Haputale
A cool hill country town with a warm welcome
Charming and Relaxing
The town straddles a ridge of hills at the edge of a fantastic view over hills and dales stretching down to the south coast.
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.
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.
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.
Best time to visit Haputale
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.
Nightlife and drinks
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.
Things to Do and See in Haputale
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.
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.
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.