Where mist kisses the mountains and tea-scented breezes whisper through ancient groves, a new wellness experience rises — not just in elevation, but in purpose. Tucked deep within Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, Sol Sanctuary at Aarunya Nature Resort invites seekers of stillness, beauty, and balance to rediscover what it means to retreat.
More than a villa, Sol Sanctuary is a living temple of architecture and spirit. Anchored in sacred geometry, aligned to celestial rhythms, and crafted with the sensitivity of ancestral knowledge, this new offering unfolds as a dialogue between sky and soul. Here, restoration is not a luxury — it’s a ritual.
A Homecoming to Light and Legacy
Conceived by architect Nath Rankothge and his father, environmentalist Lal Rankothge, Aarunya — Sanskrit for “first rays of the sun” — is a passion project rooted in reverence for land and lineage. Together with Nath’s uncle, philanthropist K R G Wijesundara, they envisioned not a resort, but a regenerative sanctuary that honours both tradition and terrain.
Set on a private ten-acre estate above the UNESCO-listed Knuckles Mountain Range, Sol Sanctuary is the crown jewel among Aarunya’s ten villas. With its domed stone structure, star-gazing oculi, and crescent-shaped plunge pool that reflects both moonlight and meaning, the two-bedroom retreat offers immersive solitude for couples, families, or spiritual nomads alike.
Every detail speaks of slow architecture and tactile storytelling: hand-hewn basins, exposed timber, open-air rain showers, and verandas that dissolve into forest. Its orientation to the rising sun echoes ancient Sri Lankan cosmology, inviting guests to wake not just to light, but to life.
Elemental Wellness, Reimagined
At the heart of Aarunya lies Aarogya Wellness Centre, where Ayurveda meets contemporary holistic practices. Guests can embark on deeply personalised wellness journeys — a minimum four-night immersion combining daily rituals, consultations with Ayurvedic doctors, and dosha-specific cuisine.
Yoga, pilates, and aqua movement classes unfold beneath the forest canopy, while the newly inaugurated stone bathhouse — nestled beneath a fragrant nutmeg tree — offers rituals with house-made oils crafted from coconuts, avocados, and herbs grown on the estate itself. Wellness here is not an escape from the world, but a reconnection to it.
Taste the Land, One Slow Bite at a Time
At Aarunya, food is both nourishment and narrative. Aahaara, the traditional mudhouse restaurant, serves hyperlocal dishes reinterpreted with a modern twist. Think jackfruit curry, red rice, and foraged greens — all sourced from the estate’s organic gardens.
Perched high above the valley, The Verandah offers panoramic dining that fuses global technique with Sri Lankan essence. Meanwhile, the Aahaasa Tea Pavilion hosts private tastings amid the resort’s tea fields, where curated high teas become acts of storytelling.
Floating breakfasts, candlelit dinners, and misty-morning meals on private decks let guests weave each bite into their personal rhythm of rest and renewal.
Beyond the Villa: A Living Landscape
Sol Sanctuary is a portal into one of Sri Lanka’s richest biodiverse regions. Nature walks, birdwatching trails, and guided excursions into tea estates and spice groves foster deep immersion. Off-site adventures include the sacred temples of Kandy, the cascading Bambarakiri Ella waterfall, and the ancient citadel of Sigiriya — a UNESCO treasure.
But what sets Aarunya apart is not only its access to nature, but its contribution to it.
A Sanctuary That Gives Back
Sustainability at Aarunya isn’t a feature — it’s the foundation. The property is solar-powered, plastic-free, and self-sufficient in water. Its Nature Foundation supports biodiversity restoration, biodynamic agriculture, and environmental education for local children.
This fall, the resort will unveil a bamboo-and-timber Nature Pavilion to support ecological research in partnership with the University of Peradeniya. Designed as both a guest hub and a living laboratory, the pavilion will host PhD students, naturalists, and local conservation initiatives — bridging the worlds of hospitality, science, and community.
With this, Aarunya moves towards becoming Sri Lanka’s first fully biodynamic hospitality property — a quiet revolution in how luxury can care.
Sol Sanctuary at Aarunya is more than a destination. It is a meditation in stone, a song of the sunrise, and a heartfelt offering to those who seek not just to travel, but to transform.
Rates for Sol Sanctuary start at USD 1,250 per night, while other villas begin at USD 500+. To learn more, visit aarunyaresort.com.
(by Gaiazoe.life)
