Karanda Retreat aims to be a Sanctuary within a Sanctuary, where the indigenous flora & fauna are protected & are free of any threat, & to be a Home in a Village in the Jungle where its visitors can experience a beautiful & wild environment. Originally built as a lockup & leave home for its owners, it is a solid structure deviating from the rustic patterns that require regular rewalling, rethatchi
ng, reflooring, etc. Instead it was built without cutting trees, the ground plan taking its shape from the space available between the trees. The wooden doors & windows open out into the trees & into the views and the wind, with two large balconies that enable you to sit among the trees. It is in essence a simple home, a place of quietude and retreat. The bungalow is available for occupation on a self-catering basis for a maximum of four persons. All amenities of a simple Sri Lanka home are available. Facilities include 2 queen beds, mosquito nets, cooking utensils, crockery & cutlery for 4 persons, two burner gas cooker, electricity, air-conditioned bed rooms, fans, electric geyser, pipe borne water and a good selection of books for reading and reference. It is located 5 minutes away from the World Heritage Site of Sigiriya with a view of Sigiriya & Pidurangala rocks. Underlying principles/concepts of Karanda Retreat:
* Maintaining & enhancing the wilderness by growing indigenous trees & plants & providing a safe haven/passage for insects, birds, reptiles & animals. The elephants regularly walk through Karanda Retreat.
* Subtly educating the villagers on conservation principles, mitigating the human elephant conflict & avoiding the killing of harmless reptiles and other animals.
* Provide a home for conservation-minded people to enjoy the ambience, observe birds, animals, butterflies, etc., study & enjoy the indigenous vegetation of semi-wild terrain.
* Provide a base to explore the surrounds – the environment, the tanks, the national parks, & ancient sites.
* Be a retreat where children are encouraged to step outdoors, enjoy simple comforts & village food, interact with village people & experience their genuine warmth, humour & tales of life in the village. The bed rooms are air-conditioned but the option of throwing open the windows and enjoying the breeze is available. Natural cooling is provided by the winds that sweep through from May-Sept & the rains thereafter. When it gets a bit hot (never as hot as Colombo) the fans can be switched on.
* Consumerism takes a terrible toll on the resources of this planet & the environment. Karanda Retreat strives to strike a balance between human comfort & need, & the principles of recycle, simplicity & managing equally well with less use of resources. Ideal for researchers and writers who need a quiet place to work and for those who wish to take a long break, experience the real Sri Lanka and enjoy the comfort and privacy of having a sanctuary to oneself which one can call home. It is also a good base from which to explore the archaeological heritage and national parks in the area.
