Haputale

At the elevation of 1,431m above the sea level. The area has a rich and dense bio-diversity of flora and fauna.

Due to its elevation, Haputale weather and climate is cooler and similar to that of early summer in Europe with balmy breezes and occasional misty clouds with beautiful views over Haputale pass. On a clear day the vista across the Southern plains to the coast in the south eastern region of Kataragama and Yala is visible.

Due to its mild climate and pretty scenery, Haputale is ideally suited for trekking excursions, such as the more popular and vigorous ‘Devil Staircase’ which proceeds to Horton Plains and from there one can take a vehicle to Nuwara Eliya or vice versa and many other local treks to include a trail called the ‘Prabhawa Mountain day viewpoint’ that leads to its summit through tea plantations, where a small Hindu shrine awaits you.

A famous sightseeing spot known as “Lipton’s seat” is where the renowned Sir Thomas Lipton used to sit when surveying the surrounding region of his tea plantation.

Other venues of interest are the Diyaluma and Bambarakanda waterfalls, Thangamale bird sanctuary, tea plantations, St Benedict’s Monastery, Adisham Bungalow (modeled on Leeds Castle in Kent, UK) by Sir Thomas Villiers, a distinguished British resident in Sri Lanka during the 20th Century. One would think that you were back in England.