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LIPTON SEAT - HAPUTALE

LIPTON SEAT - HAPUTALE

Lipton’s Seat is one of the most famous viewpoints in Sri Lanka, located near Haputale in the Badulla District. It sits at an elevation of about 1,970 meters (6,463 feet) above sea level within the vast Dambatenna Tea Estate, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Here's a detailed guide to Lipton’s Seat:

History & Significance

Lipton’s Seat is named after Sir Thomas Lipton, the Scottish tea baron who is widely credited for making Ceylon tea a global brand. Sir Lipton would often sit at this very point to admire the beauty of his tea plantations, contemplating his business and the rich, rolling hills of the region. He played a key role in shaping Sri Lanka's tea industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The spot where he used to sit and enjoy the surroundings now serves as a memorial to his legacy in the tea industry. It is still part of the Dambatenna Tea Estate, one of the largest tea plantations in Sri Lanka, which was originally owned by Lipton.

Getting to Lipton’s Seat

 Lipton’s Seat is located about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from Haputale town. You can reach it via a scenic, winding road that takes you through tea estates, small villages, and patches of misty forest. Visitors can either:

Walk or hike: The walk from Dambatenna Tea Factory to Lipton’s Seat is around 7 kilometers. The trail takes about 2–2.5 hours, and it’s a pleasant uphill hike through tea plantations with several beautiful viewpoints along the way.

Tuk-tuk: This is a more popular and quicker option. The journey by tuk-tuk takes around 45 minutes from Haputale or about 20 minutes from the Dambatenna Tea Factory.

What to Expect at Lipton’s Seat

At the summit, there is a viewing platform where you can enjoy 360-degree views on clear days. The landscape stretches across the central and southern parts of Sri Lanka, including views of tea estates, paddy fields, mountain ranges, and small villages. On an exceptionally clear day, it's said that you can even see the coast and parts of five different provinces of Sri Lanka from this spot.

However, due to the high elevation, mist and clouds often roll in, especially later in the morning or during the afternoon. It’s best to visit early in the day (around sunrise) for the clearest views.

The Surrounding Area: Dambatenna Tea Estate

The Dambatenna Tea Factory, built by Sir Thomas Lipton in 1890, is still operational and offers guided tours for visitors. You can learn about the tea production process, from plucking the tea leaves to the final stages of drying, sorting, and packing. It’s a great complement to the visit to Lipton’s Seat, offering insights into the history and production of Sri Lanka’s world-renowned tea.

Best Time to Visit

Early morning is the best time to visit Lipton’s Seat. By mid-morning, clouds often obscure the views, especially during the monsoon season (April to September). Many visitors aim to arrive by sunrise for the clearest skies and spectacular colors as the sun rises over the tea-covered hills.

October to March tends to be the driest period, making it ideal for visiting.

Tips for Visitors

  • Carry warm clothing: Temperatures can be cool in the morning, especially at this high altitude.
  • Entrance fee: There’s usually a small entrance fee to visit Lipton’s Seat.
  • Snacks and water: There are no shops at the top, so bringing some light refreshments is a good idea.
  • Stay hydrated and bring sun protection if you plan to hike, as the sun can be strong despite the cooler temperatures.

 

 

Feedback from valuable clients + See all

    "Hi Mr.Cyril, Hope you and family and grandchild are doing fine.  Hope to come to Sri Lanka again. We really enjoyed our trip especially with your special help and guidance.  We will definitely contact you if at all we wish to visit Sri Lanka again. Thanks & Best Regards Mr. & Mrs.Pillai Singapore 29/7/11 " Mr & Mrs.Pillai from Singapore

    "                  Our Tour in Sri Lanka Traveling through the beautiful Sri Lanka has been great. Cyril warmly welcomed us at the airport and drove us with his always clean car in every part of the country. He provided daily information about the history and the different sites of Sri Lanka. Also, he taught us a lot about Sri Lankan culture, starting from food, traditions, animals and nature, and suggested authentic and less known places we c..." FILIPPO MASI FROM ITALY

    "Thank you so much for your great service and making our honeymoon in Sri Lanka, so special and joyful. Best regards from Yuffa and Elad Abbo – Israel- 10 July 2008 " Yuffa and Elad Abbo - Israel

    "Dear Cyril, Thank you for truly amazing oneweek tour your beautiful country.We have seen so many amazing sites in such a short space of time. From Sigiriya to beautiful temples, Scenic tea gardens of Nuwaraeliya the colonial land ark hotel Mount Lavinia. We have seen so much more. You have made this an utterly memorable holiday with your expert knowledge, amazing, facinating stories, patience, careful+safe drivingand your unforgetable smile. We will cetainly recommonding your tours to all of fr..." Sara Kitson - UK

    "Dear Cyril, Yes that's the one that we were calling all the time. Her name is Celia and by now she has a little sister. My dear Cyril, of course we can't forget your companion and we are always telling about you when we are talking about our trip to Sri Lanka. I wish you good luck with your company and I hope that you will have whatever you want. I want to tell also that I was very happy when I learned that you are a grandfather now. Best regards, Chris Greece 26/07/2011" Cristos Pravitas - Greece

    "We had a great time on last 10 days in on our honeymoon in beautiful Sri Lanka. Thank you very much for the stories, the explanations, driving, tips, care and always with a smile. Big thanks for you Cyril. We had an amazing honeymoon in this beautiful island! and you are the best guide and friend that we could have here!!! We will sure tell our friends and family about the trip and you!!! We will stay in touch and may be one day meet you again. Oded & Carol Israel 10 Oct 2014" Naim & Coral Fisher from Israel

    "Thank you Cyril for making our Christmas holiday fun so smoothly and easy. We loved Sri Lanka and look forward to retuning again. Cyril, your knowledge and service was outstanding and it was so refreshing to have such a very highlevel of service. We will be sure to recomond your service and travel agency to our friends. Please feel free to use us as a reference, you can use my email or phone number to clients." Bruce Larson & family from USA

    "We are an older couple celebrating a lot of years of marriage (and hiking) in Sri Lanka in February this year, for two weeks, and three days in the Maldives. Although we love to drive, we chose to go with a driver-guide, after planning the trip completely independently. (It turned out he might help us in the planning and selection of hotels, we own). The main advantage is reaching the sites, some of which are tired, refreshed after someone else used to bad roads, with bad signage - If you are i..." Sam

    "Thank you so much for wonderful Sri Lanka trip.We had a great time. The trip was very relaxing as well as fun. My daughter MAHI who lovingly started calling you "Cyril Dada"(grand farther) Had a memorable trip. She cannot stop talking about elephants. Our trip to Sri Lanka will be full of great memories, its because of you. Thank you for showing us your beautiful country the way we wanted, eating local food, lots of King coconut and Corn stops. We will be surely coming back  to see rest o..." Mithil Patel

    "Thanks a lot for making great arrangements for the visit. The visit was very well organized with good hotels and the vehicle/ driver. I would highly recommend your agency and its services to everyone who wants to visit Sri Lanka. Anastasia - Russia, Feb 2011 " Anastasia

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