Kandy Samadhi Centre has just 12 rooms, but they're spread over extensive grounds. The property was formerly a tea plantation before it was bought by an antique dealer who turned it into a hippie retreat inspired by meditation. This means there are no Wi-Fi, TVs, or cellphone service, and the property is best for  tourists with an interest in unplugging from the world and learning more about yoga, massage, and meditation. Decor throughout is locally inspired, with lots of antique furniture and temple-like structures, but some areas look quite worn. The lobby (called the Zen Lounge) is painted a bright vermillion and has floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that lead out to a large furnished terrace under a clay-tile roof. There are stone pathways crisscrossing the lush grounds that lead to rooms, lotus ponds, and multiple terraces overlooking the tropical forests. Guests should expect to do lots of walking and the pathways are lit by oil lamps at night. 

The hotel is a 50-minute drive from the city of Kandy in central Sri Lanka, up winding mountain paths that are poorly lit at night. (Guests recommend arriving in the daytime to avoid a harrowing drive.) Because of its rural, remote location, there isn't anything in walking distance of the hotel other than a waterfall that is a 30-minute hike away. The resort is meant to be its own little enclosed world, which means guests probably won't want to venture out from its grounds. If they do, though, there are some interesting attractions in Kandy to see, including the Temple of the Tooth (a 50-minute drive), the Ceylon Tea Museum (a 60-minute drive), and the Royal Botanic Gardens (a 60-minute drive). The nearest airport is in Colombo, about three-and-a-half hours away by car.

There are 12 rooms, all individually decorated and location in different areas separated by the forested grounds. Because the retreat is owned by an antique dealer, the rooms are decked out in antique furniture, which range from charming, hand-carved pieces to some that are looking worse for the wear. All rooms have terra-cotta or stone floors, sitting areas, dining sets, artwork and/or decorative accents, and simple linens. Some rooms are open-air, which means guests must sleep under a mosquito net to not be bothered by bugs at night. All have furnished patios with varying views of the grounds or mountains. 

Rooms are incredibly rustic, meaning they lack TVs, Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, fans, and toiletries. Tea- and coffee-making facilities are included though. Bathrooms are occasionally shared between rooms and many are open-air as well. All have river rock floors, bathtubs, and showers without stalls. 

Lots of guests at the Kandy Samadhi Centre are there to utilize the on-site spa and yoga facilities. The rustic open-air spa offers Ayurvedic treatments, barefoot shiatsu massage, a steam bath, and an astrologer on appointment. There are a river area for bathing, a library, nature walks, yoga classes, and meditation instruction. The open-air vegetarian restaurant offers organic, local Sri Lankan food, which receives excellent reviews from past guests. All rates include a free breakfast with Sri Lankan specialties and cooking classes are available. There is little on-site parking, but it's free.