Liptons Seat, Ella - Timings, Entry Fee, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 7 km from Dambatenne, 15 km from Haputale and 27 km from Ella, Lipton's Seat or Lipton Seat is a viewpoint situated in the Haputale mountain range, atop the Dambatenne Tea Estate. It is one of the popular vantage points near Ella.

Located at a height of 1970 m above sea level, Lipton's Seat is a beautiful tourist attraction that offers awe-inspiring views of the surrounding verdant hills and tea plantations. The viewpoint is named after Sir Thomas Lipton, the founder of Lipton Tea. This precise spot is the place where Sir Thomas Lipton used to sit and contemplate his plantations. A statue of Sir Lipton greets visitors to Lipton's Seat.

From the summit, one will have a bird's eye view of the Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern provinces. On a clear day, one should be able to spot the Handapanagala Lake, the Chandrika Lake and the Udawalawe Lake as well as the Wedihiti Kanda mountain range. This place is also perfect to witness the best of sunrise and sunset. The little kiosk at the plateau also sells Lipton's Ceylonta Tea. One can also visit the nearby Dambatenne Tea Factory to understand the process of tea production. The factory conducts an informative 20-minute guided tour to its visitors.

From Dambatenne town, there is a small road that winds its way up through the tea plantations to the viewpoint and every bus must take this road regardless of where you start from and only drops you at the entrance gate which is 1.5 km from the viewpoint. Although one can hire a tuk-tuk until the viewpoint, a walk to Lipton's Seat is recommended for the opportunity to soak in the tranquil atmosphere.

The best time to visit Lipton's Seat is in the early morning before the clouds obscure the panorama. If you prefer waking up late, reach the viewpoint before 10 AM. If you would like to see the tea pickers too, avoid visiting on a Sunday since it is considered a holiday for them.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry: LKR. 100 for Person