When I arrived at Galkadawala, I had no idea how much peace and inspiration I would find there. In fact, I didn't really have any specific expectations. I'd looked at their website and done a bit of research, but it didn't do justice to the reality of the experience there.

For several years now, my search for new ways of living in harmony with nature has led me to unexplored places, where I've been able to better understand our deep connection with the earth. Galkadawala, an ecolodge set in the heart of vast rice fields where nature has slowly reclaimed its rights, has become a particularly inspiring place.

In 2016, Maulie decided to devote herself to this project. The land she chose was far from idyllic: it was ravaged, almost abandoned. It was a bold gamble, an act of defiance. Instead of choosing a site already preserved by the raw beauty of nature, she opted to regenerate this land, to bring it back to life and return it to wild nature. This choice, far from being insignificant, is an act of resistance to the exploitation of perfect places and a commitment to restoring what had been damaged.

coucher de soleil au lac

Today, this gamble has been a resounding success. Walking through the jungle, where the lodges seem to blend into the vegetation, and following barefoot the dirt paths, I feel a deep connection with the place. Every sound, every whisper of the animals welcomes us discreetly, like a respectful visitor. The lodges, hidden away in the jungle, are a perfect symbiosis of architecture and nature. The immense palm trees stand like sentinels, and the winding paths lose you in an almost mystical stroll. The ‘tank’, a pool offering spectacular sunsets, reveals nature from a magical angle, accompanied by the dogs who accompany us on our walks, showing us the way. The rice paddies that surround the property add to the serenity of this timeless place.

Galkadawala is not just a place, it's an invitation to lose ourselves in the simplicity of nature, to let peace invade us, and to find ourselves in a space of regeneration. Here, every breath nourishes the soul, and inspiration comes naturally, carried by the wind dancing in the leaves.

Delicious home made food

During my visit, Darshi took me back in time with his wise tales. He told me about the ancient kings and the ingenious network of ponds and dams, the ‘tanks’, that have shaped this region of Sri Lanka for centuries. These ancient structures, created to enable the inhabitants of the drylands to prosper, still seem to whisper their history through the wind. Memories of Ceylon's past live on in the conversations of the inhabitants, like echoes still alive.

While guiding me around the site, Darshi also showed me the architecture of the lodge, built almost entirely from recycled materials. Cables salvaged from a disused factory, rafters from old tea factories... each element finds a new life here. This mixture of materials and shapes, often disorderly but full of meaning, creates a subtle harmony. This ‘organised disorder’ makes you feel at home. Where other perfect, rectangular houses might seem cold, here the organic shapes mesmerise me. Each room, open to the outside, invites contemplation and connection with nature, establishing a genuine dialogue between inside and outside, between man and his environment.

Détails de l'architecture

As our discussions with Maulie progressed, a question came to mind: how do you understand a place where you set foot? For a few days, you feel its vibrations, its energy, and you immerse yourself in its essence. This place transforms us, connecting us to other ways of experiencing the land and establishing a deep bond with its inhabitants, be they human, animal or plant.

And it is in this silent relationship between man and nature that I am gradually discovering the true meaning of this place. A place that transforms us, connects us and reveals a new way of being in the world.

This article is in collaboration with  The Shooting Star Academy & Galkadawala Eco lodge.