While we were in Ella, a visit to Lipton’s Seat in Haputale was recommended to us. Although it was a bit out of the way, we had a driver at the time and since we were on our way down to Udawalawe anyway, we decided to make the detour. You’ve likely tried or at least heard of Litpon’s Tea and this is the place where the man behind the name, Sir Thomas Lipton, would sit to survey his tea fields. The combination of historical significance along with the beautiful views is what brought us here.
How to get to Lipton’s Seat
Our driver could only take us so far before the road becomes too narrow and you need to hire a tuk tuk to take you up to the top. We were charged 1500LKR (about US$8) for a round trip ride, which was quite expensive given the short trip and time we were up there. There were some cars that made their way along the road, but they were driven by locals and our driver didn’t feel comfortable doing it. We also saw some people walking, however this would’ve taken a very long time so I wouldn’t recommend it. In order to enter Lipton’s Seat, there is an entrance fee of LKR100 (US$0.50) for foreigners.
What you’ll see at Lipton’s Seat
While we were making our way up the hill, the sky was blue and clear. However, once we arrived at the top, it was practically covered in mist which was a bit disappointing. Thankfully, after about 30 or so minutes, it started to clear up and you could really enjoy the views from Lipton’s Seat. After walking around for a bit, we went over to the little cafe where you could get a pot of tea for 150LKR (US$0.80). We did feel quite rushed by our tuk tuk driver who wanted to get back down the road before the supposed afternoon crowd came. Thankfully, we were able to get a few good photos of the beautiful views before we left.
Is it worth the trip?
If you have a driver and had planned to pass the area anyway, I’d say it’s worth a quick pit stop. However, I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to pay a visit to Lipton’s Seat.
