Few of my friends decided to go on a trip to Badulla by train, in December 2008. We had to travel by the night mail train because we were not enough lucky to reserve tickets for an early one. We got into the train at Veyangoda station at about 9.15 pm on 19/12/2008.

It was 6.00 am the following day when we reached Pattipola which was the most elevated railway station from the sea level, in Sri Lanka.

The train was delayed at Pattipola until clearing of a fallen tree in between Pattipola & Ohiya stations.

Accommodation was arranged for us at Hali Ela, a small hilly town located few Kilometers off from Badulla. Therefore we got off from the train at Haliela at about 9.30 am.

The train was delayed at Pattipola until clearing of a fallen tree at the railway track

Haliela, memorizing a railway station in colonial era

Day 2: Journey to Dunhinda fall.

Rasika one of our friend in Badulla had arranged our accommodation at HaliEla. It was a very beautiful place surrounded by misty hills.

Having a short rest there, we decided to visit Dunhinda, the most popular waterfall in Sri Lanka. Since we used public transport service (Bus) that day, it was 8.30pm when we reached back.

Dunhinda, probably the most popular waterfall in Sri Lanka

Day 3: Journey to Bogoda Temple & railway node at Demodara.

At 8.30 am the vehicle was at our door step. Our first target was to see the oldest surviving wooden bridge of the world located at Bogoda where about 15km far from Badulla. As per the Loku Hamuduruwo (Chief Monk) there, the bridge was located at the ancient route from Badulla to kandy and it had been used as an Ambalama (a resting place for pedestrians / travelers) for hundreds of years.

Direction to Bogoda	the oldest surviving wooden bridge in the world
Walking through the bridge	The stream with ice-cooled water

There was a tunnel used by King Walagambahu and the temple claimed to be originated by him. How ever the Sangawasaya (building provided accommodation for Monks) said to be built in Kandy era.

Main entrance of the Sangawasaya ( Built in Kandy era )

House of statues which consisted an unusual “Makara thorana”

Afterwards we went to see the famous node of the railway track at Demodara. We could walk along the railway track to experience the excellence of locomotive engineering.

Demodara railway station	Walking along the railway track ( around the hill )
The railway station is located above this tunnel	Be aware of the railway time schedule….
The iron bridge at Demodara. ( Don’t get mess-up with famous nine arched bridge)	Foot path from rail track to the station.

Before having our lunch, we had a bath in the cool water stream at Hali Ela which was originated from cool & misty ranges at Bandarawela.

In the evening, as the last event of the day, we visited the famous Muthiyangana Viharaya Buddhist temple located at Badulla town.

Day 3: Exploring Bandarawela & Haputale.

Dowa temple at Bandarawela was our first travel location of the day. It could be identified as the most popular historic temple at Bandarawela.

Dowa temple @ Bandarawela

Statue at Dowa temple

Our next travel location was the Adisham.

Quote:
Adisham bungalow is located with a distance of 4km from Haputale, a misty town in the southern edge of the Central range of mountain in SriLanka. It was built by Sir Thomas Lister Villiers, who was a grandson of Lord John Russell, twice prime minister of Britain.

While Sir Thomas was being the chairman of George Steuart Company, he built the Adisham as his dream house in an idyllic site at Haputale, surrounded by virgin forest and commanding views across hills and valleys.

The house was designed in the Tudor style, on the lines of Leeds Castle in Kent, with stout granite walls of locally quarried stone, long, narrow turret windows and chimneys.The roof was covered with flat Burma teak shingles. The doors, windows, paneling, staircase and floors were all of Burma teak. The lay-out of the garden was also British.

Today’s Adisham is primarily a monastery, where a few monks follow a schedule of prayer, meditation, work and service.

The Adisham

Inside of the Adisham

Final travel location of the day was Lipton’s seat. We had to drive along the narrow & hilly road towards Dambetenna estate from Haputale.

An unpopular view point located very close to Dambetenna road at a distance of 1km from Haputale.	Towards Dambetenna
Tea…..	The path we came

Lipton’s seat was a magnificent viewpoint located about 10~12 km far from Haputale. ( in Dambethenna road )It was undoubtedly one of the best viewing points of Sri Lanka.

It was said that, this place was a favorite look-out point for Sir Thomas Lipton (the great tea planter) when surveying the surrounding region of his tea plantations.

It was told that on a clear day, a visitor can see 5 provinces of Sri Lanka. The panoramic view was out of this world and truly pleasing. Even on an average day you could see endless territory towards South, East and South West of Sri Lanka from this point.

Observation tower

Welcome to Lipton’s seat?

We visited there at about 1.30 pm. But we were not lucky enough to see any. The mist was thick to be cut with a Knife….! It is said that March & August were the best seasons to visit there.

Mist …

Misty Haputale town at 3.00pm

Finally we were dropped at the railway station – Badulla. We paid our tanks to the driver of the vehicle (he was the owner of the same), who played a grate role in a success tour. He was Maharoof. A genuine guy you would find at Haliela.

Terminal railway station at the upcountry rail track.