Colombo Trip Overview
Haputale is a small town on the southern edge of the Sri Lankan hill country. On a clear day you can see the coastline from the mountain ridge, but on other days thick mist clings on to the deep green mountains, giving you a surreal experience of being surrounded by clouds. Explore the stunning surroundings of Haputale during your travels and discover its myriad of attractions! There are a wide range of unique things to do in Haputale, that suits all types of travellers! Embark on a tea tasting tour or stand in awe at the beauty of Diyaluma Falls as well.
‣ Spend two days in this hidden gem city
‣ Convenient transportation with a flexible itinerary
‣ Hotel pick up and drop off included
‣ Accommodation facilities covered by us
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Haputale is a small town on the southern edge of the Sri Lankan hill country. On a clear day you can see the coastline from the mountain ridge, but on other days thick mist clings on to the deep green mountains, giving you a surreal experience of being surrounded by clouds. Explore the stunning surroundings of Haputale during your travels and discover its myriad of attractions! There are a wide range of unique things to do in Haputale, that suits all types of travellers! Embark on a tea tasting tour or stand in awe at the beauty of Diyaluma Falls as well.
‣ Spend two days in this hidden gem city
‣ Convenient transportation with a flexible itinerary
‣ Hotel pick up and drop off included
‣ Accommodation facilities covered by us
Itinerary
Day 1: Colombo/Negombo – Haputale
Stop At: St Benedict’s Monastery – Adisham, Haputale Sri Lanka
The Adisham Bungalow was once the country house of Sir Thomas Lester Villiers, but today it houses the Adisham Monastery of the St. Benedict. Found just 3km away from Haputale town, the Adisham Bungalow is one of the most picturesque corners in the region. Constructed in 1931, the house was designed in the Tudor style and fashioned after the Leeds Castle in Kent- Sir Thomas Villiers even named it after the village he was born in- and has all the trappings of what you would imagine an English mansion would have. The Bungalow has an impressive library which is filled from floor to ceiling with old dusty volumes that the planter held dear.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Lipton’s Seat, Haputale 90160 Sri Lanka
Lipton’s Seat is perhaps the most popular attraction in Haputale. Situated an hour away from Haputale town, Lipton’s Seat is a viewpoint named after the celebrated Thomas Lipton. He was a Scottish businessman who moved to British Ceylon in1890, where he met James Taylor and together they introduced tea gardens to the country. Prior to Lipton’s arrival, Taylor had attempted to grow coffee on the island, however, the coffee plantations were devastated by a leaf-blight. With Lipton’s help, the two men embarked on a business venture which would outlive their lifetimes. Today, you can still have one of the best views from the lookout, and there is even a life-sized statue of Lipton on a bench to take pictures with!
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Idalgashinna Railway Station, Udarata dumriya margaya, Idalgashinna, Sri Lanka
Located between Haputale and Ohiya railway stations, Idalgashinna Railway Station is often deemed as the most picturesque railway station in Sri Lanka. The station is from the colonial era and was constructed in 1893 when the railway track was extended from Nanu Oya to Haputale. The station is also famous for having 14 tunnels between Ohiya and Idalgashinna, holding the record for the highest number of tunnels between two railway stations in Sri Lanka. Idalgashinna Station is a tiny station which looks even smaller by the pine-forest covered hill towering behind it. There is only one platform for the whole station, and as soon as you get off the train all you can see are endless green hills with a few scattered buildings which peak through the greenery.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in a 3 star hotel in Haputale
Day 2: Haputale – Colombo/Negombo
Stop At: Dambatenne Tea Factory, Haputale-Dambethanna Rd, Haputale 90160 Sri Lanka
The Dambatenne Tea Factory was built by Thomas Lipton in 1890 when he began his tea empire, and this is the factory that manufactures his famous Lipton Ceylonta black tea. Lipton made the tea industry what it is today; with workers harvesting the tea, he sold his tea all around the world, quickly making Lipton a household name. There is a tour of the factory that runs every 30-minutes and it is a really interesting activity to do, especially if you’re ‘tea-enthusiast’. At the factory, you will be given a tour of the factory grounds where you will be able to see the whole manufacturing process- from the collection of the tea leaves to the oxidation process, and finally the packaging- of Ceylon black tea. At the end of the tour, you will also be able to sample some of the world-renowned Ceylon tea and be given the opportunity to buy a few souvenirs from here.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Diyaluma Falls, Colombo – Batticaloa Hwy, Koslanda 90190 Sri Lanka
Diyaluma Waterfall is the country’s second tallest waterfall and one of the most accessible. Like many places in Sri Lanka, Diyaluma Waterfall is yet another location that is entrenched in folklore. Diyaluma roughly translated to ‘rapid flow of water’ or ‘liquid light’, despite these fairly tranquil names, the story behind the cascade is quite tragic. It is said that once a long time ago, a chief’s son was banished and he was supposed to flee the village with his betrothed. To leave the village before being attacked, they had to scale a cliff face, however, the girl slipped and fell to her death. The gods took pity on the young girl, and almost immediately a gush of water rushed over the cliff to wash off any evidence of the tragedy. Even though the story behind this waterfall’s name is quite morbid, the view from the top makes you instantly forget about the story.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
