GUIDE TO LIPTON'S SEAT IN HAPUTALE [SRI LANKA]

WHAT TO SEE IN LIPTON’S SEAT? DO YOU NEED TO BOOK IN ADVANCE?

Lipton’s Seat is the name given to a huge area covered in tea plantations near Ella, in Haputale to be exact. Lipton’s Seat is actually a viewpoint on top of a mountain dominating the tea plantations with 360° panorama.

This was Sir Lipton’s favorite view, the very one who developed the culture of tea in the region as well as the democratization of tea throughout the world.

As you may know, Sri Lanka adopted the culture of tea with British colonization and the country still produces some of the best teas in the world, Ceylon tea.

For us visiting Lipton’s Seat was one of the best things we did in Sri Lanka.

Tea Plantations at Lipton's Seat near Ella

In a Nutshell

– Stunning Views: From Lipton’s Seat, visitors can enjoy 360-degree views over the lush tea plantations, and green hills!
– Historical Significance: This is where Thomas Lipton would entertain guests and look out over his tea plantations.
– Tea Plantation Walks: The journey to Lipton’s Seat often involves a walk or drive through tea plantations, offering a closer look at the tea-making process.
– Location: Lipton’s Seat is located near Ella, in Haputale. The site can be reached by a winding road through the tea plantations,
– Best Time to Visit: Early morning is the best time to visit Lipton’s Seat for the clearest views before the mist and clouds roll in.

HISTORY OF LITPON’S SEAT

“Tea for all” was Sir Lipton’s will. Although it seems obvious today, tea wasn’t for all back in the 19th century. Indeed, tea was reserved for the rich only! It was a rare and expensive commodity to import. Only the wealthiest could enjoy a cup of tea at that time…

So at the beginning of the 19th century, when a disease destroyed almost all the coffee plantations in Sri Lanka, Sir Lipton decided to acquire 7 huge plantations and grow tea instead of coffee to try to accomplish his mission of making tea more affordable.

The rest is history as Lipton Tea became one of the most famous tea brand in the world. Besides, Sir Lipton achieved his goal of making tea available for all. It is him who started selling tea inside tea bags. So it’s partly thanks to him that you can enjoy your great cup of tea every morning.

SO WHY LIPTON’S “SEAT”?

This is the place where Sir Lipton used to sit to have a 360 degree panorama view of his tea plantations. Today there is a statue of Sir Lipton at this location, which we invite you to discover in this post.

The history of Sir Lipton is fascinating. When reading about it, we couldn’t wait until to visit this place (more info here). In this post we share all you need to know about a visit to Lipton’s Seat.

HOW TO GET TO LIPTON’S SEAT?

FROM ELLA

OPTION 1: Take a Tuk-Tuk from Ella.

The drive takes 1.5 hours one way. For the last 45min the road is really bad, which makes it difficult for a tuk-tuk to drive through, but still doable. You can book your full Tuk-Tuk tour here.

The view when you enter Lipton’s Seat tea plantations area is absolutely stunning. Don’t hesitate to ask your Tuk-Tuk Driver to stop on the way to take plenty of photos. Our driver even took photos for us, which was great!

The driver will get you all the way to the actual Lipton’s Seat where you can see a statue of Sir Lipton. After you are done with your visit, your driver will get you back to Ella or to another point of interests as there are other things to see in the area. More on that later in this post.

OPTION 2: Take the train from Ella and stop in Haputale train station

This is by far our favorite option to visit Lipton’s Seat. You get to combine a train ride experience in Sri Lanka, which is always an exciting things to do in this country. Besides the train passes through the mountains with stunning sceneries including waterfalls.

After you arrive in Haputale, we recommend taking the Tuk-Tuk all the way to Lipton’s Seat. From there, hike back to the train station and head back to Ella. We like this option the most, as it gives you more time to interact with locals, particularly women picking tea leaves. If you take a Tuk-Tuk both ways, although it is very convenient, you may miss some of the best viewpoints.

From Haputale to Lipton’s Seat the total distance is 15km. Count 4 hours to hike down!

The train ride takes 1 hour from Ella. You can see the train schedule and book your train ticket here.

FROM KANDY

If you are coming from Kandy, chances are that you are taking the train (the most epic ride in Sri Lanka!). Then instead of stopping in Ella, you can stop in Haputale for 1 night. As such you can visit the Lipton’s Seat early morning the next day at sunrise, which is the best time to visit this area.

In Haputale, ee highly recommend a stay in one of the best hotels in Sri Lanka: the Dream Cliff Mountain Resort. Check it out here.

For a Tuk-Tuk trip to Lipton’s Seat you can book it here.

READ: ELLA-KANDY, THE MOST EPIC TRAIN RIDE IN THE WORLD

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING A VISIT TO LIPTON’S SEAT?

A visit to Lipton’s Seat is an unforgettable experience. You will see tea plantations as far as the eye can see. For us it was one of the best things we did during our trip in this country.

Here are some of reasons why you should visit Lipton’s Seat:

LIPTON’S SEAT ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TEA PLANTATIONS IN SRI LANKA

For us, the main reason to visit Lipton’s Seat is to admire the most amazing tea plantations in the country. There are no words to describe the beauty of this place.

The tea plantations extend over several hundred hectares of hilly land, offering a unique scenery.

THE VIEWPOINTS

The tea plantations extend over 7 kilometers. One the way to the highest point where the actual Sir Lipton’s seat is located, you will have countless of viewpoints one more beautiful than the others. It’s hard not to stop to take many photos at every corners!

SIR LIPTON’S STATUE

Once you reach the top, you will see the statue of Sir Lipton. This was his favorite viewpoints. From there he could admire his entire tea plantations. Which indeed, are beautiful. He must have been proud of himself looking at what he has achieved in this part of Sri Lanka.

His statue representing him seated in the very place where he liked to be, was erected to pay him a beautiful tribute.

Location of the statue: here

MEETING LOCALS

In the middle of all these tea plantations are small villages, where the tea pickers and their families live. Some of these small “villages” even have schools. You may come across many children walking by the tea plantations to reach their school.

The Hindu culture being predominant, you can also discover magnificent temples in the heart of these villages.

The tea pickers, mostly women have an exhausting job. They are paid per kilo collected and they must bring at least 16 kg of tea per day. Despite such hardship, these women always have a big smile on their face. All of them will take time to chat with you and exchange beautiful Sri Lankan moments, as we like them.

DRINK A TEA AND ENJOY SOME FOOD AT LIPTON’S SEAT

Where the statue of Sir Lipton lie, there is a small restaurants serving great tea and good local foods. We decided to give it a try, and absolutely loved it. The place is called the Lipton’s Seat Cafe, located here.

They serve an assortment of local dishes, which was really good. Now, of course expect to pay a little more than what you would usually pay in a local restaurant in town, as it’s only for tourists and the only place in the area.

HIKING IN LIPTON’S SEAT

Like we said earlier in this post, we recommend taking a 1 way trip with a tuk-tuk to the actual Lipton’s Seat on top of the mountain and go back on foot. That way you have plenty of time to admire the most amazing tea plantations in Sri Lanka and interact with locals.

To hike back to Haputale Train station it takes 4 hours. It’s a 15km hike. We simply took the main road to get back down which was great. Sometimes you can cut through tea plantations to save times. On the way back you will surely come across many women picking tea leaves, which makes the whole experience even more exciting!

VISIT DAMBATENNE FACTORY ON YOUR WAY BACK

To end this perfect day, visit a tea factory before heading back to Ella. Dambatenne is located near the entrance of Lipton’s Seat mountain. You can’t miss it. We highly recommend a visit.

Dambatenne Tea Estate is a great place to visit and discover the whole process of how tea is made.

A tour guide will explain you all you need to know about the process and the history of tea in Sri Lanka. The price of the visit is 1,000 rupees per person. You can also buy some tea from the factory directly.

Location: here

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT LIPTON’S SEAT?

There is a small entrance fee to access the top of the mountain where the statue of Sir Lipton is located. It only costs 500 rupees to enter Lipton’s Seat, which is rather inexpensive.

The gate is located towards the top of the mountain. Which means you can visit 90% of Lipton’s Seat area for free. It’s only to see the last viewpoint that you need to pay…

OTHER THINGS TO DO NEAR LIPTON’S SEAT

Near Lipton’s Seat, you can visit Adisham Bungalow.

Adisham Bungalow is a country house located near Haputale which now housed the Benedictine monastery. It has preserved its old furniture and fittings and is open for public visits. There is a lovely quaint garden and surroundings as well. It has also shop selling homemade fruit cordials, jams, syrup and and chutneys made and run by the Benedictine monks.

Location: here

As Lipton’s Seat is located near Ella, one of our favorite part of Sri Lanka, you will find plenty of things to do. Some of the highlights are the beautiful Ravana Falls easily accessible from Ella with a short Tuk-Tuk ride and of course the architectural marvel of the Nine Arches Bridges (more info here)

Little Adam’s Bridge

One of the most beautiful hike we did in Sri Lanka, with a stunning panorama at the top (full guide here)

World’s End

Located inside the Horton Plains National Park, this is another great sights near Ella, a bit off the beaten track in Sri Lanka but worth a visit! This national park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its significant biodiversity. These high plateau landscapes are located around 2,000 meters above sea level.

Another great things to see in Ella are the Nil Diya Pokuna caves believed to be part of the legend of King Ravana. 100m below the surface. The highlight of the place is the underground pond containing bright blue colored water. To go down to the pond you have to walk through a difficult trail, passing through tight passages and wet cliff edges, so get a confident guide with you.

READ: 20 BEST THINGS TO SEE IN ELLA

WHERE TO STAY NEARBY?

In Haputale, there aren’t as many options as in Ella. However, there is 1 stunning hotel:

Dream Cliff Mountain Resort – $$$$

Floating high amongst the clouds perched on top of a mountain, Dream Cliff Resort offers a breathtaking views of the mountains, valleys and great plains of Sri Lanka. One of the best hotel in the area. Check it out here.

CHECK AVAILABILITY

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT LIPTON’S SEAT?

Nestled in the heart of a mountainous region, Lipton’s Seat is blessed with a cooler climate than the rest of Sri Lanka. To avoid the rain, the best months would January, February, March.

Also, it is recommended to visit Lipton’s Seat at Sunrise for a clear view of the valley and tea plantations.

Finally, make sure to bring a warm jacket with you, as the temperatures are quite low in this part of Sri Lanka. Especially when you reach the top of the viewpoint at Lipton’s Seat!

GUIDE TO LIPTON’S SEAT IN HAPUTALE [SRI LANKA]