Hatton, Sri Lanka

Hatton (හැටන්, ஹட்டன்) is a major town in the Nuwara Eliya District of Central Province, Sri Lanka governed by the Hatton-Dickoya Urban Council. Hatton is a major centre of the Sri Lankan tea industry.

Hatton is one of the busiest cities in the hill country of Sri Lanka and is colloquially known as the tea capital of the country, as it is the central point for most upcountry tea growing regions, such as Maskeliya, Talawakelle, Bogawantalawa and Dickoya.

Hatton is located approximately 112 km southeast of Colombo and 72 km south of Kandy, at an elevation of 1271 m above sea level.

Hatton was founded during the British colonial times in order to serve the coffee plantations and latter tea estates. The name of the town refers to the village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. A number of the surrounding tea estates are also named after Scottish villages.

Hatton serves as a gateway to Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) and Sinharaja Forest Reserve, but is better known for its Ceylon tea plantations. Over 48% of the town's population employed on tea estates.

Transport
The Hatton Railway Station is located on the Main Line (Colombo-Badulla) railway line

The town is located on the A7 highway (Avissawella-Nuwara Eliya) a part of the Avissawella-Nuwara Eliya main road.

Attractions

 * Adam's Peak, a 2243 m high mountain, which is major Buddhist pilgrimage destination
 * Devon Falls, a 97 m high waterfall
 * Dunbar Ground
 * Holy Cross Church (Catholic)
 * Laxapana Falls, a 126 m high waterfall
 * Jummah Masjid / islamic mosque
 * Maanica Pillayaar/Sri Manickapillayar Kovil, a Hindu temple dedicated to Ganesh
 * Castlereigh Dam
 * St. Clair's Falls, a 80 m high and 50 m wide waterfall
 * Shri Nigrodharamaya Buddhist Temple
 * Singha Malai Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in Sri Lanka (located between Hatton and Kotagala)
 * 60 feet bridge, a 18.3 m long steel railway bridge (located between Hatton and Kotagala)
 * Sri Muthu Mariyamman Kovil, a Hindu temple
 * Subramaniam Kovil, Hindu temple dedicated to Murugan

Education

 * Highlands Central College
 * Highlevel International School
 * Life-spring English Academy
 * Oxbridge International College
 * St. Gabriel's Convent
 * St. John Bosco's College
 * Shannon Tamil Maha Vidyalayam
 * Sri Pada Central College
 * Univenture international
 * Webster International School

Economy
Hatton is the largest town in the Nuwara Eliya District. A number of major corporations have branch offices in Hatton, servicing industries including textiles, tea, furniture and information technology. The Hatton National Bank, the largest privately owned commercial bank in the country, and Brown and Company, a leading engineering firm, were both founded in Hatton.

Neighbourhoods

 * Nuwara Eliya
 * Maskeliya
 * Bogawantalawa
 * Talawakelle
 * Dickoya
 * Norwood
 * Watawala
 * Ginigathena
 * Kotagala