The Tamesis
How is the atmosphere?
Santani is situated in one of the most picturesque resorts I have ever seen: its striking central building made of metal, glass and reclaimed wood sits on the summit of a dramatic ridge, while the 18 guest villas are spread out on its sides, ensuring panoramic views of the lush terraced tea fields from every corner of the property. (My favorite place to hang out every afternoon is the swimming pool at the highest point of the hotel, where you can hear Buddhist songs from nearby temples blowing in the wind.)
The spa itself is part of a huge open-air complex that includes a spacious yoga studio, as well as an entire floor dedicated to treatment rooms that lead directly into the jungle. Before each treatment, you’re encouraged to soak in the mineral pools, watch brightly colored butterflies flutter by or monkeys swing from the canopy—one particularly bold macaque pressed his paws to the glass during one afternoon sauna session—or listen to the sounds of tropical birds. the word Garden of Eden Not even covering it.
It’s also very reasonably priced, allowing guests to have a pleasant stay. Granted, I’m not always the most sociable person on vacation, but the group yoga classes and the intimate nature of the place allowed me to develop a lot of friendly relationships with everyone, from a twenty-something American couple who decided to splurge on a few nights during a month-long trip to South Asia, to a German mother and daughter who are die-hard yogis and stayed at the resort for two weeks. If you want to live in total isolation, that’s entirely possible. It’s even more convenient if you book a room in a villa a 10-minute walk or horse-drawn carriage ride down the road, which has its own private pool.
Photo: Courtesy of Santany
history?
Santani was originally founded in 2016 by Sri Lankan entrepreneur Vickum Nawagamuwage, who enlisted the help of architect Thisara Thanapathy to realize his vision: a “quiet building” where guests could truly seclude themselves from the rest of the world. (There is no Wi-Fi in the rooms, which have been cleverly designed in place of air conditioning to take advantage of the natural ventilation from the winds that sweep into the adjacent valley.) Over the past decade, it has earned a solid reputation as Sri Lanka’s best wellness resort, and there are plans to expand the resort further in the coming years. Here again, there’s a special mention of food – whether you’re planning a healthy meal plan for the week or you’re keen to sample the extensive Michelin-rated (but still very nutrition-focused) tasting menu.
