Watawala - The lush tea garden

Watawala, along the Colombo - NuwaraEliya highway, is surrounded by lush tea estates that produce some of Sri Lanka's very best high grown tea. The 'Kenilworth' tea factory at Watawala is famous for producing export quality tea.

Watawala is said to be the town that gets the highest rainfall in Sri Lanka. A beautiful stream that flows through Watawala is very popular among foreign and local tourists for stream bathing.

Watawala is surrounded by beautiful mountains and therefore is popular among tourists for mountain trekking. At night the lit-up trains that pass through tea estates at Watawala is a panoramic sight.

Watawala is a popular stop over for tourists travelling to Nuwara-Eliya, for a refreshing cup of high grown tea offered by the famous "Tea Cup" tea centre.

Holiday amidst a Tea garden

Surrounded by mountain peaks over 3000 feet in height with a cool climate less known in any other part of the hill country, 'Tea garden Hotel' is a large colonial style bungalow on a lush tea estate situated by the Colombo-Nuwara Eliya road in Watawala, a 15-minute drive from Hatton, and 10-minute drive from Ginigathhena.

Sitting amidst 50 acres of a lush tea plantation with a panoramic view of the mountains, the main bungalow consists of three large bedrooms well appointed to meet the needs of a modern traveller. Each room has its own fire place to keep one warm and cosy at any given chilly night apart from the modern amenities that are on offer.

The spacious living area with teak flooring and an old fashioned English fire place is built facing the mountain range on which the passing train can be viewed as small as a 'dingy toy'.

Apart from the main bungalow the Tea garden Hotel also has a "Forest Bungalow" situated in the same estate, on top of the adjoining hills surrounded by giant pine trees. Consisting of three bedrooms, this bungalow gives one the feeling of living in a forest atmosphere. Apart from the two bungalows, there is a two-roomed cottage with all amenities together with a three roomed annexe which is also ideal for holiday makers.

There are 10 rooms built in "Cabana" style along the mountain trail which gives a view of the passing up-country "Udarata Menike" and "Podimenike" trains. Staying in at Tea Garden Hotel is ideal for one who wants to have a quiet holiday within serene surroundings, but if you want to go places, there are many day trips one can choose from.

The many waterfalls, the town of Nuwara-Eliya, Piduruthalagala, Hakgala Botanical Garden, Adam's Peak, Castlereigh Reservoir are all within a n hour's reach. For good food, it is all available at Tea Garden Hotel, ranging from Western to Eastern and Sri Lankan cuisine at its best.

So if you are looking for a seasonal break, away from the hustle and bustle of the normal seasonal holiday, Tea Garden Hotel at Watawala is the place.

Tea Garden Hotel is owned and managed by leading hotelier, K. Sugumar. Tea Garden Hotel can be reached via E-mail: [email protected]