Galapita Sanctuary,Buttala, Sri Lanka

Galapita Healing Garden is one of those rare and magical places that seems to exist outside time, as though the world only revolves around its own boundaries. Tucked away near Buttala in Sri Lanka's southern interior, it sits within a landscape of protected forest pockets, paddy fields, waterfalls and a gently meandering river long associated with precious gems.

Several beautiful routes can bring you here from Colombo, the capital of the island. One popular choice follows the south coast before turning north through sacred Kataragama and the Yala Wildlife Reserve, where both elephants and leopard roam freely.

Accommodation at Galapita

Accommodation takes the form of Galapita Pavilions — open-plan structures built from natural, renewable materials and set among the surrounding wilderness. Each pavilion is named after a local tree or gem, weaving an intimate connection with the natural world into every stay while preserving traditional comforts.

The Pavilions

• Navaratne Maluwa — a two-bedroom villa accommodating up to six persons
• Palu Maluwa — a pavilion for two persons
• Kumbuk Maluwa — a pavilion for two persons
• Kohomba Maluwa — a pavilion for four persons
• Naa Maluwa — a two-bedroom villa for four persons

Collectively, the pavilions are designed to encourage an unhurried bond with the landscape — the sounds of the river, the shade of the forest canopy and the rhythm of the paddy fields forming an ever-present backdrop to life here.