Luxury today is finding a quiet moment above the clouds, waking up to the rhythm of the ocean, or sitting amidst endless tea hills where time feels beautiful. Nath Rankothge, Founder, AAHAASA Collection shares the idea behind creating a luxury escape for travellers amidst the chaos.
Tripti Jain
Across Sri Lanka’s mountains, coastlines, and lush landscapes, AAHAASA Collection is crafting experiences that invite travellers to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with themselves through nature, wellness, and soulful hospitality. Founded by architect and visionary entrepreneur Nath Rankothge, the boutique luxury collection brings together immersive sanctuaries that celebrate Sri Lanka’s emotional warmth, cultural richness, and transformative beauty through deeply personal journeys shaped by place, people, and purpose.
AAHAASA Collection brings together a trilogy of distinctive sanctuaries across the country. Aarunya Nature Resort offers restorative mountain serenity, Aavya Cove Villas captures the stillness of the ocean, and Aadya Tea Bungalows immerses guests within the timeless rhythm of Sri Lanka’s tea country. Each property delivers its own emotional experience while remaining connected through a shared philosophy rooted in wellness, nature, architecture, and soulful hospitality.
Born between mountains, tea & sea
The story of the brand began with Aarunya Nature Resort, a project rooted in family, architecture, and a desire to reconnect with Sri Lanka’s landscapes and spirit. “AAHAASA emerged organically through the journey of creating Aarunya Nature Resort, which began as a personal architectural and family vision rooted in Sri Lanka’s landscapes, culture, and sense of peace,” says Nath.
Having worked internationally across London, New York, Shanghai, Sydney, and Colombo, Nath was exposed to luxury hospitality developments around the world. Those experiences inspired him to create a Sri Lankan brand capable of delivering global luxury standards while remaining emotionally authentic and deeply connected to its surroundings. Speaking more about the core purpose behind the brand he shares, “Aarunya was an opportunity for my father Lal Rankothge, an environmentalist, and I to give back to Sri Lanka after spending over three decades overseas.”
The evolution of the collection unfolded naturally. During the completion of the Sol Sanctuary at Aarunya, Nath discovered the property that would later become Aavya Cove Villas. He reminisces and shares, “Through a single photograph I immediately recognised how perfectly it complemented Aarunya, sea and mountains, reflection and awakening. Soon after came Aadya Tea Bungalows, completing the collection’s tea, spice, and sea trilogy.”
Luxury with a soulful pulse
At the collection, design and aesthetics form only the beginning of the guest experience. The deeper philosophy revolves around transformation, stillness, and emotional elevation. Nath explains about the origin and says, “The name ‘AAHAASA,’ meaning ‘to the sky’ in Sinhala, reflects our belief that travel done right has the ability to elevate the mind, body, and spirit. This philosophy is woven into every aspect of the collection through what we call it as the ‘Aa…’ philosophy. Aarambha focuses on rituals of arrival, Aarogya centres around holistic wellbeing, Aahaara celebrates culinary storytelling, and Aaloka creates spaces of gathering and warmth. Each property interprets these ideas differently according to its own landscape and atmosphere.”
Furthermore he elaborates, “Aarunya became a place of awakening where architecture, wellness, cuisine, and nature converge to create moments of stillness, clarity, and reconnection. I recall a guest who regularly stayed at Aman properties around the world telling me, after staying at Aarunya, that the experience felt more personal and emotionally authentic.”
Where travellers find stillness
India continues to emerge as one of the most significant markets, particularly among travellers seeking immersive and restorative experiences close to home. During a recent visit to India, Nath observed the extraordinary pace and energy shaping cities such as Mumbai and Delhi. Alongside that dynamics, he also recognised the growing importance of calm, privacy, and emotional respite for modern Indian travellers.
Nath points a key point and explains, “In increasingly fast-paced urban environments, peace and seclusion have become rare luxuries. This evolving traveller mindset aligns naturally with our philosophy. Every sanctuary is designed to slow time down and create meaningful moments of reconnection.”
He adds, “Whether it is wellness journeys overlooking the ocean at Aavya, tea-country reflection at Aadya, or restorative mountain serenity at Aarunya, every experience is designed around privacy, authenticity, emotional warmth, and meaningful immersion in nature.
Curating journeys
AAHAASA is steadily strengthening its engagement with the Indian travel trade through deeper collaboration with luxury travel specialists and boutique experiential travel planners.
Nath says, “India has always been an important market for Aarunya, with many returning guests across couples, families, and celebratory travel. Recent meetings with leading travel professionals have opened opportunities across wellness retreats, honeymoons, intergenerational family holidays, private group experiences, and destination celebrations. Our latest properties, Aavya and Aadya, significantly expand the breadth of experiences we can offer Indian travellers.”
One of the newest initiatives is the AAHAASA Island Concierge, a curated collection of itineraries connecting the collection’s tea, spice, and sea sanctuaries into one seamless Sri Lankan journey.
“These itineraries allow guests to experience Sri Lanka through a coherent philosophy of wellness, nature, culture, and emotional discovery. Our focus remains on creating journeys that naturally foster long-term relationships with both travellers and trade partners,” Nath says.
Every sanctuary tells its own story
For many boutique hospitality brands, growth often comes at the cost of individuality. They approach expansion differently by ensuring each property retains its own emotional identity and architectural character.
Speaking more about the same Nath shares, “Individuality is fundamental to our philosophy. Aavya delivers a serene ocean-inspired wellness experience, Aadya reflects the contemplative calm of tea country, and Aarunya offers mountain spirituality and restorative stillness. What unites the collection is a shared emotional philosophy centred around transformation, authenticity, wellbeing, and quiet refinement.”
Future properties will continue embracing this approach, introducing new wellness and cultural experiences while remaining deeply rooted within local identity and landscape. There goal is to create soulful sanctuaries connected through philosophy and emotion rather than formula.
The rise of transformative travel
As luxury travel continues evolving toward more intentional and emotionally enriching experiences, AAHAASA Collection is creating a new benchmark for boutique hospitality in Sri Lanka. Through architecture, wellness, nature, and deeply personalised experiences, the collection offers travellers something increasingly rare in today’s world: stillness, connection, and emotional clarity.
Nath concludes, “At its heart, our collection is for travellers seeking calm, restoration, and perspective. The greatest luxury today is the ability to truly disconnect from the world and reconnect with oneself. In an era where travellers are searching for meaning as much as movement, AAHAASA stands as a sanctuary where luxury feels intimate, transformative, and deeply alive.”
