The Mudhouse, Sri Lanka: Exploring Ecotourism at Work
This review comes from a conversation about The Mudhouse’s sustainable principles with one of it’s founders Tom Armstrong
Deep in rural Sri Lanka, away from the bustle of urban or tourist centres you will find a pioneering ecolodge called The Mudhouse. At first glance it might seem like an unusual place to start a hotel as it is far from the regular tourist circuit, however, nestled within lush rainforests, on the banks of a tranquil lake, the lodge’s location provides guests with a serene oasis. Tom, one of the founders, describes it as “in the middle of nowhere, no tourism infrastructure, nothing quote on quote - to do, and yet whenever [people] came to visit they had the most amazing time being in that environment… experiencing the life there and exploring”. This is the beauty and charm of it, an immersive retreat, reflecting a unique cohesiveness between the surrounding nature and local community. Guests can spend their days exploring and searching out the local flora and fauna, kayaking among water lilies, cycling to the nearby village and experiencing traditional life, helping plant trees, harvesting from the onsite organic farm, or even just relaxing in a hammock, reading. It’s a place to take a step back from what most of us call ‘real life’, to nourish the soul in simplicity and reconnect with the earth and one’s self.
The origin story is a years-long labour of love, with its roots embedded in the region and built on the principles of “doing things the right way”. It began with Tom teaching in the local school for three months, then, together with his best friend, Kumar, deciding to start a hospitality project (since then two additional partners have joined them). From an initial half an acre gifted to them, it has grown organically, expanding into the 60 acres there is today. The Mudhouse, in most metrics, is an exemplar of ecotourism at work. An escape where guests are invited to experience a unique natural environment and heritage, which helps with the preservation and cultivation of that ecology and where social impact is a central part of their thesis.
Take for example the way The Mudhouse has been built. As well as the usual off-grid living, with solar panels and groundwater wells, they have adapted traditional architectural techniques with a much lower carbon footprint. Made from mud, clay and wattle, they use centuries old knowledge to create buildings which not only celebrates and preserves traditional craftsmanship, but also are forward thinking in terms of sustainable design. This method of construction uses locally sourced, environmentally friendly materials with the end product being much more suited to the local climate. In fact, the walls actually breath, with the clay both absorbing and repelling moisture when its cold or hot to create a natural “airconditioning” system. Kumar has since become an expert and innovator in this style of building and The Mudhouse works as an ‘open source’ foundation to share knowledge of this dying art.
The Mudhouse also has a very nature-first outlook with their extensive reforestation projects being the key driver for their acquisition of land. Nearly all guests who visit take the opportunity to plant a tree and over the years they have lost track of the number of trees they have planted, it is not something they audit, but instead they see the impact through increased biodiversity, better soil quality and an increase in water retention of the lakes during droughts and dry seasons. Innovative irrigation systems have been put in place to increase drought tolerance and recently they have created an organic farm which provides guests with the ultimate farm to table experience. The vast majority of all food served at the hotel is grown onsite or sourced locally. The farm has not only improved soil quality and biodiversity, by not using pesticides and fertilisers, and reduced emissions, but it has also enabled for a seed sharing programme with the local community.
Infact, the local community has been central to The Mudhouse’s success. They have worked with their local contacts and friends in the village with everything from building to supplying to employment. A significant employer in the local community, they have taken a labour-intensive approach to running the business in order to create as many jobs as possible and training is often done on the job to lower the barrier of entry for those who have no background in hospitality or are unable to speak english. Activities for guests are run with local guides and businesses, while everything that is not made or grown onsite is provided by local suppliers all in order to promote indirect employment in the area. For the founders, it is their team that provides guests with the authentic experience, it might not be the polished five star service you get at some resorts, but rather it’s heartfelt and sincere.
The Mudhouse was closed during Covid, and only now is beginning to reopen. From this period of stillness in the jungle, the founders realised they wanted to build things back smaller and more intimate for both the guests and the environment. Only two groups of guests are now allowed to book into the relatively small property at one time. This brings down the pace of living down a notch and enables guests to get the special and personalised service that the founders want the Mudhouse to be remembered for. Comfort, friendliness and connectivity with the environment are all the things that make the Mudhouse special and the founders are looking forward to welcoming the families and guests that are searching for this unique adventure. Luxury these days can be as much about the exclusivity of experience than it is about the high end finishes. While its finishings may be more humble than the typical 5 star hotels, the Mudhouse provides guests with a unique experience that you can't find elsewhere.
If you are interested in booking a stay at The Mudhouse please feel free to contact me at: travelmatterswithmira@gmail.com
