Day 03 – 15 October 2024
Sacred Temples, Waterfalls, Tea Country and the Highlands of Nuwara Eliya
Our first full day in Sri Lanka began in the sacred city of Kandy.
One of the highlights of the morning was our visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa — one of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world.
According to Sri Lankan tradition, after the Buddha’s cremation in India around the 5th century BCE, one of his canine teeth was preserved as a sacred relic. In the 4th century CE, Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha secretly brought the relic to Sri Lanka to protect it during a period of political unrest in India.
Over the centuries, possession of the relic became a symbol of royal authority in Sri Lanka. Kings built magnificent temples to safeguard it, and eventually the relic was enshrined in Kandy when the city became the last royal capital of the island.
Even today, worshippers gather daily for prayers, offerings, and traditional drumming ceremonies. Although visitors do not see the actual relic directly, the atmosphere inside the temple complex is deeply spiritual and unforgettable.
After visiting the temple and monastery, we left Kandy behind and began our scenic drive toward the cool highlands of Nuwara Eliya.
As the roads climbed higher into the mountains, the air became cooler and the landscape transformed into endless tea plantations wrapped in mist.
Ramboda Falls
One of our first major stops was the spectacular Ramboda Falls.
Hidden among Sri Lanka’s emerald tea hills, Ramboda Falls crashes down in silver streams beside the sacred Hanuman Temple, creating one of the most scenic stops on the road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya.
Surrounded by lush greenery and drifting mountain mist, the waterfall was especially beautiful after recent rains, flowing with tremendous force down the rocky cliffs.
The sound of rushing water combined with the cool mountain breeze created a magical atmosphere that perfectly captured the beauty of Sri Lanka’s hill country.
Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple
About 45 kilometres from Kandy, we arrived at the Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple in Ramboda.
The temple is an important stop along Sri Lanka’s famous Ramayana Trail. According to Hindu tradition, this region is linked to the epic Ramayana, where Lord Hanuman searched for Sita after she was abducted by Ravana.
Local legends believe Ramboda was once an assembly point for Rama’s army.
Built by the Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka, the temple is known for its towering Hanuman statue, serene atmosphere, and panoramic views across the central highlands.
Standing there amidst clouds drifting over the tea-covered hills felt almost surreal — as though mythology and landscape had merged together.
Seetha Amman Temple – Ashok Vatika
Our next stop took us deeper into the Ramayana Trail to the Seetha Amman Temple in Sita Eliya, approximately 45 minutes from Ramboda.
According to tradition, this site marks the place where Princess Sita was held captive by Ravana in the legendary Ashok Vatika gardens.
The colourful temple stands beside a small mountain stream, and local devotees believe the nearby rocks still bear the footprints of Hanuman.
As the mountain road climbed through clouds and tea gardens, the Ramayana Trail continued from Hanuman’s hilltop shrine to the colorful Seetha Amman Temple, where legend says Sita once prayed amidst the cool highlands of Sri Lanka.
Whether viewed through the lens of faith, mythology, or history, the temple carried a unique spiritual energy.
Damro Labookellie Tea Estate
No visit to Sri Lanka’s hill country would be complete without experiencing its world-famous tea heritage.
Located along the winding mountain road between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, the Damro Labookellie Tea Centre is surrounded by endless emerald-green tea fields and cool mist-covered hills.
Inside the factory, the aroma of fresh tea leaves was unforgettable — warm, earthy, and unmistakably Ceylon.
We watched the fascinating journey of tea leaves as they moved through withering, rolling, fermenting, drying, and grading before finally being packed for export around the world.
After the tour, we relaxed at the hilltop café overlooking the plantations while sipping freshly brewed high-grown tea.
At Damro Labookellie, the hills seemed to roll endlessly in shades of green. Watching tea leaves move from plantation to cup in the cool mountain air revealed why Ceylon tea became famous across the world.
The tea estates around Labookellie were established during British colonial rule in the 19th century after coffee plantations across Sri Lanka were devastated by disease. Scottish planter James Taylor pioneered commercial tea cultivation here, helping transform Sri Lanka into one of the world’s leading tea producers.
The cool climate, high elevation, and constant mountain mist create what tea experts call “high-grown tea,” prized for its delicate flavour and bright golden colour.
Nuwara Eliya – Sri Lanka’s “Little England”
By evening, we finally reached Nuwara Eliya.
Often called “Little England,” the town immediately felt different from anywhere else in Sri Lanka.
At nearly 1,900 metres above sea level, the mountain air was crisp and refreshing. Colonial-era buildings, flower gardens, Tudor-style facades, and red-roofed houses gave the town a distinctly British character.
Walking through Nuwara Eliya feels like stepping into another era.
Horse rides circled Gregory Lake while roadside vendors sold strawberries, roasted corn, and steaming cups of tea. The relaxed pace of life, cool weather, and misty atmosphere made the town incredibly charming.
The town itself was founded during the British colonial era by explorer Samuel Baker, who recognized the region’s cool climate and fertile land. Over time, Nuwara Eliya became a retreat where colonial officials escaped the tropical heat of Colombo and Kandy.
Yet beneath the colonial atmosphere lies deep Sri Lankan heritage, with nearby Hindu temples, Buddhist shrines, Tamil communities, and sacred Ramayana sites woven into the surrounding hills.
Wrapped in mist and tea-scented mountain air, Nuwara Eliya feels like a meeting point between colonial history and Sri Lankan highland life — a place where every quiet road, garden path, and hillside carries stories from another era.
That evening, we checked into the scenic Blackpool Hotel, nestled among misty hills just outside town.
Our stay at the Blackpool Hotel placed us right in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country. Cool mountain air, rolling plantations, and roads disappearing into clouds created one of the most peaceful nights of our journey.
