Ulpotha is a self sufficient non-profit farming community in Sri Lanka, run by local villagers, that supports itself by hosting guests for part of the year from abroad who pay to holiday in Ulpotha and articipate in Yoga courses and traditional Ayurveda treatments.

Economic policies
• The vast majority of our staff are local villagers who largely run Ulpotha themselves.
• Our resident Ayurveda doctor provides training in Ayurvedic massage and therapies for the treatment center staff.
• Nearly all the food at Ulpotha is grown on site. In addition to growing rice, fruit and vegetables, we have recently started growing medicinal plants used for making Ayurvedic medicines.
• We source many of our other supplies and building materials locally. All the Ayurvedic medicines used in our treatment center are made especially for us in Sri Lanka.
• Ulpotha regularly invests in services and amenities for the local community (rebuilding the lake - thereby creating employment while ensuring a good source of water for the rice farmers downstream, creation of a free clinic for the surrounding villages, donations to the local hospital, etc).
• Guests are encouraged to use our Ayurvedic treatment center, the proceeds of which go towards funding our Free Clinic for the surrounding villages.
• There is not a lot to shop for in Ulpotha, but whatever there is (tailor made clothing, wooden spoons and bowls, Ayurvedic soaps, sarongs, etc) is largely made by the villagers themselves.

Social policies
• We encourage guests to learn about the local area and customs through interaction with the local villagers. Information is also provided to guests via our website and in person upon their arrival.
• We encourage them to participate in local ceremonies and traditional gatherings and inform them of locally acceptable behaviour and appropriate dress.
• We encourage our guests to visit social projects within the community (such as the Free Clinic) or in surrounding villages (schools for handicapped children, etc) and to participate in such projects.
• We regularly hold meetings with and seek feedback from local community leaders.
• Ulpotha is run by a committee of villagers with help from one of the owners, himself a local.
• NGOs have participated in Ulpotha for the benefit of the local community (e.g. stocking the lake with fish for the local fishermen).

Environmental policies
The most fundamental of Ulpotha’s environmental policies is to limit the number of guests it accepts (no more than 19 paying guests at a time) and to do so for a limited period in any given year (a maximum of 26 weeks).
Protection of natural areas
• Only natural materials are used in the construction of guest and villagers’ accommodation, the Ayurvedic treatment center and Free Clinic (adobe huts with palm roofing).
• Much use has been made of clay, stone, wood, pottery and fabrics which reflect traditional village practices and aesthetics.
• We protect the native vegetation within the property (replanting of 1000 local species of trees, replanting of heritage strains of rice, rare vegetables, etc)
• Ulpotha only uses organic farming practices that follow the lunar cycle and use no mechanical means.
• All crops are hand planted and harvested, while the fields are ploughed and the rice is threshed by buffalo.
• We protect the local wildlife by ensuring that their natural habitat is in the least possible way altered and that poachers and hunters are kept away.
• The local environment is also protected by maintaining the lake and sluice and natural water flows.
• No cars are allowed within Ulpotha and guests are encouraged to use bicycles when exploring the surrounding areas.
Use of resources
• By design there is no electricity in Ulpotha and life is lived by the rhythm of the day. Paths and accommodation are lit by lamps and lanterns. A small solar power panel provides electricity for recharging hand held devices.
• Food is cooked on open fires and there are no fridges (they are deemed by one of Ulpotha’s founders as a means of eating un-fresh food).
• Water comes from a spring and guests are encouraged to use it sparingly.
Waste management
• Sewage is treated onsite and no raw sewage is released directly into the environment.
• Waste is separated and sorted and recyclables (metals and glass) are removed. Guests are encouraged not to bring plastic waste onsite, or to take it back to their home country when they leave.

CONTRACT OF BOOKING: No contract shall exist until the signed booking form is submitted together with a minimum 20% deposit and a Confirmation Receipt has been issued.


BOOKING AUTHORISATION: Where a booking is made on behalf of several individuals whose signatures do not appear on the Booking Declaration, the booking is conditional on the person signing the booking form having written authorisation from all the named individuals to enter into this contract. The written authorisation(s) should be submitted along with this booking form.


PAYMENT: Where only a deposit is paid at the time of submitting the booking form, full payment of the balance due must be made 8 weeks before departure. Failure to do so may result in the East Pole Foundation exercising its right to cancel your booking(s) and to charge the applicable cancellation charges set out below.


CANCELLATION: Though our spaces are limited, we will endeavour to treat cancellations sympathetically. As such, if a replacement booking is secured for a late cancellation by the person making the cancellation all monies paid will be returned, save the deposit (equal to 20% of the cost of the holiday), regardless of when the cancellation is made. However, if a replacement is not found, the charges below will be applied. Cancellation of your holiday, for whatever reason, should be notified to us in writing.


Up to 56 days before departure loss of deposit
55 - 28 days before departure 50% of total price
27 days or less before departure 100% of total price


INSURANCE: In order to participate in holidays to Ulpotha, guests must have travel insurance. This can be arranged by your travel agent when booking your ticket. Please contact us for contact details of local travel agents.


COSTS : Costs include accommodation, full board, on twin sharing basis, inclusive of airport transfers (for designated group arrival/departure times - see website), excursions, massage, yoga and herbal steam baths. Flights and supplimentary Ayurveda programmes are not included.


ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation is on a twin-shared basis. There are a limited number of double-bedded huts for couples which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.


PROGRAMME CHANGES: At the time of going to press, all the programmes listed will have been confirmed by the respective Course Instructors. If, for any reason, a Course Instructor becomes unavailable we shall do our utmost to replace them with a leader of similar qualities. Wherever possible you will be advised in advance of any alterations.


EXCLUSIONS: We do not accept responsibility or liability for cancellations, delays, changes or losses caused by acts of God, war, threat of war, closure of airports, civil strife, natural disasters, accidents or any other events beyond or within our control; guests' injuries, illnesses, medical or psychiatric conditions developed during or subsequent to the holiday; loss of/or damage to personal property of guests.