Hatton's vintage view for train spotters

by Beverley Jansz

Holiday makers cannot surely miss out on Hatton, especially if you are a train spotter. For Hatton is the ideal location for its climatic and scenic splendour for a vintage view of speeding trains from an array of luxury hotel confines of Sri Lanka's hill country.

The climb up to hill terrain is the climax to tourists' delight. The mist-clad mountains, sprawling tea estates and gushing waterfalls add lustre to the Colombo-Badulla railway lines that by pass Hatton, special mention of which are the two 'Menikes', 'Udarata Menike' and 'Pody Menike'. A magnificent sight in the lit-up night of the speeding machines.

Tourists visiting NuwaraEliya has made Hatton a stop-over paradise for an assortment of attractions. Interestingly most of the hotels in Hatton are far flung from the usual setting, built on rocky terrain like the 'Rock of Gibraltor'.

Hatton Resthouse, one of the oldest hotels in Hatton began as the 'Strathon' estate superintendent's bungalow, a decade ago. In 1975, this colonial type bungalow opened its doors as the Hatton Resthouse. In 1980, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) took over the management of the resthouse.

In 1990, a leading hotelier, Anura Ratnayaka the present Managing Director, took over the management of the Hatton Resthouse. In 2000, the resthouse saw a new lease of life when it was fully refurbished retaining the colonial splendour.

The resthouse which has seven bedrooms, now stands as one of the best tourist locations in Hatton. It is the closest tourist hotel to Hatton town, Hatton Railway Station, Adam's Peak and other places of tourist attraction in and around Hatton. it has now become one of the most popular 'Stop-overs' for tourist visiting Nuwara-Eliya.

'Special discounted packages are offered to Sri Lankan families during August and September every year,' Ratnayaka said. Further discounts are offered on week days he said. Managing Director of Hatton Resthouse, Anura Ratnayaka JP (all island) is the treasurer of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) Resthouse Managers' Association.