Lipton’s Seat in Haputale is a favorite among road-trippers looking for mountain views. This tea plantation marked the beginning of the export of tea from Sri Lanka and if you are there on a clear day it will have a breath-taking perspective. This is located about 18 km from Haputale (7km from Dambetenna Tea Factory). Lipton’s seat is so named because the famous Scottish baron and tea planter, Sir Thomas Lipton, used it as a seat for a long but unforgettable period.
Lipton’s seat is reached by a 7km hike surrounded by peaceful green tea plantations and occasionally with colorful tea pluckers. There are two ways to reach it. One is from the landslide estate of Bandarawela and the second is through Dambatena estate in Haputale. Both routes are marked with signboards and narrow walkways. Some sections of the road even have the original stone structures of the British period. Climbing usually takes about two and a half hours after a visitor reaches the top of the mountain.
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In good weather, you can see some incredible panoramic views of the mountains. Plan your trip as it can already be cloudy by 10 am. Once you reach the top of Lipton, you will see a bird’s eye view of Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern Provinces from Thomas Lipton’s perspective. To say the show is spectacular would be an understatement. It is worth the climb. On a clear day, you can spot Lake Handapanagala, Lake Chandrika, and Udawalawe, as well as the Vidihiti Mountain range. Even you can see the Hambanthota harbor from the Southern coast. Everyone is free to visit the Lipton seat. Besides, there are several other attractions, including Catherine’s Seat and Lematota Falls. After all, Lipton Seat is a budget-friendly place to relax with a picnic or have some photo memories.
