The Barberyn Beach Ecological Programme:

Garden architecture

Sri Lanka’s best known landscape artist, Laki Senanayake, created the landscape of Barberyn Beach Ayurveda Resort. Laki was an associate of the legendary Geoffrey Bawa. He is seen as having influenced Bawa’s work on integrating the garden and living spaces.

Laki was involved with the garden at Barberyn Beach from the design of the resort. He helped to ensure that the resort is one with nature. Together with architect Turner Wickremasinghe, also a contemporary of Geoffrey Bawa, he laid the foundation of what has become a place of unique natural beauty. Laki visits Barberyn Beach periodically, to ensure that the natural quality is retained and there are no “contrived interventions”

Ayurveda Plant database

We can now share with our guests the result of the work that was carried out in that project, including the herb trail and the bird watch, both activities in which our guests can participate.

In the years since the opening of Barbering Beach in 2003, the gardens have matured, the tree canopies grown. We have entered a unique collaboration with the Ruhuna University, which is located close to the resort. The team from the Department of Botany has been hard at work with Barberyn staff to preserve the bio-diversity of the resort grounds.

The results of this current project is pioneering work and can be found on a medicinal plant web site and data base, cataloguing the Ayurvedic plants used in all of the Ayurvedic traditions and the indigenous medicine system of Sri Lanka.

instituteofayurveda.org

Bird watching at Barberyn Beach – the Barberyn ecological programme

We invite our guests to join field visits which are part of a wider project on the conservation of natural bio-diversity of the unique Barberyn Beach Ayurveda Resort grounds.

These field visits help to survey the community of birds (local and migratory) as well as butterflies on the ground.

Guests can be part of this conservation initiative, enjoying the beautiful fauna of Sri Lanka. The project is part of the Barberyn collaboration with the University of Ruhuna. The resort also organizes periodic lectures and a structured bird watching programme.

Have a look at some of the magnificent birds you might encounter while on birdwatch at our resort.

The Barberyn Beach Ayurveda Herbal Trail

Looking for plants that can cure fevers, calm tempers or even lay a deadly curse?
 The Barberyn Beach Ayurveda Herbal Trail introduces a whole new world of botanical delights, along delightful, meandering routes that zigzag over the cliff-top estate.

The trail is approx. 1km long and takes roughly 30-40 minutes to complete. On your way, you encounter many medicinal trees, shrubs and plants that have played a part in the 5000-year-old system of herbal healing known as Ayurveda. We created this trail as part of our efforts to promote this ancient homeopathic healing system, but also to bring our guests closer to nature.

The Ayurveda herb trail is part of a wider scientific project undertaken by Barberyn Beach Ayurveda Resort in collaboration with the Ruhuna University. Walk along with Professor Jayatissa to discover the natural vegetation and its conservation for Ayurvedic, scientific, educational and ornamental purposes.

Ayurvedic medicine contains natural compounds that are produced by organisms, particularly by plants. A large number of plant species is currently being used in Ayurvedic treatments.

On the trail, you will not just encounter edible trees and plants such as the wild pea-aubergine, cinnamon or cashew, but even species whose by-products are used by trained herbalists to help against snake bite, jaundice or sunburn. Each plant is labeled, and a map and sign identifies its location.