Ayurveda is a traditional alternative medicine system that originated in the Indian subcontinent, which includes present-day India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Today, it remains in use by nearly 80% of the population in India, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Besides locals, the practice also attracts wellness tourists curious to learn more about the healing and rejuvenation properties of ayurveda. To highlight the tourism potential of ayurveda, particularly in Sri Lanka, Ushan Edirisinghe, from Siddhalepa Ayurveda Wellness Resorts, held a presentation at the Sri Lanka Residence in Brussels on 29 October.
1. Ayurveda in Sri Lanka
Ayurveda is believed to have originated about 5,000 years ago, founded by the Great King Ravana of the island of (Sri) Lanka, a chief antagonist in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Written evidence in the form of text, terminology and concepts related to ayurvedic practices date back to the middle of the first millennium BC, making it at least 2,500 years old. Still today, ayurvedic practices in Sri Lanka follow guidelines from the four books of King Ravana: Arkaprakasya, Nadivignanaya, Kumarathanthraya and Udishathanthraya.
In 1980, the Sri Lankan government established a Ministry of Indigenous Medicine to revive and regulate Ayurveda. The Institute of Indigenous Medicine (affiliated to the University of Colombo) offers undergraduate, postgraduate and MD degrees in Ayurveda medicine and surgery, and similar degrees in Unani medicine. In 2010, the public system had 62 ayurvedic hospitals and 208 central dispensaries, which served about 3 million people (about 11% of Sri Lanka’s population). There are an estimated 20,000 registered practitioners of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka.
2. The Siddhalepa Ayurveda Wellness Resorts
Established in 1979 by Victor Hettigoda, an Ayurveda specialist awarded the title of Deshabandu, the third highest national honour awarded in Sri Lanka, the Siddhalepa Group is one of the largest of its kind, manufacturing a range of over 400 oils, balms, elixirs, herbal cosmetics and teas. Besides the wellness resort in Wadduwa, the group also runs an Ayurveda hospital, a city hotel in Mount Lavinia and several spas in Sri Lanka, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Siddhalepa Ayurveda Wellness Resort is spread over seven acres of tropical and indigenous trees, is surrounded by herbal gardens, vines and bushes, and overlooks the Indian Ocean. The centre offers a diverse range of treatment packages, including for relaxation, stress release and rejuvenation. The “traditional ayurveda” package can, for example, include some of the following treatments:
- Shirōbhyanga: To nourish the scalp and enhances the growth of hair
- Shirōdhāra: To induce sleep and release stress
- Vaktrābhyanga: To nourish the facial muscles and to improve complexion
- Ayurveda Face Packs: To cleanse, moisturize and soothe the skin
- Nētraparisheka: To cleanse the eyes, soothe and cool irritated eyes
- Nētrapindi: To place special medicated eye packs to soothe irritated eyes and to nourish and relax tired eyes
Resort guests can choose between deluxe suites, deluxe bungalows, superior balcony and superior terrace rooms and each stay includes at least 2.5 hours of treatments per day, daily yoga sessions, daily afternoon tea with healthy snacks, weekly meditation sessions, herb workshops and free visit to Siddhalepa’s herbal products factory.
