Cities
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- 1 Badulla - the capital city of Uva Province, a romantic spot surrounded by tea plantations
- 2 Bandarawela - a busy market town 10 km north of Haputale
- 3 Dambana
- 4 Ella - a busy tourist town in a perfect area for hiking, visiting waterfalls, and enjoying Sri Lankan culture
- 5 Haputale a hill country village, surrounded by tea estates; there's also a little Anglican Church (St Andrews) on the Bandarawela Road
- 6 Kataragama - a pilgrimage town sacred to Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and indigenous Vedda people
- 7 Mahiyanganaya
- 8 Moneragala - capital city of the same district, located about 50 km from Badulla on the highway A-4 leading to Pottuvil
- 9 Passara
- 10 Sorabora Wewa
- 11 Welimada
- 12 Wellawaya
Other destinations
[edit]- 1 The Udawalawe National Park was established in 1972 to protect the Walawe reservoir. Wildlife includes elephants, crocodiles, jackals, buffalo, and others.
- 2 The Maduru Oya National Park , 300 km away from Colombo in the dry zone. The fascinating Veddas, the indigenous people of Sri Lanka, are still living in the park.
Understand
[edit]Human habitation in Uva province dates back 12,000-28,000 years based on artifacts found near Ella and Bandarawella. This province was the seat of the great rebellion of 1817-8 against the British colonial government which had come to power two years before. The conflict descented into brutal guerrilla warfare and the British won after executing the leader of the uprising, forcibly removing all adult males from the area, and pursuing a scorched earth policy.
Economically, Uva remains a significant agricultural area, but farmers are facing challenges such as unstable prices and financial stress.
Uva is a geographically diverse province, encompassing part of the central highlands and flat lowland plains in the south-east. Most tourists visiting Uva visit the highlands for hiking, tea plantations, waterfalls and natural beauty. This is also the most developed part of the province with regard to tourist infrastructure. National parks draw visitors to the drier lowlands.
Get in
[edit]The Main Line railway runs through Uva Province, connecting Colombo Fort to the line's terminus at Badulla (9 hours). This scenic route passes through stunning landscapes, including Ella, Haputale, and Bandarawela, making it Sri Lanka’s most famous train journey. The train route runs along the Mahaweli River Valley among green mountains, offering splendid views of the highlands, tea plantations and countless waterfalls. This is the only train line and it is confined to the central highlands.
Get around
[edit]Uva Province has a poor bus network compared to other provinces. The bus services are operated by private companies and the government-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB). Some routes are listed here.
See
[edit]Monuments
[edit]- 1 Buduruwagala Rock Carvings. Five kilometres south of Wellawaya, on the road to Tissa there are seven statues carved out of a rock. The tallest one, depicting the Buddha, is 50 feet tall. Buduruwagala means "stone images of the Buddha"
- 2 The Maligawila Buddha statue. carved out of stone, stands in a blessing posture. It is 37 feet and 10 inches tall. The spot is close to Maligawila village.
Waterfalls
[edit]- Dunhinda Falls 3 km from Badulla town
- Manawela Falls 12 km from Welimada
- Diyaluma Falls It is 220m high and close to the A-4 road between Koslanda and Wellawaya.
- Rawana Falls is just outside of Ella
Do
[edit]- Hike to Little Adam's Peak
- Safari at Udawalawe National Park
- Visit tea plantations
- Walk along the famous Nine Arches Bridge near Ella
Eat
[edit]- Ella Dream Cafe (1000m), Wellawaya Road (Village centre), ☏ +94 572228950. All Day. Recommended cafe with well cooked western dishes, fresh fish and veggies as well as Hill Country specials. Very attentive service. Best fish & chips in Sri Lanka! $4 to 7.
Sleep
[edit]Guest Houses
[edit]- High Cliffe, ☏ +94 57-68096. 15, Station Road - Rooms:6
- White Monkey - Dias Rest, ☏ +94 57-5681027. Hillside Thotulagala, Dambatenne Road km post 3, Cottage: 1 - Family Rooms: 2.
- Bawa Guest House, Haputale, 32 Thammbipillai Ave. down under Welimada Temple Road. Phone +94 57 226 82 60 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(0)72 915 76 16. Email: [email protected]
Go next
[edit]Continue east to Arugam Bay or head south to Tangalle.