Haputale, Kandy and the Tea Country, Sri Lanka

Follow in the footsteps of Sir Thomas Lipton with a stay at Thotalagala, a former tea planter’s heritage bungalow. Located at Haputale, it is just two and half hours from Kandy and within two hours of Yala and the south coast.

Adjacent to the property is Dambatenne, one of the only estates that Sir Thomas planted himself. Guests of Thotalagala have exclusive access to the Dambatenne factory and the bungalow which was Sir Thomas Lipton’s residence from 1890 to 1910.

Dating back to the 19^th century, the bungalow is filled with colonial memorabilia. Each of the seven spacious suites pays homage to the people who were influential in the region at the time such as Reverend Walter Senior, known as the Bard of Sri Lanka, and James Taylor, a Scot who first introduced tea plantations to Ceylon. We particularly love the Sir Thomas Lipton Suite reflecting the British colonial era.

Meals are served in the grand dining room or out on the terrace overlooking the 20 acres of manicured gardens and picnics can be arranged so that you can really experience this wonderful landscape.