She’s majestic, graceful, beautiful and charming; she’s like nowhere else in Sri Lanka. She rules the chilly hills of the tea country, commanding respect, inspiring awe, and granting visitors an insight into a peaceful rural realm reflecting the simple life of bygone days. For us, Haputale is the Queen of the Hill Country. We’ve listed 7 awesome things to do in Haputale
Haputale, at 1,431m above sea level, experiences daily dramatic weather changes.
Not many travellers visit Haputale, choosing to stay on the train to Ella or jumping off before Haputale to join other tourists thronging Kandy or Nuwara Eliya, but this hillside town offers some really great things to do with the benefit of peace and quiet (something that is hard to find in the rowdiness of Ella or traffic-clogged Nuwara Eliya and Kandy), a stimulating climate and amazing views.
Visit Haputale once and it will quickly become one of your favourite places in Sri Lanka.
Getting there, and things to do in Haputale
Daily express trains leave Colombo at 05:55 arriving at Haputale at 15;00; at 08:30, arriving at 16:26; at 09:45 arriving at 17:26, The night mail leaves Colombo at 20:00 and arrives at Haputale at. 04:55.
The train journey takes more than eight hours because of the terrain and the number of stations where it stops, even though the train is called an “express.” The train shedule can be checked on services.railway.gov.lk
The Colombo – Badulla bus, route number 99, which goes via Haputale starts from the main private bus station at Bastian Mawatha Colombo Fort. The bus journey takes four to five hours.
Here are a few more reasons why you should visit Haputale, the Queen of the Hill Country.
1. Sunrise at Lipton’s Seat
Lipton’s Seat is one of Sri Lanka’s most impressive viewpoints, unless it’s misty and cloudy of course, which is why early mornings (sunrise at Haputale is usually at 05.45 – 06.00) are the best time to visit.
The Scottish tea baron Sir Thomas Lipton used to survey his burgeoning empire from here, and today it’s said you can see across emerald hills and tea estates to no fewer than seven different provinces.
Hiking to Lipton Seat.
Take the signed narrow paved road from the Dambatenne Tea Factory and climb about 5.4km through tea plantations. It’s also possible to drive up – tuk-tuks charge around Rs 1500 return from Haputale. There are also buses and small vans transporting people but they could get overcrowded.
You don’t need a guide and you will pass many friendly tea pluckers heading to work in the plantations.
Cost
There’s a ticket counter 1km before the viewpoint. Charges are Rs30 per adult and Rs50 per vehicle.
Get your breakfast there
There’s a tea shop at the top which also sells instant made roti (flatbread made with coconut and wheat flour). It’s the best way to have breakfast and start the day with a superb view.
2. Dambatenne Tea Factory at Haputale
After sunrise, walk all the way down (5.4km) to the tea factory. There are a few shortcuts (ask the locals or use Google maps), so you won’t need to hike along the road for the whole time.
The factory is open to visitors from 08.00 hrs. Mornings are the best time to see the factory in full working mode.
This popular tea factory was built in 1890 by Sir Thomas Lipton, one of the most famous figures in tea history. The tea manufacturing tour is an education on the processes involving fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and grading of tea. It’s probably the most comprehensive tea-factory tour in Sri Lanka, and afterwards, you can sip a cup of freshly brewed single estate, pure Lipton’s tea.
On Sundays no processing takes place, so there’s little to see in the factory.
Cost and contact
Rs250 per person. The contact number of the factory is 0575677978 (+94575677978 if dialled outside Sri Lanka)
Photographs
No photography is allowed in the tea processing area, as that’s one of the best-kept secrets of the Dambatenne Tea Factory.
3. Haputale Adisham Bungalow
This gothic mansion 4.7km from Haputale, tucked away in a forest, was, built-in 1931 as the home of a colonial entrepreneur, now it’s the Franciscan Adisham Novitiate (for training Catholic priests). It’s evident why this place was chosen as it offers plenty of seclusion and peace and is known locally as a monastery or simply “Adisham Bungalow.”
Adisham is open to the public on weekends and public holidays (09.00 – 16.30). Two rooms are open to the public, one of which is a library with an incredible collection of books and other colonial memorabilia.
Home-made Jam, marmalade and mango chutney are popular buys at Adisham. A Tuk-tuk to reach there from Haputale town would cost Rs200 to Rs250.
Cost and contact
Entrance fee Rs100 per adult. Telephone: 0572 268 030 (If calling from outside Sri Lanka +94572 268 030)
4. Day trip to Horton Plains National Park
Horton Plains is 34km from Haputale. The best time would be is to get there in the morning hours before the mist creeps in.
Horton Plains National Park is a protected area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka and is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 metres is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region.
Read our full guide on visiting Hortain plains
5. Devil’s Staircase, Bambarakanda Falls, and Train ride
The journey from Kalupahana to Ohiya – Devil’s Staircase is an adventure You could be tough enough to walk its length or mad enough to drive the ruined road but this is a journey worth taking for the experience of rugged Sri Lanka.
By foot, the hike would take 5 to 6 hours with dramatic weather changes.
It’s 9.8km to hike to the Idalgashinna railway station. From the Idalgashina railway station don’t forget to see the five provinces and their landmarks.
Read our full guide on Devil’s Staircase
6. Cycle / Scooter ride
Bikes are a great way to see Haputale. You can ride up to Lipton’s seat, ride along trails through tea estates, or even make a trip up to Hortain plains. Haputale Bike Rent Service – 076 049 4991 rental starts from Rs1500 a day.
7. Day trip to Ella
Ella is a place full of waterfalls, the Ravana trails, caves and the zip line. There’s a train from Haputale at 11:13 that reaches Ella at 12:31 and at 14:17 that reaches Ella at 15:14. There’s a train back from Ella at 18:51 arriving at Haputale at 20:10
Sri Lanka Holiday Guru Tip
We don’t recommend riding the bicycle or the bike up to Bambarakanda waterfalls as you’ll have to park the bike in an unsecured location and walk.
If planning to visit Lipton’s seat, and you want to see the tea production at the Dambatenne Factory on the way back, start your day very early.
Haputale can get cold in the evenings, be prepared.
There are professional and self-proclaimed tour guides. If taking their service agree on the rates beforehand.
Before taking a tuk-tuk agree on the rates. Usually, it’s Rs50 to Rs60 per kilometre but allow an additional cost as the tuk-tuks might have to climb steep hills. If negotiated properly the tuk-tuk will wait till you finish your tour and drop you back at the hotel. That’s best as otherwise, it could be a long walk back.
The town doesn’t sell chilled beer from a fridge, as the locals prefer beer at Haputale’s own cool temperature.
