Haputale

 Haputale

Pronounce as Hapu tar lei. It is 1431 meters asl. It has rich bio-diversity. It is a small town, with lesser tourist compare with ELLA. It is not high dense foreigner tourist center spot like Ella. It is a quite places to relax with the charm of the tea estates, colonial buildings with the feel of the clouds. One can sit at the balcony to enjoy the mist comes and go. To the local they nickname this town as city of the mist/cloud. All year round temperature range from 13 celcius to 22 celcius.

If you want to enjoyed the scenic train ride that can you see miles and miles of greeneries of tea plantations, waterfalls, crystal clear rivers you can board the train that plight the route Baddula to Kandy. Touring Sri Lanka one could not says that had visited Sri Lanka without this scenic train ride. 

Haputale is one of the town within this train route.

Attraction at Haputale

Saint Andrew's Anglican church

 It is one of oldest colonial buildings in Haputale. It is situated in the middle of the town on top of a hill that overlooked the city. Personally I believe if want to know the history of the city is to visit the colonial buildings and best is to walk around in the graveyard ground. 

The foundation stone was laid on 7 April 1869 by Lieutenant General Hodgson and it was consecrated for worship on 19 September 1869. t was built by James Andrews, who worked at Sherwood Estate, and Richard Wylie, from Pita Ratmale Estate. The first services were conducted by Rev. Joseph Barnett, co-pastor of Middlington. ~~ source of information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_Church,_Haputale

Adisham Bungalow

Is a bungalow house build in 1931 by a English planter -Sir Thomas Villers. It is on 1500 meter asl in Tangamalai forest reserve.

“Sir Thomas was a grandson of Lord John Russell and descendant of the Dukes of Bedford. Named after Adisham, it was designed by R. Booth and F. Webster in Tudor and Jacobean style, on 10 acres (40,000m2) of land. Adisham Hall played host to many prominent personalities of the colony until the retirement of Sir Thomas, after which it was sold to Sedawatte Mills owned by Vimala Wijewardene in 1949. In 1961 it was purchased by the Roman Catholic Church and was subsequently converted to a monastery. The house is well preserved along with its period fittings and furniture, and is open to visitors only limited area on Saturday, Sunday, school holidays except Good Friday and Christmas.” ~~~ source wikipedia_Adisham_Hall

Thangamale Sanctuary

Many visitors unaware that when you walk up or travel from the main road that leads to Ardisham bungalow is Thangamale Sanctuary. It is situated in Beragala, 131 hectares designated as protected forest in year 1938.

It is yet to have national park status, therefore park ticket are not impose. For bird watching, you need to avoid to visit this place during the visitors crowds on weekends (sat-sun and school holidays).

Lipton's Seat at Dambaatene Tea Estate

If you want a feel of Sir Thomas Lipton feel as he sat on that spot to look and admire his tea empire, then this is the place you should go. You can either hire the tuk-tuk drive or get into an hour bus ride from Haputale main bus station. From the information shared the bus will stop at Dambatene Tea Estate and one need to walk 7KM to have the panoramic view.

Personally this tourist attraction does not interest me as I more prefer Thangamale sanctuary in hope to see mousedeer and endemic birds.

I used third class train from ELLA to Haputale – 35 SLR