When you enter the hall at Samadhi, you will see a silk tapestry depicting seven Buddhist monks each holding a lotus blossom in their hand. Each monk is a different shade of brown. Likewise, the cultural diversity of this island is reflected in the villagers, who form the core of what makes Samadhi run smoothly. They are unspoiled and courteous. Every man, woman, or boy will calmly break from sweeping the stone pathway, lighting the oil lamp, or picking fresh produce for your lunch to wish you "ayubowan", the traditional Sinhala welcome which means "let there be long life".
The inspiration for the design and architecture was born of meditation. So, you willingly leave your city husk behind at the gate with no signal for mobile phones or no in-room Wi-Fi connection which is ideal for mediators or a person who needs to relax his soul for a while. The 13 pavilions, which lean out of the hillside, are veritable temples of tranquility. They are designed to make you feel you are the only person staying here. Privacy is everything here, yet there are no unnecessary walls.
This results in a truly serene environment surrounded by urns, art, and treasures dating back to a time when Kandy was a royal realm. Here, everything is king-sized. The Indonesian teak bed in a double room is spacious enough to sleep three people comfortably. But even the smallest suite provides a four-poster bed to dream in. The spacious verandahs of each suite of rooms give onto paddy fields, nearby mountains, and bench terraces filled with herb gardens or pineapples.
Bamboos reach out with their four-fingered leaves to fan a breeze at you. In the surroundings, there is a natural forest as well as mango, toddy palm, mahogany, and jak trees which rub necks with giant bamboo, avocado trees, and Chinese guava trees. Each room features a separate dining and living area, extra-large pillows, high thread count sheets, coffee and tea-making facilities, and a personal safe.
