SRI LANKA—Aarunya Nature Resort, the award-winning boutique retreat, nestled in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, an Aahaasa Collection flagship, recently named to TIME World’s Greatest Places 2026, proudly announces the official launch of its Nature Pavilion, a purpose-driven hub dedicated to ecological research, conservation, and immersive guest education. This milestone reinforces Aarunya’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and positions the property at the forefront of regenerative tourism in South Asia.
Set within Aarunya’s lush, biodiversity-rich landscape overlooking the UNESCO-listed Knuckles Mountain Range and Conservation Forest, the Nature Pavilion has been thoughtfully conceived as a research facility, tea and spice production center, and an interpretive space. With a strong focus on biodynamics and biodiversity, it bridges academic study and meaningful guest engagement. The Pavilion will host researchers, naturalists, and university partners, collaborating with academic institutions, government bodies, visiting professors and biodynamic specialists, to study endemic flora and fauna, support ongoing conservation initiatives—including the creation of habitats for critically endangered species, and contribute to Sri Lanka’s broader environmental knowledge base.
The Nature Pavilion was handcrafted using locally sourced and treated bamboo, mud bricks, and lime-free natural renders. Its construction spanned nearly two years, shaped by the limited availability of specialist local knowledge in bamboo building. Nath Rankothge and the Aarunya construction team undertook a process of discovery—researching, collaborating with international experts, and developing local techniques. This included sourcing suitable, naturally occurring bamboo in Kandy, refining treatment methods, and training local carpenters and masons in new construction approaches.
The Nature Pavilion will serve as an active research hub supporting biodiversity monitoring, habitat restoration, and agroforestry practices, while also offering guests unprecedented access to the natural world through curated programming. Guests can participate in guided nature trails, birdwatching excursions, biodynamic agricultural activities, and expert-led talks, gaining deeper insight into Sri Lanka’s endemic species, conservation challenges, and the rapidly evolving field of biodynamic agriculture, which is increasingly gaining attention among international agricultural communities.
A Connection to Sri Lanka’s Rich Spice Heritage
A defining element of Aarunya’s guest experience, now further activated through the Nature Pavilion, is its connection to Sri Lanka’s rich spice heritage, in particular the Matale-Kandy region where the property is located. The resort’s working tea and spice gardens and surrounding landscapes cultivate native ingredients such as organic cinnamon, pepper, cloves, cardamom, and nutmeg, which are seamlessly woven into immersive programming. Guests can explore spice gardens, engage in biodynamic farming activities and participate in foraging experiences, followed by interactive cooking sessions that explore traditional Sri Lankan recipes. These are complemented by refined wellness journeys inspired by the natural essence of Sri Lanka and the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda at the property’s Aarogya Spa & Wellness Centre.
Signature experiences include cinnamon peeling demonstrations and Kithul tree tapping, offering rare insight into time-honored agricultural practices that have shaped the island’s cultural and economic history. These ingredients also play a central role in Aarunya’s culinary philosophy, where chefs craft seasonal, spice-forward menus rooted in local culture, as well as in wellness rituals, where spices are incorporated into herbal infusions, natural remedies, and holistic treatments.
The Pavilion also builds on Aarunya’s broader sustainability initiatives, which include reforestation and regeneration efforts, organic and biodynamic farming, water conservation, and a net zero energy and waste philosophy encompassing renewable production, reduction, reuse, and recycling. By integrating these practices into both operations and guest experiences, Aarunya, and the Aahaasa Collection at large, continue to set a benchmark for environmentally conscious luxury hospitality.
The launch of the Aarunya Nature Pavilion comes at a pivotal moment for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, as the country increasingly gains recognition for its rich biodiversity and commitment to sustainable travel. Recently named to TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2026, Aarunya Nature Resort is leveraging its global platform to position Sri Lanka and encourage leadership and development in experiential, regenerative, conscious and conservation-driven tourism.
Through the Nature Pavilion, Aarunya aims not only to deepen its own environmental impact but also to serve as a model for how luxury hospitality can actively contribute to sustainable development, research, education and ecosystem conservation.
For more information, visit www.aarunyaresort.com.
To learn more about the Aahaasa Collection, visit aahaasa.com.
