Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya sits at about 1,900 metres in the central highlands, below Pidurutalagala, the highest mountain in Sri Lanka. The British developed it as a hill station in the 19th century, and its cool, misty climate, red-brick post office, racecourse, golf club and old bungalows earned it the nickname Little England. Today it is the centre of the high-grown tea country, surrounded by estates, vegetable gardens and waterfalls.

History

The plateau was recorded by the British officer John Davy in 1819. In 1846 the explorer Samuel Baker settled here, brought in English vegetables and livestock, and later wrote of his years in the island. Planters and officials followed, and after tea replaced coffee in the later 19th century Nuwara Eliya became the social hub of the tea country. Governor William Gregory created the lake that bears his name in the 1870s, and buildings such as the Grand Hotel and the Hill Club date from this colonial period.

In town

Lake Gregory and Victoria Park

Lake Gregory has boating, pony rides and a lakeside path. Victoria Park, named for Queen Victoria's jubilee, is at its best in the flowering season around April and is good for birds.

Colonial buildings

The red-brick post office, the Holy Trinity Church, the Grand Hotel, the Hill Club and the racecourse all date from British times. The Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest in Asia and is close to the town centre. Horse races are held at the racecourse during the April season.

Tea

Tea estates surround the town, and several factories welcome visitors to see withering, rolling and drying and to taste the result. Pedro estate near town and the Blue Field factory at Ramboda are among the easiest to visit. See tea plantations and factories and the tea estate trails page.

Gardens, farms and temples

Hakgala Botanical Gardens, on the road towards Badulla, began as an experimental plantation and is now known for roses, ferns and orchids. Nearby, the Seetha Amman Temple is linked to the Ramayana story of Sita's captivity. Strawberry farms and the Ambewela dairy farm are popular stops, and roadside stalls sell vegetables from the surrounding gardens.

Waterfalls

The roads around Nuwara Eliya pass many waterfalls. Ramboda Falls, about 109 metres, is on the Kandy road. St Clair's and Devon falls are on the road to Hatton, both visible from viewpoints near tea factories. Lover's Leap is a short walk through a tea estate from town.

Horton Plains

Horton Plains National Park, part of the Central Highlands World Heritage Site, is about an hour's drive away. A loop walk of about 9 km crosses grassland and cloud forest to World's End, a sheer drop with views to the south, and Baker's Falls. Go at dawn, as mist usually closes in by late morning. See Horton Plains.

Getting there

Nuwara Eliya is about 170 km from Colombo, around five to six hours by road, and about two and a half hours from Kandy. The nearest railway station is Nanu Oya, about 15 minutes away, on the scenic line between Kandy and Ella. Ella is about two and a half hours by road.

When to go and how long to stay

Nuwara Eliya is cool all year. Days can be sunny and mild, but nights are cold, sometimes close to freezing in the early months of the year, so bring warm layers. Rain is possible in any month and heaviest in the monsoon periods. April, around the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, is the busiest time, with races, flower shows and crowds from Colombo. Two nights cover the town, a tea factory and Horton Plains.

Mountains and viewpoints

Pidurutalagala, at 2,524 metres the highest peak in the island, rises just behind the town; its summit holds a military and broadcasting station, so access is restricted. Moon Plains, on the edge of town, is a grassland viewpoint with views to several mountains on clear days. On the road to Hakgala, Seetha Eliya and the Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple in Ramboda are other stops on the Ramayana trail.

Getting around

The town centre, the lake and Victoria Park are walkable. For tea factories, waterfalls and Horton Plains, hire a tuk-tuk or car with driver for the day, as public buses are slow and roads wind through the hills.

Suggested plan

Arrive by train at Nanu Oya or by road from Kandy, stopping at Ramboda Falls and a tea factory on the way. Spend the afternoon around Lake Gregory, Victoria Park and the colonial buildings, and take afternoon tea at one of the old hotels. Next day, leave before dawn for Horton Plains and World's End, returning via Hakgala gardens and a strawberry farm. Continue by train to Ella the following morning.

Where to stay and eat

Choose between colonial-era hotels with fireplaces and gardens, converted planters' bungalows, and modern hotels and guesthouses. Rice and curry, Indian and Chinese food are easy to find, and the older hotels serve English-style afternoon tea. Compare hotels in Nuwara Eliya.