The Pekoe Trail - Stage 1 - Hantana to Galaha - Official Profile

IMPORTANT NOTE: The stage is walkable and signposted. Look out for orange circles with a white arrow. Trail users are advised to consider all the information available and to heed local advice when available. The services of a professional mountain guide are recommended. Trail users are responsible for all decisions as to the trail routes, trail conditions, weather, and safety. In addition to the hazards posed by steep terrain and mountain weather, hikers should be prepared for difficult route-finding and challenging trail conditions, dogs, leaches, heavy rain, intermittent thunderstorms, and plenty of sun. It is recommended to drink at least 1/2 litter of water per hour when hiking. Access to emergency medical care and rescue is not always immediately available.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE STAGE

The Pekoe Trail starts at the Ceylon Tea Museum on the Hantana Estate. The museum itself is well worth a visit. It occupies the shell of the old Hantana Tea Factory. There is ample space for parking and there are very good toilet facilities.

There is a track that heads up from the Ceylon Tea Museum towards the pass, known as the central tea plantations of Hantana. Its panoramic mountain range features seven peaks.

The Pekoe Trail follows the concrete path up towards the hotel W15 and the Hill Country Sport Shooting Club. The elevation gain is very gentle. There is a track that peels off to the left towards W15 and soon after a turn around the bend where visitors will see a small house behind a gate up on the right-hand side. This is the Sugarcane Quarantine Center!

The track continues until the concrete gives way to gravel. There are a few cabanas on either side of the track. There is a trail that peels off to the right towards a small stupa up in the mountain. This is a meditation center and it is recommended to avoid taking this path so as not to disturb. Soon after the meditation center turnoff is the highest elevation point of this stage. The views on the way back towards Kandy are spectacular. On a clear day, Victoria Reservoir and the entire Knuckles Range can be seen to the left. It is impressive to realize the distance covered already.

From the highest point, it's all downhill until a river crossing just before Galaha.

This area was used for backdrops in the making of Harrison Ford’s Hollywood classic, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”. As part of the plot, Harrison Ford is implored by a desperate Indian villager to retrieve a mysterious stone. Steven Spielberg filmed in Kandy and the surrounding area like Hantana for several weeks.

On the descent toward Galaha watch out for a statue of Buddha on top of a rock. Visitors will enjoy a walk through a fabulous forest with enormous trees then the last few kilometers before crossing the river is a bit more residential. The trail passes through a few villages and homes.

There is a bridge crossing and then on the other side is a dense pine forest. Here, there is a choice: take the steep track up the hill or following the road around the bend. Both ways lead to Galaha Road. The end of this stage of the trail is Galaha's Post Office.

--PLEASE TAKE ALL YOUR RUBBISH WITH YOU AND IF YOU SEE ANY RUBBISH OTHERS LEFT BEHIND TRY TO TAKE IT - EVEN IF JUST A BOTTLE OR A PLASTIC BAG, EVERY BIT COUNTS - THANK YOU.

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The Pekoe Trail is designed to support development and livelihoods in rural areas of Sri Lanka. Buying goods and services from local businesses helps communities along the trail to thrive. The Pekoe Trail is funded by the European Union (EU) with additional support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IESC on behalf of Sri Lanka Tourism. For more information, please visit thepekoetrailsrilanka.com.