TCT Research - Galaha To Loolecondera

by Miguel Cunat
4 years ago
Near Delthota, LK

55 views

Today we hike from Galaha to Loolecondera. Loolecondera means stream full of Loola fish is both a delightful and historically significant part of the trail as this was the first place where tea was planted in Sri Lanka. 

Walking through this idyllic landscape it is easy to see why the Scots were seduced by the areas innate beauty, turning it into the country’s first tea estate and mini fiefdom. In 1860s, James Taylor fell in love with this idyllic place and built a bungalow in the virgin forest in 1865. On his veranda, he started experimenting with growing and processing tea with some seedlings that he had obtained from Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, near Kandy.  

The first kilometer is on the road towards Galaha General Hospital which is approximately where you leave the main road and head into the Deltotte Estate. You will leave a large school ground to your right and walk by a few houses before you begin to climb a rather steep stretch of the path. Look back, the views of the Hantana Estate and mountains behind you are stunning. One you reach the intersection take the road to the right.

The path on this stretch is wide and very easy to follow. Soon you will reach a village and the way becomes a little more intricate. Time to check your GPRS device and follow the markings. Lots of twists and turns until you arrive in Deltota. 

Deltota is a typical hill country town with a lively market, but perhaps the most striking feature of the town is the large green mosque. The market is well worth stopping at. There's plenty of fruits and veggies, and a very colorful painted mural. 

As you walk out of Deltota you need to stick to the main road that leeds to Loolecondera for approximately 800 meters and then take a road down to the right. The trail takes you through the village and then out onto a track that gradually ascents parallel to the main road. The views to your right on a clear day are truly breathtaking. You will walk in and out of small tea plucker villages, past an abandoned tea factory, a planters bungalow, and a large ground where - depending on the time - the local kids like to gather around to play cricket. 

On this lively section of the walk you can see the original tea factory set up by James Taylor and you will discover clumps of blue mishnucranti flowers, originally from India, which are used today as a local medicine and boiled to make kanji, a healthy herbal drink, which can bring down burning fever and is also good for your body in general. 

Keep going along the trail for approximately 5km until the our GPRS takes you on to the main country road connecting Deltota to Loolecondera. Its not a terribly busy road but do watch out for the odd tuk tuk and local bus. Its about 3km to the bridge where today ends.