Journey to Haputhale /හපුතලේ යමු

Haputhale is a main tourist attraction in Sri Lanka among locals and foreigners. This misty city is situated at 1431m attitude. It can be approached by bus as well as train if you use the public transport. Haputhale is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The town has a cooler climate than its surroundings, due to its elevation. The Haputhale pass allows views across the Southern plains of Sri Lanka.

I have been at Haputale in different times and following places were grabbed to my places of interests.

1. Prabawa mountain day view point
2. St. Andrew’s church
3. Haputhale Arboretum
4. Olive View Point
5. Adisham Bungalow
6. Lipton seat
7. Dambethanna Tea Factory

Prabawa Mountain day view point / ප්‍රභාව දිවා නැරඹුම් මධ්යස්තානය (6.772063, 80.964391) (=1750m)

This is a well-known view point among foreigners but less visited by locals. Prabawa view point is situated about 2 km distance from Haputhale town at Dambethenna road. We have walked along Dambethenna road and got left hand turn to Prabawa View point after passing Amman Kovil in Sherwood area. There was a board mentioned about distance as 1.5 km. First we walked on concrete road and then followed the foot pathway through tea bushes to get on to the top of the estate. Prabawa view point is situated on top of the estate. Again we walked through tea bushes and reached the view point where Surangamuni Kovil is placed.

Morning start from Haputhale railway station

Good morning Haputhale

.	Still it is clearing off…..

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At tea den….

Reached the top of the estate

Searching for the view point

Entering to Surangamuni Kovil

This place provides about 270 degree view towards surround. We have enjoyed the view of Haputhale town, Wangedigala, Balathuduwa, Gommolliya, Hortain plains, Idalgashinna peaks, Udaweriya peak, Piduruthalagala, Maha Kudugala, Namunukula and Nayabedda from Prabawa view point. Koslanda and Wellawaya sides were not clear due to haziness.

Surangamuni Kovil at Prabawa view point	View of Haputhale town
Zoomed view of the town with playground and railway station	Newly built line houses
The train has reached the station	Few known peaks…..
Piduruthalagala with towers….	Pointed Maha kudugala
.	Nayabedda with towers
Namunukula	Towards Wellawaya and Koslanda side. Not clear due to haziness.

Directions marked at Prabawa view point

We were on top of view point…

Enjoying the view from Prabawa view point

බෝවිටියා

The foot pathway to a cave like structure. Captured by Kasun Shanaka.

Underground cave….

Team at Surangamuni Kovil

Bells

Bells

Surangamuni Kovil

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There was another view point situated next to Surangamuni Kovil, where they have planned to build a stupa on top of that. It provides better view but the place is narrow.

Other view point…

View from second view point

The place they have planned to build a Stupa

Road to Dambethenna

St. Andrew’s Church (6.772063, 80.964391)

St. Andrew’s church is situated at Haputhale town. Entrance to the church is from Haputhale-Badulla road. Caretaker of this place lives next to the church and he will open door if someone needs to visit the place.

St. Andrew’s church Haputhale

St. Andrew’s church Haputhale

St. Andrew’s church

St. Andrew’s church Haputhale

This place provides a nice view towards Idalgashinna and Ohiya side

Inside the church

History goes more than 130 years back

Glass paint

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Haputhale Arboretum (6.772063, 80.964391)

Haputhale Arboretum is a lesser known place, situated within the city premises. Entrance to the Arboretum is from Haputhale-Bandarawela road in 50-100m after passing the town. As it is under the forest department, you have to get a ticket to walk around.

This arboretum is a nice place to walk and spend the time.  There are foot pathways and benches to spend the time.

Entrance to the Arboretum.

Rising up….

Forest bungalow is situated inside the Arboretum.

Forest bungalow

Roads….

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Foot pathway starts from here

Forest path….

.	Foot pathway…

Place to chat

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Abounded

Mosses

Olive view point-Haputhale (6.766910, 80.958363)

There are different viewpoints on your way from Beragala to Haputhale facing Southern plateau.  Olive view point is the nearest one to Haputhale. It is situated in walking distance from Haputhale town towards Colombo. As the Olive cafeteria is situated at downs stair of this view point, it is called Olive view point. Southern plateau, Wellawaya side and Sabaragamuwa hills are main places can be seen in a clear day from Olive view point.  Don’t forget to taste a hot chocolate from Olive cafeteria while you are enjoying the view. It was really an amazing experience in misty weather.

View of sun rise over Dambethenna area from Olive view point

View of sun rise over Dambethenna area from Olive view point

At Olive view point

From Olive view point

Towards Sabaragamuwa hills

Kuragala and Sooriyakanda (behind)

Udawalawe reservoir

Towards Wellawaya and Koslanda side

From Olive restaurant

From Olive restaurant

Hot chochalate

Olive view point at night

Olive view point at night

Adisham’s Bungalow / ඇඩිෂම් බoගලාව (6.772326, 80.931094)

Adisham Bungalow is the hall mark of Haputhale. It is situated at Haputale-Boralanda road (B353) in 5 km from Haputhale town. You can get a bus running in Boralanda road and get down at Adisham junction. It is about 1-1.5km walk to Adisham Bungalow from the junction.

Currently they open the living room and one room of the bungalow for the public while rest of the bungalow functions as a monastery. This premise provides the view towards Namunukula, Nayabedda, Diyathalawa, Hakgala and rest of mountains in Uva province.

There is an outlet at Adisham bungalow to sell their products including Jam and Cordial. You can spend at Adisham overnight after prior booking.

 History and background

Adisham Bungalow is built by an English planter and aristocrat Sir Thomas Villers, former chairman of George Steuart Co in 1931. Sir Thomas Villers was born in 1869 in Adisham, an ancient village which lies in the hollow of the Kent country side. After the secondary education at England, Sir Thomas has come to Sri Lanka as a trainee on Elbedda estate. In 1896 Villers has married Evelyn Hope and they gave birth to two sons.  

While he was chairman of George Steuarts he started to build his dream home in the country.  He selected this peaceful site at Haputhale, surrounded by beautiful forest called Thangamale which means Golden Hills. The building and garden are on ten acres on land. The house was designed in Tudor style. Sir Villers has imported numerous things from England and Burma to decorate his house.

After doing a great job to Sri Lankan plantation industry he returned to England at the age of 82 and passed away in 1959. After the retirement of Sir Thomas Villers, this house was sold to Sedawaththa oil mill which was owned by Wimala Wijewardana. In 1961 it was purchased by Roman Catholic Church and currently it is functioned as a monastery. (Quoted from www.adisham.com)

Road to Adisham Bungalow from Adisham junction

It functions as a Monastery

Adisham bungalow with it’s garden

Statue of St. Benedict

Mother Mary

Entrance to Adisham Hall

.	Adisham bungalow with garden

Adisham bungalow with garden

Adisham bungalow with garden

Adisham bungalow

Adisham bungalow

Adisham was built in 1931

Supun came with me to Adisham Bungalow.

Adisham garden is full of beautiful flowers

Adisham garden is full of beautiful flowers

Outlet of Adisham products

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View from Adisham Bungalow

View from Adisham Bungalow- Hakgala and Namunukula

Lipton Seat (6.780528, 81.015659) (1970m)

Lipton seat is another famous place situated at Dambethenna area, about 15 km from Haputhale town. You can reach the Lipton seat by a private vehicle from Haputhale. Once I have been there by a vehicle on my way to Punagala camping. This was my second visit to Lipton seat but in different way. Here we got the bus to Dambethenna and walked through tea estate to the Lipton seat.

Haputhale-Dambethenna bus stops at Dambethenna tea factory and usually people get a three wheeler or van from there to Lipton seat. But if you get the help of Google map you can follow the short cuts through greenish tea bushes to scenic Lipton seat. This journey gives you an opportunity to capture beautiful sceneries.

Lake Richmond-road side lake comes across on your way to Dambethenna

Lake Richmond-road Side Lake comes across on your way to Dambethenna

On the way to Lipton seat by foot. This is the highest point of Dambethenna and a shrine is placed there.

Winding road to Lipton seat

The bend….

Backbone of the economy

Kuragala and Sabaragamuwa hills

View towards southern plateau

View towards southern plateau

Entering to the area called Bandaraeliya

Multi religious……Bandaraeliya

Line houses at Bandaraeliya

Lush green…

The view on our way to Lipton seat…. Namunukula (left) and? Maragala range (right)

? Maragala range

Towers at Nayabedda

? Mahakudugala

Lipton’s seat is another view point of Haputhale situated at Dambethenna. This place was a favorite look-outpoint for Sir Thomas Lipton. Sir Thomas Lipton has travelled to Sri Lanka in 1890 and bought up 5500 acres of land from Dambethenna tea plantation. He created and perfected an efficient process for manufacturing tea and started to produce tea by masses, which was then shipped all over Europe and America.

Lipton’s seat is the place where Sir Lipton used to sit and enjoy the panoramic view. Currently Sir Lipton’s statue can be seen next to Lipton seat. They have built an observation desk at much higher place to Lipton’s seat.

Lipton’s seat

Sir Thomas Lipton at Lipton seat

History of Dambethenna group

Wide angle view at Lipton seat

Sir Thomas Lipton’s statue was moved for renovation when we visited there

Lipton’s seat provides almost 360 panoramic view including Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern and Central provinces.  To get a clear view at Lipton’s seat depends on your luck. Mist can come up at any time to cover all around within one second. I didn’t get anything at my first visit but had a reasonable view this time.

The view….

The view….

The view….

The view….

The view….

The view….Pointed peak is? Wadinagala

Line houses at Monarakanda

View towards central hills

Maussakle estate

Dambethenna tea factory (6.783307, 81.003627)

Dambethenna tea factory is the largest functioning tea factory in Sri Lanka. They organize a tour inside the factory to get a nice idea of process on tea production. It took about 1-1.5 hours for this factory visit provided with a guide. But no photographs allowed.

Dambethenna tea factory

Dambethenna tea factory

Thotalagalla Mini World’s end, Lemasthota Falls and Monarakanda falls are other attractions around Dambethenna. I couldn’t visit these places but hope to do it in near future.

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