Loolecondera Estate
Central Province
About Loolecondera Estate
Every cup of Ceylon tea traces back to Loolecondera: on this estate in the hills between Deltota and Hewaheta, south-east of Kandy, the Scottish planter James Taylor cleared nineteen acres in 1867 and planted Sri Lanka's first commercial tea field - Field No. 7, still marked, still growing tea - just as coffee blight prepared to destroy the old economy. Taylor lived and died here, a gentle giant who never left his hills; pilgrims of the leaf visit the ruins of his log cabin, the granite outcrop called Taylor's Seat where he took his evening pipe over a valley of astonishing views, and the little museum corner the estate keeps. The drive itself - hairpins through jungle and tea with the Knuckles on the horizon - explains why he stayed. For anyone whose itinerary includes a tea factory or three, this is the source: the field where an island's identity sprouted.
Top Activities
- ✓Field No. 7 - the first tea field
- ✓Taylor's Seat viewpoint
- ✓The cabin ruins and estate lore
- ✓Tea-country drives from Kandy
- ✓Combine with the Ceylon Tea Museum
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
Visit the Ceylon Tea Museum first - Taylor's story frames the estate.
The estate office can point you to Taylor's Seat and Field No. 7.
Allow a half day; the drive is winding but wonderful.
Quick Info
Best Time
December to April
Weather
Cool and misty; the estate roads are slow and scenic.
Estimated Daily Budget
7.1833°N, 80.7000°E
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