| Official Name: | Hatton |
| Native Name: | හැටන් ஹட்டன் |
| Pushpin Map: | Sri Lanka |
| Coordinates: | 6.8897°N 80.5981°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Sri Lanka |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Central Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Nuwara Eliya District |
| Subdivision Type3: | Divisional Secretariat |
| Subdivision Name3: | Nuwara Eliya Divisional Secretariat (Ambagamuwa Divisional Secretariat) |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1821 |
| Government Type: | Urban Council |
| Governing Body: | Hatton Dickoya Urban Council |
| Leader Title: | Chairman |
| Leader Name: | S. Balachandran (Unofficial Magistrate) |
| Elevation M: | 1,271 |
| Population Total: | 15,073 |
| Population As Of: | 2018 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 22000 |
| Area Code: | 051 |
| Timezone: | Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone |
| Utc Offset: | +5:30 |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
Hatton (si|හැටන්, ta|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.[1] [2]
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.[3] [4]
Hatton is located approximately 112km (70miles) southeast of Colombo and 72km (45miles) south of Kandy, at an elevation of 1271m (4,170feet) 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.[5]
See main article: Hatton railway station (Sri Lanka). 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.
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,[6] the largest privately owned commercial bank in the country, and Brown and Company, a leading engineering firm, were both founded in Hatton.[7]