Loolkandura Tea Estate | ලූල්කඳුර වතුයාය

Farther of the Tea in SRI LANKA. What a nicw place . Misty Hill side.
You can see the first tea plant in Sri Lanka. A cold mountain top shrouded in fog.
I L❤vE it.

This beautiful Lulkandura Estate is Situated in Hewaheta in Deltota area. 42 km distance from Kandy. The first commercial tea plantation that introduced 'Ceylon Tea' to the world was started by the British man "James Taylor" in 1867 at this Lulkandura tea estate. You have to take a ticket of Rs. 200 to enter this estate. after reaching 5 km from the main entrance, you can come to the old dilapidated house of Mr. James Taylor. Today, only the ruins of the house remain.

The footpath to the top of Kondagala starts from this place. You can reach the top of Kondagala mountain in less than 20 minutes. On the top of Kondagala mountain, which has a straight slope on one side and a rough slope on the other side, you can see many areas like Hantana Range, Victoria Reservoir, Ambuluawa, Knuckles mountain range.

Also, you can see the View Point (James Taylor's Seat) where Mr. James Taylor rested at that time in this estate. Many places in Kandy area are clearly visible here. If you are going to visit this beautiful area, be careful not to do anything that harms the ruins and the environment. Also, please do not leave the polythene, plastic, etc.

Must visit place in Deltota area. It's the plantation that James Taylor first introduced the tea plant to Sri Lanka. You can reach to the top of the Kondagala rock by taking the scenic hiking trail in the estate. The trail is almost 4km to the top for the 360° view.

The Loolkandura Estate, also known as Loolcondera Estate, is the first tea plantation estate in Sri Lanka and is situated in Rikillagaskada in the Central Province.

Loolkandura Estate in the Kandy district is the very first patch of tea was planted as a test after the failure of coffee plantation in Sri Lanka. With the wild success of this plantation, then 21 year old planter James Taylor who was in charge of this plantation has been forever immortalized and has become a part of post colonization history of Sri Lanka.
Taylor had signed on for three years as an assistant supervisor on a coffee plantation in Ceylon in 1852. The sixteen–year–old Scot, son of a modest wheelwright, would never see his native land again. Five years after he took up his post, his employers, Harrison and Leake, impressed by the quality of his work, put Taylor in charge of the Loolkandura Estate (then Loolecondera Estate) and instructed him to experiment with tea plants. The Peradeniya nursery supplied him with his first seeds around 1860. He cleared 19 acres of forest in Hewaheta Lower, and planted the first seedlings which became a such a success which finally caused his downfall as well.
The Ceylon Tea became so popular, large tea companies flocked in to the “Ceylon Tea” market and started consolidating small estates. The small Loolkandura (Loolecondera) estate too was caught in this consolidation and Taylor was eventually dismissed by the estate management.
As a tribute to man who brought little known Ceylon to the world recognition with the ‘Ceylon Tea” brand, Loolkandura Estate has now restored several locations used by James Taylor including the very first tea patch open to the general public.
Here you can see the Taylor’s Seat, a rock seat used by James Taylor which gives a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain ranges, The chimney of the log cabin which was used by Taylor ( only remaining part of the cabin), The well used by Taylor and the very first patch of tea which was planted by Taylor now known as the No.7 field of the Loolkandura (Loolecondera) Estate.
One unique decision of James Taylor is the naming of the estate. When all other planters who setup estates named them with English names close to their hearts Taylor named his estate “Loolecondera”, by the local name of the area Loolkandura as he spelled it.
Traveling from Kandy, take the Galaha Road ( B364) and continue on the road for 34 kilometers passing Hindagala, Mahakanda, Galaha and Deltota to reach the entrance to the Loolkandura (Loolecondera) Estate. To reach these the above landmarks you need to travel a further 4 km inside the estate on winding roads.

Nice place to visit if your are a nature lover! Road is little difficult to climb from the entrance in a car though I went all the way up in a Toyota Axio (2 people). But I recommend not climb in the vehicle unless you have a very good ground clearance!!! All in all it's a must to visit!!!!

You must visit this state if you are in Delthota, Rikillagaskada area. Lot to see and this is where James Tylor first introduced tea plantation. Taylor’s seat, remaining of his old shelter, and little hike to Kondagala mountain are some highlights. To enter these locations, you need to get entry tickets and access by a small
Vehicle will be too difficult.

The Loolkandura Estate, also known as Loolcondera Estate, is the first tea plantation estate in Sri Lanka. A couple of hours from Kandy, this beautiful estate provides a picture of the great Ceylon/Sri Lankan Tea Industry. A very beautiful natural scenery you never want to miss 😍

Sri Lanka's First Tea estate. Nice breath taking views. You can see beautiful sceneries on the way to Kondagala. As well as weather conditions are very critical sometimes. Few Tamil families are living inside the tea estate. very friendly people. Good for one day trip. Easy to track down the road. Peradeniya --> Delthota --> Loolkadura.

Very nice designation close to Kandy. Climate is wonderful. Can visit Jam's Tayler seat , view point, Kondagala hike.

Loolecondera is no ordinary plantation, for it was here that James Taylor made the first successful attempt to grow and process tea in Ceylon. Indeed he pioneered the commercial cultivation of the world's favorite brew on the Island, so Loolecondera Estate will forever be associated with the birth of Ceylon Tea.

The Loolecondera estate was the first tea plantation estate in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) started in 1867 by Scotsman James Taylor. James Taylor started the plantation of tea within 19 acres (77,000 m2) of land in Loolecondera and it grew rapidly. In 1872, he started a tea factory with his latest invention of the tea leaves cutting machine.He spent most of his life in Loolecondera until his death in 1892.

This is the place if you want a good experience of walking between tea leaves In misty ,windy condition. It's the first tea plantation of Sri Lanka built by James Taylor. There is a road from delthota where you can go in a vehicle or by foot till the plantation over (choice is yours).i recommend to have a walk (even though it takes time)since there a lot of beauty and feeling of mist and wind is very nice

At the beginning of the road to plantation there is a small waterfall where you can have a nice bath in ice water😁

After that there is a hike(20-30 mins) to climb over to kondagala which gives you a very beautiful view and shots of wind and mist(this part you can't go by vehicle)

(But please don't put any plastics and garbage to destroy this place,just leave your footprints there and come)

This is the place where James Tailer was stationed. Part of his log house is still there. The original 2 acres of tea still giving tasty drink of cup of tea. This is the place that you must visit if you are interested in the history of Ceylon tea. The rock called Kondagala also a interested to climb then you will have a panoramic view of the sorounding area with other mountains.

Not sure what the spelling permutations are. Loolkandura vs Loolecondera but same place. Kondagala is situated in Loolkadura estate near Delthota via Galaha road. There is hug flat rock which is easy to climb. View from there is marvelous and there is another view point at Tailors seat.
It is the first tea estate of Sri Lanka and their is ancient well and remains of old bungalow.

The Loolecondera estate was the first tea plantation estate in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) started in 1867 by Scotsman James Taylor, it is situated in Loolkandura, Kandy.
James Taylor started the plantation of tea within 19 acres (77,000 m2) of land in Loolecondera and it grew rapidly. In 1872, he started a tea factory with his latest invention of the tea leaves cutting machine.

He spent most of his life in Loolecondera until his death in 1892.

The authorities of Sri Lanka built a museum at Loolecondera in 1992 to commemorate him.

Loolecondera is the way Britishers spelled the native name Lool kandura. ලූල් කඳුර in Sinhala . Loolkandura means the Stream full of Loola fish. (Channa striata)

James Taylor arrived in Ceylon in 1852, settling down at the Loolecondera Estate. He begins a 19-acre tea plantation on the Loolecondera Estate in 1867, laying the foundation for what would become Sri Lanka’s largest export industry for over a century.

In 1872, a fully equipped tea factory began operating on the Loolecondera Estate.

In 1873, Ceylon Tea made its international debut when twenty-three pounds of tea produced by James Taylor reached London.

During the 1880s, tea production in Sri Lanka grew rapidly with planters from all over the hill country visiting Loolecondera to learn the basics of growing and manufacturing tea. By the late 1880s, almost all the coffee plantations had been converted to tea as it was seen as a more lucrative alternative.

With the development of technologies such as the Sirocco tea dryer in 1877 and the tea-rolling machine in 1880, commercial tea production was now viable.

In 1883, with the backing of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the first of many public Colombo tea auctions was held on the property of Somerville & Co.

In 1884, the Central Tea Factory was built on the Fairyland Estate (Pedro) in Nuwara Eliya.

In 1891, Ceylon Tea was sold at the London tea auctions at an astonishing price of LKR 36.15 per lb.

In 1892, James Taylor, the pioneer of the tea industry in Ceylon, died at the age of 57.

good path way, You have to walk for 3 km between the tea plantations and it is very beautiful

Great place for visiting. Misty at times. The trail is also beautiful in between tea estates. Ant this is one of the first tea estates started in sri lanka. The trailway is continued to kondagala

Loolkandura Estate in the Kandy district is the very first patch of tea was planted as a test after the failure of coffee plantation in Sri Lanka. With the wild success of this plantation, then 21 year old planter James Taylor who was in charge of this plantation has been forever immortalized and has become a part of post colonization history of Sri Lanka.

Taylor had signed on for three years as an assistant supervisor on a coffee plantation in Ceylon in 1852. The sixteen–year–old Scot, son of a modest wheelwright, would never see his native land again. Five years after he took up his post, his employers, Harrison and Leake, impressed by the quality of his work, put Taylor in charge of the Loolkandura Estate (then Loolecondera Estate) and instructed him to experiment with tea plants. The Peradeniya nursery supplied him with his first seeds around 1860. He cleared 19 acres of forest in Hewaheta Lower, and planted the first seedlings which became a such a success which finally caused his downfall as well.

The Ceylon Tea became so popular, large tea companies flocked in to the “Ceylon Tea” market and started consolidating small estates. The small Loolkandura (Loolecondera) estate too was caught in this consolidation and Taylor was eventually dismissed by the estate management.

In 2nd May, 1892, aged 57 years, one year after being dismissed, Taylor passed away due to severe gastroenteritis and dysentery. His body was buried in the Mahaiyawa Cemetery in Kandy.

As a tribute to man who brought little known Ceylon to the world recognition with the ‘Ceylon Tea” brand, Loolkandura Estate has now restored several locations used by James Taylor including the very first tea patch open to the general public.

Here you can see the Taylor’s Seat, a rock seat used by James Taylor which gives a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain ranges, The chimney of the log cabin which was used by Taylor ( only remaining part of the cabin), The well used by Taylor and the very first patch of tea which was planted by Taylor now known as the No.7 field of the Loolkandura (Loolecondera) Estate.

One unique decision of James Taylor is the naming of the estate. When all other planters who setup estates named them with English names close to their hearts Taylor named his estate “Loolecondera”, by the local name of the area Loolkandura as he spelled it.

Loolecondera is first commercial tea plantation in sri lanka.it was planted by James Taylor in 1867.
Beautiful place and cool climactic condition..please come and visit