Mani Katthitheri - Kondagala Rock of Labookellie Tea Estate
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Most travelers visiting Nuwara Eliya take the scenic mountain road A5, which is an attaction in itself due to the green beauty of the tea plantations and the panoramic views to the Kotmale Valley. The A-grade trunk road is also known as PBC highway, as it connects Peradeniya (P) near Kandy via Badulla (B) with Chenkalady (C) on the east coast.
The best long-distance views to Kotmale Valley and the central mountain range of Sri Lanka are those at the upper end of the serpentine climb between Bluefield Tea Estate and Labookellie Tea Estate, 3 km before arriving at Damro Labokellie Tea Factory and showrooms, which is pretty popular with tourists. The panoramic view further downhill can be enjoyed near Highgrove Estate, which is not a tea factory, but a country house offering three comfortable rooms. Close-by is The Natural View Point Restaurant at almost the same altititude, also offering the stunning views to the Nuwara Eliya tea region.
The best long-distance views to Kotmale Valley and the central mountain range of Sri Lanka are those at the upper end of the serpentine climb between Bluefield Tea Estate and Labookellie Tea Estate, 3 km before arriving at Damro Labokellie Tea Factory and showrooms, which is pretty popular with tourists. The panoramic view further downhill can be enjoyed near Highgrove Estate, which is not a tea factory, but a country house offering three comfortable rooms. Close-by is The Natural View Point Restaurant at almost the same altititude, also offering the stunning views to the Nuwara Eliya tea region.
However, there is an even better panoramic view point further uphill, namely on the top of the rock which towers Highgrove Estate. The rock is called Kondagala, not to be confused with the rock high above Loolecondera Estate. Rather, the Kondagala near the A5 mountain road belongs to Labookellie Estate. The Sinhala name of the area is Labugolla.
The view point atop a cliff is not directly at the A5 highway, but a few meters away from a small Hindu chapel atop Labookellie's Kondagala rock. The Hindu sanctuary is called Mani Katthitheri, also known as Mani Katthutheru. Only small stones indicating Hindu deities are venerated here by Tamil plantation workers. In recent years, the place has been interpreted as Ramayana Site, as it is believed that Lord Hanuman rested here during his first visit on the island of Lanka.
Mani Katthitheri on Kondagala Rock can not be reached by car nor by jeep or tuctuc. However, only less than a kilometer has to be walked from the closest point accessible for vehicles. The distance from Labokellie tea estate is 3 km (2 miles).
The view point atop a cliff is not directly at the A5 highway, but a few meters away from a small Hindu chapel atop Labookellie's Kondagala rock. The Hindu sanctuary is called Mani Katthitheri, also known as Mani Katthutheru. Only small stones indicating Hindu deities are venerated here by Tamil plantation workers. In recent years, the place has been interpreted as Ramayana Site, as it is believed that Lord Hanuman rested here during his first visit on the island of Lanka.
Mani Katthitheri on Kondagala Rock can not be reached by car nor by jeep or tuctuc. However, only less than a kilometer has to be walked from the closest point accessible for vehicles. The distance from Labokellie tea estate is 3 km (2 miles).
