Sri Lanka's First Tea Estate - Part 1 ( James Taylor's Story)

James Taylor's Story

Loolkandura Estate in the Kandy district is the first tea plantation in Sri Lanka, started in 1867 by then 21 year old English planter James Taylor. He was a big made man who weighed 246 pounds with a long beard who planted the first few tea plants in the veranda of his log cabin. The tea leaf was hand rolled on a table and sold for Rs.1.50 at the local market. Later on Ceylon Tea became so popular that large foreign companies bought over Loolkandura (Loolecondera) as Taylor himself was dismissed in 1891. An year later Taylor died due to illness. Twenty Four men carried his coffin to the Mahayyawa Cemetery in Kandy.  James Taylor lived and died in this beautiful tea estate that we are about to explore. 

It was my friend Jordan's first weekend in Kandy and both of us wanted to hike some nice mountain but with rain only had a few options left. So we got into a Bus from Thennekumubura and ended up with  Loolkandura after 3 bus rides and 3 hours later.  Then we had to walk about 4km's to get to the tea plantation. It was a curvy road uphill but the cold wind and the mist made it fully worth walking as took a break or two to just sit and enjoy the beautiful landscapes.

Ruins of James Taylor's Cottage, Taylor's Seat and Well were some main attractions in the tea plantation. Instead of making a turn first we kept walking until we reached a thick forest and according to locals it wasnt safe to enter due to leopards. The sights were beautiful so we didnt mind walking back.  Taylor's Seat is a rock chair where James Taylor used to relax and look at the surrounding mountain rage of Hunnasgiryia, Knuckles, Thoppigala, Brandygala and also the Victoria Reservoir.  Following are some photos of the Seat, Well and the path. 

Weight Check or Life Check?

I visited my Alma mater Trinity College last week to meet some of my old teachers and friends. I got down from the bus and walked to school along the lake and down Trincomalee Street. This is about 1.5 kilometers of walking that I used to do every morning. There were many regular faces that i used to see either walking to school or getting ready to start their daily business. The school uniforms were the same but the faces have changed and so were the businessmen. Surprisingly one of the vendors who had a unique business was still going strong for over 10 years. The only thing that has changed about him is the price of his service, it has Doubled! You must be thinking that he is a millionaire by now, but he is not! 
This is a full time job for a man who has a family. You can pay 10 rupees and get your weight checked.  This person has been there for the longest time I've known. Even if 100 people use his service daily he would only make 1000 rupees, and that's less than 10 dollars. Are you spending that much money just on a meal? or twice the amount on clothes? still complaining about the things that your parents didn't give you? No. We don't always get what we want. But consider this: There are people who will never have, what you have right now.✌️.