Colombo Trip Overview
Haputale is a small town in Sri Lanka that is quaint and nestled away from the main cities and towns. Apart from escaping the city’s hustle, Haputale is where one can surround themselves with rolling hills covered in tea plantations, and indulge themselves in the tranquil and the serene ambience cloud-covered forests and mountains. The temperature of the city remains refreshing and fresh throughout the year because of its hilly elevation from the rest of the towns and cities in the country. The town encompasses so many tea gardens and estates that one can walk in those tea gardens for several days without crossing the same paths twice. Other than the tea estates the town is known for the tea factories, Lipton’s seat and the Adisham Monastery, the trek to the Diyaluma waterfall and more. The town is a perfect amalgamation and the combo of flora, fauna, forests, cloud, hills and tea gardens that create the ideal environment for rejuvenating.
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 in Sri Lanka that is quaint and nestled away from the main cities and towns. Apart from escaping the city’s hustle, Haputale is where one can surround themselves with rolling hills covered in tea plantations, and indulge themselves in the tranquil and the serene ambience cloud-covered forests and mountains. The temperature of the city remains refreshing and fresh throughout the year because of its hilly elevation from the rest of the towns and cities in the country. The town encompasses so many tea gardens and estates that one can walk in those tea gardens for several days without crossing the same paths twice. Other than the tea estates the town is known for the tea factories, Lipton’s seat and the Adisham Monastery, the trek to the Diyaluma waterfall and more. The town is a perfect amalgamation and the combo of flora, fauna, forests, cloud, hills and tea gardens that create the ideal environment for rejuvenating.
Itinerary
Day 1: Colombo/Negombo – Haputale
Stop At: Dambatenne Tea Factory, Haputale-Dambethanna Rd, Haputale 90160 Sri Lanka
Dambatenne Tea Factory is situated near Haputale and is frequently visited on the way to the famous vantage point Lipton’s Seat. The highlight of a visit to Dambatenne is the tour of the factory; wherein one can understand the complete processing of numerous types of tea, from the picking of the leaves until it reaches the consumer. Apart from the informative tour, visitors can enjoy the scenic surroundings of Dambatenne, namely the lush tea plantations scattered with several tea-pickers moving about their daily jobs, and verdant mountains. Interestingly, some of the equipments at Dambatenne Tea Factory, although more than a century old, still functions today—offering an insight into tea production during the colonial era.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: St Benedict’s Monastery – Adisham, Haputale Sri Lanka
Adisham Hall is a stone bungalow located near Haputale, Sri Lanka. Constructed in the regal English style of architecture, it houses a charming and well-maintained fruit and flower orchard, a Benedictine monastery, and two quaint rooms—the living room and the library, exhibiting objects from the colonial era. The Adisham Hall also offers a tranquil atmosphere and gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains. The road to the tranquil monastery cuts through forests and paves way to a land with vistas overlooking many of Sri Lanka’s spectacular undulating mountain ranges and valleys. The vast enchanting gardens leading up to the bungalow still holds an English charm, with blooming flowers that are many-hued and carefully cultured. The manor and its garden preside across 10 acres of land. The Tudor and Jacobean style architecture of the house was designed by R. Booth and F. Webster.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Thangamale Bird Sanctuary, Haputale Sri Lanka
Located at Haputale, Thangamale is a forested zone on the hillside near Adisham Hall; it is popularly known as the Thangamale Bird Sanctuary. The area is home to a plethora of birds, butterflies and other fauna. The wildlife aside, Thangamale also offers stunning vistas of the lush green hills and tea estates. Spanning an area of 131 hectares, Thangamale was designated as a protected area in 1938. Visitors can traverse the jungle by a 4.3 km long and leisurely walk along a ridge from the Adisham Hall till the Idalgashinna Railway Station, or vice versa. The birdlife at Thangamale comprises both common and endemic species; it includes the yellow-eared bulbul, Sri Lanka White-eye and Sri Lankan junglefowl. Diverse fauna can also be spotted here, such as porcupines, deer and monkeys.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in Haputale
Day 2: Haputale – Colombo/Negombo
Stop At: Lipton’s Seat, Haputale 90160 Sri Lanka
Lipton’s Seat is a viewpoint situated in the Haputale mountain range, atop the Dambatenne Tea Estate. Located at a height of 1970 metres above sea level, Lipton’s Seat offers spectacular 360-degree views of the verdant hills and tea plantations. Add to that a cup of hot tea—it certainly can’t get any better! Sir Thomas Lipton, the founder of the renowned brand Lipton Tea, was often found pondering about his tea empire here; a statue of Sir Lipton greets visitors to Lipton’s Seat. The views stretch for miles together—one can spot more than five provinces at the viewpoint! In addition to tea, a café at the top serves delicious food, including roti and samosa.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Diyaluma Falls, Colombo – Batticaloa Hwy, Koslanda 90190 Sri Lanka
An hour away from Ella, Diyaluma Falls is the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. The waterfall tumbles down from a height of a whopping 220 metres, with several beautiful natural infinity pools at different levels along its length. Diyaluma Falls forms along the Poonagala Oya, a minor tributary of the river Kirindi Oya. The highlights of a trip to Diyaluma Falls, an attraction steeped in folklore, are the hike to its top and swimming at the serene pools; not to forget the magnificent views of the emerald hills at the peak. Whether you choose to merely view the falls from the Diyaluma Falls Bridge or spend the day there amidst the pools and the views, you won’t regret a visit to this spectacular falls!
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
