Most tourists do not visit Haputale and choose Ella, Nuwara Eliya, or Kandy as their destination. But this mountainous city reigns in peace and quiet as well as offers spectacular views. So it quickly became one of our favorite places in Sri Lanka. Haputale is a town and a municipal council in the Badulla District in the province of Sri Lanka.
Elevation 1431 m (4695 ft) above sea level. The area is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Haputale is surrounded by cloud forests and mountains covered with tea plantations. Due to the altitude of the city, the climate is cooler than the surrounding environment. Haputale Pass allows you to view the sights across the southern plains of Sri Lanka. The small village is completely surrounded by glorious tea plantations and there are many opportunities to visit the countryside.
Here the best things to do in Haputale:
- Adisham Monastery
Adisham Bungalow 4.7km from Haputale town you will come across a beautiful path on both sides of a forest. It was built in 1931 as the home of a colonial entrepreneur and is now known as the Franciscan Adisham novitiate. This place has been chosen because it has solitude and peace and is called as a monastery or simply as “Adisham Bungalow”. Adisham is open to the public on weekends and public holidays from 09.00 am to 16.30 pm. Two rooms are open to the public, one with an incredible collection of books and a library with other colonial memories. Homemade jams, marmalades and mango chutneys are popular purchases at Adisham.
- Lipton Seat for sunrise
The Lipton seat is one of the most popular things to do in Sri Lanka. Named after Thomas Lipton, this fascinating perspective is a must-do on any trip to Haputale. The best time to watch the show is in the early morning sunrise. Entrance to the Lipton seat is Rs. 100 per person and Rs. 50 per tuk-tuk.
During the months between April and October, it is essential to visit the Lipton Seat early in the morning, during which time the area is subject to afternoon fog and is likely to remain for the rest of the day.
- Day trip to Horton Plains National Park
Horton Plains is about a 34km from Haputale. The best time is to go there in the morning before the fog clears. Horton Plains National Park is a protected area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, covered by montane grasslands and cloud forests. Situated at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 m, the plateau is rich in biodiversity and is home to many endemic species.
- Dambatenne Tea Factory Tour
At Dambatenna Tea Factory, you can visit the factory and learn how to make black tea. It takes about 30 minutes to visit the factory and you can see the whole process of making tea before selling to big buyers like Lipton. The tour costs 250 rupees and can be visited from 8 am to 5 pm. At the end of the tour, there is an option to buy some “rare” tea. It costs Rs 3,800 and comes in very fancy packaging.
5. Weather in Haputale
Haputale has a rainy season from October to January and a dry season from April to August. However, Haputale can sometimes get the rest of the rain. The rain in Haputale will not affect your journey. Rainstorms are short and the area dries out quickly. Being in the mountains, the temperature in Haputail is lower than in Colombo and the coast, which means you do not need to use air conditioning. It is also a great temperature for mountaineering.
