Understand
[edit]Haputale is a relaxed little place with about 5,000 inhabitants, mostly Tamils mixed with some Muslims and Buddhists. It's a wonderful place to retreat for a while. As it is located on top of a mountain range, the views are exceptional. Though being quite high above sea level, the sun should be minded.
Get in
[edit]Haputale lies on the train line between Colombo and Badulla. Trains from Colombo leave at 05:55, 08:30, 09:45 and 20:30, taking about 9 hours to travel the 250 km. Fares are Rs 470/300 2nd/3rd class, and some 1st class carriages with reserved seating should be available.
Get around
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Walking or by tuk-tuk, as usual in Sri Lanka. One can also take the train to visit smaller places around Haputale such as Ella, Bandarawella or Badulla. It's also quite common to take the train to one of the neighbouring villages and simply walk back that same way on the rail tracks, as the locals do. Those rail track walks offer some of the best views Sri Lanka has to offer.
See
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A lot of tea estates surround the tiny city. Just wandering around in the plantations and watching the tea workers collecting the leaves.
- 1 Dambatenne Tea Factory (a bus from near the bus station is Rs 80). Well known tea manufacturers (e.g. Lipton Tea) cultivate their plantations around Haputale. "Dambatenne" is one of the tea processing centers (9 km from the city). Sir Thomas J. Lipton was living on this estate and the factory still maintains most of the machinery already in use one century ago. The possibility to visit and watch those traditional production techniques as well as try different kinds of tea makes this quite a popular tourist attraction. Rs 1,000.
- 2 Lipton's Seat (Located about 16 km from Haputale (7 km from Tea Factory), you can reach it either by tuktuk (Rs 2,000–3,000 return including waiting time at Lipton's seat and Tea factory if needed) or take the small local bus from near Haputale bus station to Bandareliya (Rs 180) and walk the rest. In case you are using your own means of transport, don't get fooled by the tuktuk touts at the tea factory into believing that the further road is not open for regular vehicle. That's BS, the road is public — they are just trying to convince you to take them as pricey alternative.). Famous Viewpoint 1,970 m above sea level. Incredible views, on good conditions (it may be cloudy already from 10AM on, so go early!) you can see the sea. Rs 550 (a shortcut on foot from the bus stop will save you the fee).
- Alternatively, there are many other trails you could walk for decent viewpoints — just use a map like Openstreetmap to find them.
- Adisham Monastery. This large granite country house, surrounded by gardens and orchards, was constructed by the British Planter Sir Thomas Lister Valliers in 1931.
Do
[edit]Walking.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]There is the standard range of eateries.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Budget
[edit]- 1 Farah Guest Inn, Thambapillai Avenue, Down Under Welimada Road (just off of Beragala-Hali Ela north of Golden Hill Tea Centre), ☏ +94 77 613 1110. Breakfast and dinner available if requested. Nice views.
- 2 Amarasinghe Guest House, Thambapillai Av, (Colombo road or Temple road), ☏ +94 572 268 175. Check-out: noon. Wifi available, and meals can be ordered through a menu. Rs 3350.
- 3 Leisure Mount View Holiday Inn, Temple Road, Magiripura, ☏ +94 572 268 327. Room with incredible views from the balconies and the nice lounge. Good homecooking also. Rs 1861 to 2791.
- 4 Bawa Guest House, 32. Thammbipillai Ave (down under Welimada Temple Road), ☏ +94 57 226 82 60, [email protected]. Friendly place with big clean rooms, hot water and delicious home cooking. Hosts can provide a lot of information about the area. Free pickup service call Fazmi +94 72 915 76 16. Rs 1675.
Splurge
[edit]- Melheim Resorts, Lower blackwood, Beragala, ☏ +94 57 5675969, [email protected]. Satellite TV, private toilet and bath, breakfast included. USD 110.36.
Go next
[edit]- Ella by train
- Nuwara Eliya or Kandy by train