although I have now learned that this is a common ritual, it still makes me uncomfortable.
Sam seems to sense this. She smiles and says, "My hands are my tool and my greatest gift. I love what I do. This here – this is my calling." I swallow. Unable to say anything, I silently smile back and nod. Her words, at this moment, not only take away my discomfort. They hit me right where I stand. And I don't mean my feet in the water jug.
On a much deeper level, what she just said brings me into a new consciousness. It opens up a new perspective on a much more personal topic. A topic that has been accompanying me subconsciously for a long time but has only now really surfaced.
My mind is finally quiet. Nothing inside me resists the calm anymore.
"Thank you," I reply far too late, as I already lie down face down on the treatment bed. With gentle pressure and long, flowing movements, Sam begins the massage. The warm oil stimulates multiple senses simultaneously, releases physical tension, and promotes circulation, immediately bringing a feeling of deep relaxation. Relaxation that I can accept only now, after already having two full weeks of vacation.
My mind is finally quiet. Nothing inside me resists the calm anymore. No inner critic telling me I need to accomplish this or that from here. In this moment, I don't need to do anything except be here. Be present. Be open to what is – in the here and now.
In cooperation with Healing Travel
© Kimmy Fischer
Aromatherapy body massages help arrive in the here and now and relax the overloaded nervous system.
© Kimmy Fischer
Finally! No inner critic telling me I have to do this and that.
