Tea Country Trail OLD 07 Talawakele To Hatton

Today’s walk starts in Talawakelle, the center of the Dimbula tea planting district which is de facto, the largest growing tea area in Sri Lanka. The altitude of Talawakelle is 1,198 meters and the average temperature is a spring-like 18 degrees. Talawakele is also a major transport hub and a busy commercial town.

Today is truly delightful; a day for everyone. It is indeed a very easy day. The elevation changes are perfectly manageable and it is a day full of surprises as the trail weaves its way up, down and across small valleys connecting little hamlets between legendary tea estates like Drayton and St. Claire. It feels like a fairy-tale, a bit like “The Shire” in Lord of the Rings or the Cotswold Way in England.

It is quite remarkable how such a hive of activity can vanish before your very eyes within a mere kilometer of the center of Talawakele town. The first 1.5 km is a very mild and gradual ascent on a tarmac road with very little traffic. The Talawakele Tea factory is nestled at the bottom of the valley below. At the 1.5 km point, there is a track that peels off to your right and descents towards the river and the small hamlet below. Shortly after we cross the river we veer to the left, immediately after the village home. You’ll be relieved you don’t have to climb up all those steps in front of you. 800 meters later we arrive at a small village and here pay attention to your GPS as the trail turns right and through what looks like someone’s private patio with a stairway forming a sort of bridge that connects two homes. Keep going and you will soon leave the village on a think but well-trodden path local folk use to get to their vegetable gardens. At the 2.8 km mark, we reach the first of the small 3 hills we will be climbing today.

Tea trails and tea villages, up and down and around. 3.5 km later we reach the next small hill. At the top of the hill, the views to the west are unbelievable. By looking at the formation of the mountains one can make out the contour of the Nanu Oya river we crossed in Talawakele. This is the real thing – the deep tea country!

At the 8.3 km point, the trail connects with the main Talawakele – Hatton road for approximately 100 meters. This town is called Kogalla. Those who prefer a shorter walk might like to end it here. There is a brightly painted Hindu Kovil to your right which servers well an anchor if need to provide a market for someone to pick you up. There is also a train station and are plenty of tuk-tuks around if you want to start or end your day here. There are few shops as well making it a perfect place to replenish if there is anything you need.

The good news is that we’re only on the main road for 100 meters, soon after which the trail peels off to the right and follows a straight road un and around the outskirts of Kotagala. We are now in the Drayton Estate. The train passes next to the old tea factory.

At the 10.8 km point, we pass by the Chrysler’s Farm Tea Factory, and shortly after we cross a small bridge and turn left. The roads are wide and the terrain is mostly flat for the next kilometer. At the 11.6 km point, we cross the train line and begin to ascend up towards today’s 3rd and final hill. This section feels a little more remote than other parts of the day. At the 13 km point, we reach the top of the hill as Hatton town reveals itself below.

We cross the train line again at the 14.1 km point as we enter the outskirts of the town. There is a cemetery on your right-hand side immediately after we cross the train line. Today’s walk ends at Hatton’s town hall.

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