Lipton's Seat — Attraction in Uva Province

The Lipton’s Seat View Point in Sri Lanka is one of the most iconic and breathtaking viewpoints in the country, offering panoramic vistas of the lush, rolling tea plantations that the island is famous for. Located near Haputale in the Badulla District, this viewpoint is named after Sir Thomas Lipton, the famous tea magnate who once stood here to survey his vast tea estates.

Description: Perched at an altitude of approximately 1,970 meters (6,463 feet), Lipton’s Seat provides a stunning 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape. On a clear day, you can see as far as Hambantota on the southern coast, as well as the Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and Central Provinces. The view is a mesmerizing patchwork of emerald-green tea plantations, mist-covered mountains, and distant valleys, making it a paradise for nature lovers and photographers.

Key Features: Tea Plantations: The viewpoint is surrounded by the Dambatenne Tea Estate, one of the largest and most famous tea plantations in Sri Lanka. The neatly manicured tea bushes stretch as far as the eye can see, creating a serene and picturesque landscape.

Sunrise and Sunset: Lipton’s Seat is particularly popular at sunrise and sunset, when the golden light bathes the hills and valleys, creating a magical atmosphere. Many visitors trek early in the morning to witness the sunrise from this vantage point.

Historical Significance: Sir Thomas Lipton, the founder of Lipton Tea, is said to have meditated here while overseeing his tea empire. A statue of Lipton stands at the viewpoint, commemorating his connection to the region.

Trekking and Hiking: The journey to Lipton’s Seat is an adventure in itself. You can either hike through the scenic tea plantations or take a tuk-tuk or jeep ride to the top. The hike is moderately challenging but rewarding, offering glimpses of local tea pluckers at work and the chance to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area.

Cool Climate: Due to its high elevation, the area enjoys a cool, misty climate year-round, making it a refreshing escape from the heat of the lowlands.

How to Get There: The viewpoint is accessible from Haputale, a charming hill town in Sri Lanka’s central highlands. From Haputale, it’s about a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) journey to Lipton’s Seat. The route passes through the Dambatenne Tea Factory, which is worth a visit to learn about the tea-making process and enjoy a fresh cup of Ceylon tea.

Why Visit? Lipton’s Seat is not just a viewpoint; it’s an experience that combines natural beauty, history, and culture. Whether you’re a tea enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, this spot offers a unique and unforgettable glimpse into the heart of Sri Lanka’s...

The Lipton’s Seat is located at Dambetenna in the Haputale Mountain region. This place was a favorite look-outpoint for Sir Thomas Lipton. The point has a fabulous view over Uva, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern provinces.

History; In 1864 Lipton signed up as a cabin boy on a steamer running between Glasgow and Belfast and was captivated by life aboard the ship and the stories told by sailors who had travelled to the United States. After being let go by the steamer company, Lipton quickly used the wages he had saved to purchase passage on a ship bound for the U.S., where he would spend five years working and traveling all over the country. Lipton had a number of jobs during this time: at a tobacco plantation in Virginia, as an accountant and bookkeeper at a rice plantation in South Carolina, as a door-to-door salesman in New Orleans, a farmhand in New Jersey, and finally as a grocery assistant in New York. He returned to Glasgow in 1870, initially helping his parents run their small shop in the Gorbals. The following year he opened his first provision shop—Lipton's Market—at 101 Stobcross Street in the Anderston area of Glasgow. This enterprise proved to be successful and Lipton soon established a chain of groceries, first across Glasgow, the rest of Scotland, until finally he had stores throughout Britain. While Lipton was expanding his empire, tea prices were falling and demand was growing among his middle class customers. In 1880, Lipton invested in the young stockyards of Omaha, Nebraska, founding a large packing plant in South Omaha which he sold to American interests in 1887. In 1888, when his empire had grown to 300 stores, he entered the tea trade and opened his tea-tasting office. He started bypassing traditional trading and wholesale distribution channels (most UK tea-trading was focused in London's Mincing Lane) in order to sell teas at unprecedented prices to the untapped poor working class market. In order to provide his shops with goods Lipton bought tea gardens and in doing so, he established the Lipton tea brand, which remains in business as a subsidiary of Unilever. Lipton visited Sri Lanka in 1890 and made business deals with James Taylor, who introduced tea gardens to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) with indentured Tamil workers from India. Lipton's company purchased Ceylon tea, distributing it through Europe and the USA...

From here, the Scottish tea baron Sir Thomas Lipton surveyed his burgeoning empire. Lipton's Seat is a panoramic destination overlooking Sri Lanka. It is remarkable to see Handapanagala lake, Chandrika lake, Uda walwe lake, Wedi hiti Kanda mountains, as well as the hambanthota harbor situated in the southern coastal region and five provinces in Sri Lanka. Dambetenna is Sri Lanka's longest tea factory. By climbing for about 7km, surrounded by peaceful green tea plantations and an occasional colorful tea plucker, the point of Lipton's Seat is reached. There are two routes available: one from Bandarawela's Nayabedda estate, and the other from Haputale's Dambatenna estate. The Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern provinces spread out from before the viewer's feet in a show rivaling that of the famous observation point of the World's End from Lipton's Seat. Seven provinces are visible from the top of the hill, along with sights such as Handapanagala Lake, Chandrika Lake, Udawalawe Lake, Wedihitikanda Mountains, and even the southern coast of the Hambanthota harbor. Lipton's Seat is best visited early in the morning before sunrise for those who wish for even more breathtaking views or photographers looking to take a shot of nature at its best. A beautiful sight is the shift in colors as the sun exposes its face, as the dense mist flees the heat that reveals the carpet of greens and browns laid out below. There is also a very fair chance to see tea pluckers make their way to work with basket bearings. However, making the hilltop before 10 am should be sufficient to get a fairly clear view for those tourists who find it difficult to wake up early. In comparison with World's End, which needs a charge, visiting Liptons Seat is free for all. There are also a few other attractions along the way, including Catherine's Seat and the Waterfall of Lemathota. In the Nayabedda estate, Catherine's Seat offers an outstanding view of Bandarawela, Diyatalawa and the Uva valley all the way to the mountain range of Namunukula. On the Dambatenna route is Lemathota waterfall, although it is not exactly a big attraction.

All in all, the Seat of Lipton is a budget-friendly place to relax or build some photographic memories with a picnic. Bear in mind, on the other hand, that the weather in the Hill Country is likely to change and offer some...