You begin this stage at the Watagoda Train station, which continues past highland lakes and towards a wonderful banyan tree with an idyllic little stream running beside it. Your journey then stretches onto classic tea trails towards the Holyrood Estate. While walking, keep an eye out for a sign at a warehouse that reads “did you hug a tree today”.
Walk across small village streets and railway lines towards Talawakelle town, the center of the Dimbula tea planting district, which is de facto, the largest growing tea area in Sri Lanka.
Once you leave Talawakelle, you will weave up, down, and across small valleys connecting little hamlets. This part feels like a fairy-tale, a bit like “The Shire” in Lord of the Rings. Climb up more hills where you can feast your eyes on views of glorious tea country. If you look closely at the formation of the mountains around, you can make out the contour of the Nanu Oya river you just crossed in Talawakelle. The trail ends at Kotagala.
