Heritage Holidays come to life on colonial-era tea plantations

Hike up the world’s longest stairway at Adam’s Peak, take the road less travelled with biking, hiking and walking holidays in the Golden Valley of Tea, indulge yourself in Gourmet Holidays in a tradition of service and pampering unique to British colonial times, Heritage Holidays that come to life on colonial-era tea plantations and gardens of a bygone era surround lovely old colonial tea planters bungalows; very English and yet entrancingly exotic.

Heritage Holidays
Come to life on colonial-era tea plantations

Recognized as one of the world’s top 5 colonial Heritage Hideaways along with Palmiet Valley Wine & Country Estate, South Africa, The House of Jasmines, Argentina, Hacienda TEmozon, Mexico and Wharekauhau Lodge in New Zealand, Tea Trails pays homage to the way of life created by British tea planters in the early 19th century.

The English and Scottish planters who created “a little bit of England” in Ceylon’s “up country” to make way for the island’s tea plantations have long gone but their legacy of meticulously managed tea gardens and the good planters’ life is alive and well with Dilmah Tea Company’s four luxurious Tea Trails bungalows in the Bogowantalawa Valley.

Recognized as one of the world’s top 5 colonial Hideaways along with Palmiet Valley Wine & Country Estate, South Africa, The House of Jasmines, Argentina, Hacienda TEmozon, Mexico and Wharekauhau Lodge in New Zealand, Tea Trails pays homage to the way of life created by British tea planters in the early 19th century.  These hardy Englishmen and Scotsmen braved long and arduous steamship journeys, sailing across the Indian Ocean to arrive on the shores of Ceylon, eager to exploit the island’s extraordinary benevolent climate and rich soil.
 
In their inimitable way, British planters rewarded themselves for the back-breaking work of creating first coffee and then tea plantations in the mountain highlands of Sri Lanka by also creating a comfortable lifestyle that is memorable and unique. The tea planters way of life in Sri Lanka is perhaps one of the few aspects of island life that remains unchanged, offering a glimpse of a by-gone era amidst the pristine natural surroundings and the unchanged rhythms of a tea estate.
 
Plantation bungalows were generally sprawling colonial structures, with deep bay windows, elegant furniture, roaring wood fires and delectable cuisine turned out by a jealously guarded chef and a retinue of domestic staff who would often be the third or fourth generation to have worked for the same family.
 
With the groundbreaking “Ceylon Tea Trails” concept, the Dilmah Tea Company has brought to life four impeccably restored British colonial-era bungalows that have set a new trend in luxury accommodation in Sri Lanka, winning accolades from discerning visitors in search of a unique experience.

Each of the four Tea Trails bungalows lies nestled among the hills of the Bogawantalawa region in the Dimbula district. Bogowantalawa is known as “The Golden Valley” on account of its lush, vigorous tea bushes that produce full bodied to light, delicate and fragrant teas throughout the year.

This is perhaps the most famous region for Ceylon Tea and one of the first areas to be planted after tea took over from coffee in Ceylon in the 1870's. The area covers the extensive western slopes of the tea planting districts. The standard definition of this district embraces plantations from around 1,050 meters  to 1500 meters  above the sea level.

The south west monsoon rains have a significant impact on the quality of Dimbula teas. Cold dry weather from January to March brings about changes that vary creating the right climate for production of its best teas during these dry months. Characteristics of the tea grown in this area include long wiry beautiful leaves that give an exquisite taste, almost oaky, with body and strength.

The four Tea Trails bungalows are located between 4 kms and 15kms from each other.   “Castlereagh” and “Summerville” bungalows were built in 1925 and 1928 respectively and are located on Castlereagh Lake.  It is here that the crème de la crème of Sri Lanka’s teas – the fragrant and delicately flavoured “high growns” -- flourish.

The original Norwood Bungalow was built in 1890 by the Eastern Produce Company and rebuilt in 1950 after the old bungalow caught fire.  The original “Tientsin” bungalow was built where the present sundeck area is located. Planter Irwin Stuart’s mother built the present bungalow for him in 1939.

Other buildings of historic note are the Christ Church Warleigh built by English and Scottish tea planters in 1878 and St. Mary’s Church in Bogowantalawa, where Juliet Margaret Cameron, an early pioneer of black and white photography, is buried.  Two of the oldest planters clubs – the Darawella Maskeliya Cricket Club in Dickoya and the Bogowantalawa Planters Club should also definitely be on your itinerary.

go to www.teatrails.com

Read reviews of Ceylon Tea Trails at tripadvisor.com
Named a Top 10 Luxury Hotel for Tea Lovers. Read more reviews here