Santani Wellness Kandy

My husband and I stayed in the Mountain View Chalet at Santani for one night during our journey from Ella to Colombo. In hindsight, I would strongly recommend at least two nights—three if you have the time—to fully experience what Santani has to offer. Kandy was our penultimate stop during our 10-night Sri Lanka itinerary, and Santani promised the perfect respite we needed at this stage. While the setting and aesthetic were truly breathtaking, our experience was marred by a series of frustrating inconsistencies and service failures. Unfortunately, our 06:37 am train from Ella was cancelled, forcing us onto a later train, which delayed our schedule and caused us to miss the lunch service at Santani. Although we provided a heads-up about our ETA, we were informed that only sandwiches and fruit could be offered for lunch upon arrival. I pleaded for a hot meal after a 6-hour journey but was met with a firm no. While I understand the need for structure around meal times, the lack of flexibility felt unnecessarily rigid, especially given that lunch was included in our package. It was a bitter start to an otherwise promising stay. For each meal, we were offered two menu options: Western or Sri Lankan. A chef consultation was arranged to tailor the menu to our dietary requirements—my husband is gluten-free and does not eat red meat. The concept of personalisation sounded wonderful in theory, but the delivery fell far short. At dinner, the meals differed from what we discussed earlier, and when we questioned this, we were told certain items contained gluten. My husband’s dessert, for example, was swapped from Sri Lankan pancakes to a makeshift fruit salad—hardly the bespoke experience promised. At breakfast, they served granola containing gluten and suggested my husband “just eat a little,” as if his dietary restriction were a mere preference. This was not only disappointing but also felt deeply unprofessional. Additionally, previously requested items like a Sri Lankan omelette and mixed fruit smoothie were either forgotten or met with bizarre responses like “eat this first, and we’ll bring another.” The grounds and chalet were stunning, and the views from our Mountain View Chalet, for which we paid an additional $40 upgrade, were well worth it. The serenity and natural beauty are Santani’s greatest strengths. We also had 90-minute Ayurvedic treatments, which were very relaxing. However, there was inconsistency here too—my husband received the promised consultation with the doctor before his treatment, while mine skipped the consultation entirely. The lack of uniformity was frustrating and detracted from the wellness experience. Finally, as we were checking out at 12 noon and couldn’t stay for lunch (which begins at 12), we requested a packed meal. I specifically asked for a salad alongside my sandwich, but we were instead given fruit—again, an instance of Santani failing to meet basic expectations. Individually, these lapses in service might not see

I arrived at Santani as a mere mortal—a bundle of stress held together by coffee, emails, and existential dread. By the time I left, I had shed my physical form and was floating above the valley as a sentient, mindful cloud. Let me explain. From the moment I checked in, I felt like I’d stumbled into the set of a spiritual sci-fi epic. The hills whispered secrets older than time. My room was so minimalist that I feared disturbing its zen-like harmony by blinking. The silence was so profound I could hear my soul doing yoga stretches. The food? It wasn’t just a meal; it was a culinary cleanse. One bite of the beetroot salad, and I swear my chakras aligned like planets in a solar eclipse. Each dish was prepared with such precision and subtlety that I considered enrolling in a monastery to learn the art of soup meditation. The spa. Oh, the spa. A therapist touched my back and unknotted problems that began in my past life. At one point, I may or may not have met a Yogi Goat who told me to “let go of my earthly worries.” I did. I released them into the mountains like confetti. On my final day, as I stood in a bathrobe staring dramatically into the mist, I swear the clouds winked at me. A bird landed nearby and gave me a knowing nod, as if to say, “You get it now.” In summary: Santani is not a hotel. It is an enlightenment factory. A place where stress dissolves, gravity becomes optional, and even the furniture feels more self-actualized than you. I now live on air, vibes, and the occasional memory of that quinoa bowl. 11/10—book now if you’re ready to question reality and become a sentient, blissful cumulus.

What an amazing experience it was to stay at Santani, from the moment we checked in we felt very relaxed and taken care of. The resort is in the middle of nature and tea plantations and it’s a great place to disconnect. Amazing interior designs and architecture, as well as food (we had the choice of western / Sri Lankan meals everyday). Loved the consultation with the Ayurvedic doctor, we found out so much about ourselves and our body types. A special thanks to Shashi that gave us the best service and was always super welcoming and helpful :)