Haputale grew as a town because of the needs of workers on the surrounding tea plantations, most of which were at one time owned by Thomas Lipton, creator of the popular Lipton’s Tea. It is an authentic country town proud of its heritage and heartfelt hospitality for visitors. Unlike its neighbour, Ella, Haputale does not pander to tourists. Visitors are expected to eat, drink and shop where the locals do.
The town straddles a ridge of hills at the edge of a fantastic view over hills and dales stretching down to the south coast.
This is what makes Haputale so charming and relaxing. No one runs after you to get you to visit their shop or ride in their tuk-tuk. So while most tourists travelling by train stay on it as it rumbles along beside Haputale’s main street and get down at Ella, those who do alight at Haputale railway station, discover a sense of the real (not pseudo), Sri Lanka.
You stroll along the road from the station with the track on one side and local shops (including one selling tea) to the level crossing where the train invades the town a few times every day. That’s where you’ll find passenger vans and tuk-tuks to hire to visit the area’s highlights: Lipton’s Seat, the Adisham Mansion and the butterfly sanctuary in a wood overlooking it.
Haputale’s climate is ever changing. Cool mist can descend suddenly and clear to bright sunshine just as suddenly. In other words, we reckon any time of year is good to visit Haputale but you might need warm clothing if you don’t like the cool resh mountain air.
The Olympus Plaza Hotel is built for tourists and has a bar with a view. High Cliffe Hotel by the railway crossing was once a popular hippy hangout but now its first-floor pub (bottled beer and spirits) is the haunt of local workers and not a place foreign – or local – women would feel comfortable in. There are several retail (take-away) liquor outlets. The Rest House outside town on the Bandarawela road has a dining room and bar with local food available, and you can also sit outside on makeshift seats in the garden.
Lettuce & Cabbage in the new complex opposite the railway crossing serves beer.
Night life? This is a working town and closes up early.
Daily express Podi Menike train leaves Colombo fort railway station at 05:55:00 arrives at Haputale at 14:15:00
Daily express Udarata Menike train leaves Colombo fort railway 08:30:00 reaches Haputale at 16:26:00
Daily train leaves Colombo Fort at 09:45:00 reaches Haputale at 17:26:00
Daily Night mail train leaves Colombo Fort at 20:00:00 and reaches Haputale at 04:55:00
Seat reservations are available on all these trains.
Private and state air-conditioned and old-fashioned non-air-conditioned buses start from Colombo Fort bus terminal for the journey to the hill country.
Colombo to Badulla bus number 99, starts from the private bus stand at Bastian Mawatha Colombo 
Directions) and there are air-conditioned options available. The journey takes at least five hours.
If you wish not to wait in queue and want to guarantee a seat reserving bus seats online through is an option.
Taxi-hailing apps don’t work in Haputale. There are plenty of tuk-tuks so do a deal on the fare that you’re happy with. But make sure the driver understands where you want to go before you get in.
Tuk-Tuk fare calculation tip – Rs60 for the first kilometre and then Rs45 every additional kilometre. That’s the standard Government approved rate. If the tuk-tuk has a lot of hills to climb, bad roads and a lot of waiting, expect the driver to add extra to the hire cost.
Haputale is a small town, most of the places worth visiting there can be reached by foot or by public transport.
Haputale is a tourist town and can be regarded as safe. Just keep your wits about you. Wear comfortable light clothing and shoes as there’s lot of walking to be done. The nights can get cold although the temperature is unlikely to drop below 10 °C.
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.
There’s a ticket counter 1km before the viewpoint. Charges are Rs30 per adult and Rs50 per vehicle.
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.
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.
Rs250 per person. The contact number of the factory is 0575677978 (+94575677978 if dialled outside Sri Lanka)
No photography is allowed in the tea processing area, as that’s one of the best-kept secrets of the Dambatenne Tea Factory.
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)
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.
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.
At 790 metres, the Bambarakanda waterfall is the highest in Sri Lanka and is the 299th tallest waterfall in the world. Access to the falls is not direct from the roadside and some walking is required. It’s a perfect spot to bathe but be warned of the freezing cold water and leaches.
The best times to view the falls are in March and April; however, you can see Bambarakanda in all its glory after any heavy rainfall. We were told that hiking to the peak of the waterfall is possible.
Diyaluma Falls is 220 m high and the second-highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 361st highest waterfall in the world. It is situated 6 km away from Koslanda in Badulla District on Colombo-Badulla highway. The Falls are formed by Punagala Oya, a tributary of Kuda Oya which in turn, is a tributary of Kirindi Oya
