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by Nilma Dole
Taking a refreshing and much-deserving trip to Hatton was a dream
come true.Entering the town, one can’t help noticing the mountainous
plains that surely takes your breath away. While talking, misty smoke
evaporates and you really feel like this is Little England. The town has
many modern buildings with rooms and restaurants and even some shopping
centres.
 Despite being a quaint little town, it is equipped and geared to
handle the tourists especially during the season with many souvenir
shops. Venturing past the Hatton bridge, we took the turn to the
gorgeous plains which contain the tea estates.
We were on the way to ‘Dalhousie’ for an overnight stay before
climbing Sri Pada or Adam’s Peak and by the time we got there, it was
nearing darkness. During the season, many travellers frequent the area
where they stay overnight in buses or coaches. Some stay in one or two
inns in ‘Dalhousie’ before they venture up.
The best surprise is to head there just after midnight to reach the
top in time for sunrise, which is a spectacular sight. Climbing Sri Pada
is no easy task as the human traffic makes it impossible but the tea
stops and night stands make it a bustling and interesting journey.
Once on top, you are whisked away with the crowd to worship the
Buddha’s Footprint that is encased with shimmering silks decked in gold
and jewels. A priest knocks your forehead about three times and then you
worship the footprints.
Catching sight of the beautiful sunrise, you have no choice but to
move down dragged by the crowd. However, the experience is amazing.
Upon reaching down, the only option now is to rest our feet with a
trip to one of the bungalows located at Tea Trails. Set amidst beautiful
tea land, we come to one of the beautiful bungalows that overlook the
Castlereagh Lake or reservoir which is out of bounds as it is a
high-security area.
 The nearby attractions include the ‘Warleigh Church’ that is still
maintained by generous donors in the UK. The church, that was built in
1826 consists of the graves of the pioneer tea planters of British,
Irish and Scottish origin.
The other sights, provided you wake up early to see them, are tea
estate tours of the factory and how tea is processed.
The nearby plantations include Norwood Estate tea factory, Golden
Valley and Bopaththalawa Farm. You can indulge in adventure sports like
cycling, jogging, camping and more relaxed pursuits like golf and
croquet.
Moreover, beautiful views of the magnificent waterfalls of Devon,
St.Claires and Gardmore make the trip a thrilling and memorable one. |
