Sri Lanka in the World Map

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Badulla and Monaragala Districts

 

Badulla, Ella, Bandarawella and Haputale

A very pleasant circular route from Nuwara Eliya gives excellent views of the Southeast Highlands. It makes a rewarding day tour, although there are also some comfortable and very attractive places to stay if you don’t want to rush. From Badulla it is possible to go east across the Dry Zone to Arugam bay or Batticaloa, and from Ella two roads go south, one to Hambantota, and the other to Thissamaharama, Kataragama and Ruhuna-Yala National Park. These are thus within comfortable reach of a two or three days’ excursion from Kandy or Nuwara Eliya after entering the Uva Province.

Route From Nuwara Eliya, the A5 goes southeast across Wilson’s Plains then east to Badulla. Just past the Hakgala Gardens, 10km (see page 207), is a superb view southeast across the hills of Bandarawela and over the baked plains of the east coastlands. The road passes through Keppetipola as it drops rapidly through to Welimada on the Uma Oya River.

Keppetipola Junction is southeast of hakgala. The Summer Place Restaurant and Travel Information Centre, Forest Park, Haputale Road (3 km from Keppetipola Junction), T072-666608, is a useful place to stop for tea or typical homemade SriLankan food, good information about local walks, waterfalls plus simple accommodation.

The caves north of Welimada are a pot-holer’s delight. They are reached by a path from Paranagama. which is 10 km along the road north from Welimada. The maze of damp caves hold a large lake.

From Welimada, a right turn on to the B51 leads to Bandarawela, past terraced field of paddy and across occasional streams. At Hali-Ela, the A5 goes to Badulla. This area is already in the rainshadow of the hills to the west, sheltered from the southwest monsoon and much drier than Nuwara Eliya. Rubber plantations cover some of the slopes before Badulla.