Gems, Tea, and Timeless Elegance 🇱🇰
We began the morning with a quick tour of Cinnamon Myst in Kandy, where we had spent the night. Tucked right in the heart of the city, this modern, design-forward hotel is the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. The rooms are spacious and fresh, the buffet restaurant offers an amazing variety (yes, I definitely went back for seconds ), and the rooftop pool—wow. With sweeping views over Kandy’s lush hills, it’s the kind of place where you could easily lose an afternoon just soaking in the scenery.
Next, we dove into something dazzling, quite literally, at a local gem museum and workshop. Sri Lanka is famous for its gemstones, and seeing the process up close was fascinating. At Tiesh, we learned how these treasures have been mined for generations, often using the same traditional methods passed down through families. Watching the craftsmen shape, polish, and set each stone was mesmerizing every sapphire, ruby, and moonstone seemed to hold a story of its own.
As we left Kandy and ventured deeper inland, the landscape began to transform. The air turned cooler, the roads wound higher, and soon we were surrounded by misty hills, lush green valleys, and the occasional waterfall tumbling down in the distance. The journey through tea country is like watching a painting come to life shades of green as far as the eye can see, dotted with smiling tea pluckers in bright saris.
We stopped at a working tea plantation to trace the journey of Sri Lanka’s most famous export Ceylon tea from leaf to cup. It was incredible to see how much care and precision goes into every step, from the hand-picking of leaves to the drying, rolling, and fermenting. Of course, no visit would be complete without a tasting session, and each sip was rich, aromatic, and filled with the essence of these hills.
In the afternoon, we stepped back in time at The Grand Hotel, a colonial masterpiece that oozes charm and character. Think manicured gardens, vintage elegance, and even a classic English pub tucked inside. We indulged in a proper high tea here delicate sandwiches, scones, and a selection of teas that made it feel straight out of a storybook.
As the day drew to a close, we arrived at the peaceful Heritage Tea Plantation, our home for the night. Nestled among rolling hills, this historic estate feels like a step into another world quiet, graceful, and surrounded by the soft rustle of tea leaves in the breeze. It’s the perfect ending to a day filled with beauty, culture, and timeless Sri Lankan charm. Even had a chance to try a few Tea cocktails!