Rich in bio-diversity and surrounded by mountains covered in cloud forests and tea plantations, Haputale is a town that boasts of a cool climate in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. An interesting rail tour which starts from Ella to Haputale, we encourage you to enjoy a small walk that takes you to Adhisham Bungalow - an old monastery run by the Benedictine monks which is open to visitors. Built in the early 1900’s, this house is well preserved and reminds you of the old English charm.
Highlights
A scenic train ride in one of the most beautiful mountainous areas of Sri Lanka
Beautiful scenery
Adhisham Bungalow - A Benedictine Monastery
The Tour
We pick you from your hotel in Ella or Bandarawela at 08.30 am and head towards the railway station in a tuk tuk. The train journey begins at 09.00 am from Ella while you can experience some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Central highlands with mist covered lush green mountains to waterfalls and creeks that run by. The tea plantations and the villages that are hidden within the mountains are always a pretty sight. Kindly note that the train tickets booked are 3rd class and not air-conditioned.
We arrive at Haputale by 10.30 am and start walking towards the Adhisham bungalow along the railway track enjoying a small trek and the surroundings. We reach the bungalow by 11.30 am where you can marvel and explore this ancient architectural wonder that brings in so many visitors daily. Built by Sir Thomas Lester Willis, it says that the teak staircase resembles the one at Buckingham Palace. There are priceless antique furniture, a library with books that spans centuries, paintings, Persian rugs and age old memorabilia that will leave you in awe.
By 1.00 pm in the afternoon, you will be taken to enjoy a delicious lunch in the middle of a tea plantation. Once the lunch is done, we can start our walk back along the same railway line at around 2.30 pm till we reach the Haputale train station.
We get into a train by 3.30 pm in the afternoon and head back towards Ella / Bandarawela where we can drop you off at your hotel in a tuk tuk at 5.30 in the evening.
Note: We recommend comfortable walking shoes for this tour.
Includes
Hotel pickup and drop (Please note that transport to and from the hotel to the railway station is by tuk tuk which is not air-conditioned)
