Hikkaduwa Smoke Sauna

Rental use or for members only or for customers only

Herrankukkaro Oy began its aid work in 1986 on the cinnamon island of Ceylon, in the state of Sri Lanka. A training centre for disabled children, a health station and a reception centre for marginalised children have been built there, and thousands of pairs of school shoes and water tanks etc. have been distributed. The Finlandia House school was also founded in the valley of the poor, and school meals were started on the island. Herrankukkaro's own base was built in 2002 on the shore of the Birds Lake jungle lake. In 2004 a real smoke sauna was built, and it was inaugurated with the blessing of a local minister monk. The next day the tsunami struck. The smoke sauna has been a significant source of refreshment in a country where temperatures are often 30-35 degrees and humidity is high. Sweating and washing in a smoke sauna are especially refreshing in a hot climate. The smoke sauna is located on the southern shore of the island, near the village of Hikkaduwa, at the edge of the jungle on the shore of the bird lake. For local people the smoke sauna is a curiosity that is genuinely marvelled at. The sauna is built in the local manner from concrete bricks. A wooden structure would not survive the humidity. In the lower course of bricks every other brick is left out, so plenty of fresh air comes inside. For heating wood, thick peeled sticks of the cinnamon bush are used, and their heat value is very high. The scent of cinnamon also stays on the bather's skin, refreshing and smelling pleasant.