Activities in The Hill Country
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Victoria Golf & Country Resort
The Victoria Golf & Country Resort is 20km east of Kandy. Surrounded on three sides by the Victoria Reservoir and with the Knuckles Range as a backdrop, it’s worth coming for lunch at the clubhouse and to savour the views. Claimed to be the best golf course in the subcontinent, it’s a fairly challenging 18 holes.
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Sri Lanka Trekking
Based at Expeditor guest house, Sumone Bandara and Ravi Kandy at Sri Lanka Trekkingcan arrange trekking around Kandy and camping and trekking expeditions to the rugged Knuckles Range. Sumone and Ravi can also arrange mountain biking and rafting trips in other parts of the Hill Country.
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Ratna Gem Halt
Ratna Gem Halt offers a five-day basic gemology course that teaches students skills, including how to cut and polish gemstones. Excursions to the gem mines and markets are included.
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Nuwara Eliya Golf Club
Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, spreading north from Grand Hotel Rd, is beautifully kept and has a retinue of languid sleeping dogs guarding more than a few of the greens.
It didn’t take the tea planters long to lay out land for drives and putts in their holiday town, and the club was founded in 1889. The club has been through tough times but survives to this day. Water hazards – in the form of rivers and streams – come into play on six holes. Temporary members pay Rs 100 per day. Hire golf clubs for Rs 1080 per day and golf shoes for Rs 168 per day. The club expects a certain dress code: for men, shirt with collar and pants or shorts (of a decent length), socks and shoes; and fo…
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Dambatenne Tea Factory
A few tea factories in this area are happy to have visitors. The most popular, Dambatenne, was built by Sir Thomas Lipton in 1890, one of the most famous figures in tea history. A tour through the works is an education on the processes involved in the fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and grading of tea.
Although it’s 11km from Haputale, the popular factory is easily accessible. A bus for the estate workers goes from the bus station for Bandarawela to the factory and back again about every 25 minutes (Rs 15). A three-wheeler there and back costs about Rs 500.
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Pedro Tea Estate
To see where your morning cuppa originates, head to the Pedro Tea Estate, about 3.5km east of Nuwara Eliya on the way to Kandapola. Guided tours of the factory, originally built in 1885 and still packed with 19th-century engineering, run for a half-hour. Overlooking the plantations there’s a pleasant tea house. A three-wheeler from Nuwara Eliya should cost Rs 700 to 800 return, including waiting time. The Single Tree Hotel runs trips for Rs 500 per person. Alternatively you could hop on a Ragalla-bound bus (bus 743) from the main bus station in Nuwara Eliya.
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Millennium Elephant Foundation
Two kilometres from Pennewala, on the Karandupona–Kandy road, the Millennium Elephant Foundationhas 11 elephants rescued from situations as diverse as aggressive mahouts and retirement from working in temples. Volunteers are welcome at the Foundation – get ready to bathe the elephants in the river – and the facility also supports a mobile veterinary service. Volunteers are expected to stay at least three months (US$2525), but one-month assignments (US$1100) are also considered. Costs include all accommodation and food.
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Sri Jemieson International Meditation Centre
Near Ampitiya, 4km southeast of Kandy, the Sri Jemieson International Meditation Centre runs free five- and 10-day courses. Phone to find out when the next course starts. There are eight rooms for male students only; this is a monastery and temple. Women must stay off-campus but are welcome to meditate here during the day from 8am to 4.30pm. Catch a Talatu Oya bus from Kandy’s clock tower bus stop. Look for the sign on the right-hand side about 3km along the Ampitiya–Talatu Oya road. It’s a 1.2km walk to the centre.
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Sri Lanka Cricket Office
The modest Asgiriya Stadium, north of the town centre, hosts crowds of up to 10,000 cheering fans at international one-day and test matches. Ticket prices depend on the popularity of the two teams. India versus Sri Lanka matches are the most value. Tickets are also sold on the day, or you can book grandstand seats up to a month in advance through the Sri Lanka Cricket office at the stadium or online.
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4WD Tours
Most hotels and guesthouses in town can arrange day trips by car or 4WD to Horton Plains National Park and World's End. The standard price for up to five passengers is Rs 1700. One of the better-run 4WD tours is based at Single Tree Hotel. The road is better than it used to be and the trip takes about 1½ hours one way. It costs about the same from Haputale.
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Suwamadura
Spotless facility with trained staff offering a full range of treatment options, including massage, steam baths, herbal saunas, and the warm, soothing bliss of shiro dhara. The herbal sauna uses 50 different herbs, a few more than KFC’s Colonel Sanders, and probably a whole lot better for you. Treat yourself after a long day’s walking.
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Royal Palace Park
There are many walks around Kandy like the Royal Palace Park constructed by Sri Wickrama Rajasinha. Further up on Rajapihilla Mawatha are even better views over the lake, the town and the surrounding hills. For longer walks, there are paths branching out from Rajapihilla Mawatha. Ask at your guest house.
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Single Tree Hill
A good place for walking is up Single Tree Hill (2100m), which takes about 90 minutes. Walk south on Queen Elizabeth Rd, go up Haddon Hill Rd as far as the communications tower and then take the left-hand path. Guest houses can supply you with a rudimentary map.
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Amaya Hills
The colourful ambience of the Ayurvedic treatment centre at Amaya Hills is very nice. It is high in the hills on a winding road. A three-wheeler from Kandy costs around Rs 1000 return. Make a day of it, have lunch and spend a few hours around the stunning pool.
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Wedamedura Ayurveda
Wedamedura Ayurveda is an Ayurvedic treatment facility with both male and female massage therapists. Residential packages (per week €600, including accommodation and food) are also available. It’s a little dark and gloomy though.
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Hill Club
There are four clay tennis courts at the Hill Club. The fee includes balls and racquet hire. Try not to lob a ball into the Sri Lankan President’s residence next door.
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Hotel Topaz
The friendly Hotel Topaz is one of the few hotels that opens its pool to nonguests. Charges are around Rs 300 per person. A three-wheeler from town costs Rs 200.
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Hotel Suisse
One of the few hotels that opens its pool to nonguests. Charges around Rs 300 per person. South of Kandy lake, Hotel Suisse has a pretty pool and garden.
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Hotel Suisse
One of the few hotels that opens its pool to nonguests. Charges around Rs 300 per person. South of Kandy lake, Hotel Suisse has a pretty pool and garden.
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Dalada Vidiya
This central hotel conceals a quiet pool behind its stately facade. The pool is open to nonguests and charges around Rs 300 per person.
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Queens Hotel
This central hotel conceals a quiet pool behind its stately facade. The pool is open to nonguests and charges around Rs 300 per person.
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Pattipola
Hike along the train lines from Haputale to Pattipola (14km, an all-day hike), the highest train station in Sri Lanka.
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Pompakelle Forest Park
The lush Pompakelle Forest Park, behind Ratnapura Rest House, is laced with walking trails through this lush forest.
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Alpine Adventurers
Alpine Adventurers specialises in trekking, camping, mountaineering and rafting tours in the area.
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Tennis
There are tennis courts at the Hill Club. The fee includes balls and racquet hire.
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