Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya, meaning city of light, is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Its temperate climate gives the city a very different feel from other parts of the country and, along with the colonial architecture, has also earned it the name 'Little England'.
The city was founded by Samuel Baker, the legendary discoverer of Lake Albert and the explorer of the Nile in 1846. The climate was so favourable that Nuwara Eliya quickly became the prime sanctuary of British civil servants and planters in Ceylon. It was also the ideal hill country retreat where British colonialists immersed in their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket.
Although the town was founded in the 19th century by the British, today the whole district is visited by native travelers, especially during the month of April, where the city is in bloom with much activity such as the annual horse races, go cart races and auto rally.
The town sits high at an altitude of 1,868m (6,128ft) above sea level and is about 180km north from the capitol Colombo, and is between a 4-6 hour drive.
The slow-growing tea bushes of this highland region are renowned for producing some of the world's finest Orange Pekoe tea.
One of the characteristic features of Nuwara Eliya's countryside is the widespread growing of vegetables, fruit and flowers usually associated with temperate Europe. This "Little England" is covered with terraces growing potatoes, carrots, leeks, and roses, sprinkled with tea bushes that increase in number on the steeper slopes.
Many buildings retain features from the colonial period such as the Queen's Cottage, General's House, Grand Hotel, Hill Club, Town Post Office and even hotels and homes are often built and furnished in the colonial style.
The high altitude of Nuwara Eliya results in a much cooler climate than the lowlands of Sri Lanka, with a mean annual temperature of 16 °C. The winter months are the coldest with temperatures dropping as low as 3°C at night, and there can even be frost. However, it rapidly warms up as the tropical sun climbs higher during the day.
Getting There
One can take a train from Colombo or Kandy to a little town called Nanu Oya, not far from Nuwara Eliya, on a route renowned for its spectacular views. For the colonial experience book a 1st class ticket in the observation car. From there it’s just a short ride in a local bus or three-wheeler (tuk tuk) to the city.
Buses also run to Nuwara Eliya - from Colombo or Kandy.
Be aware that public transport between Colombo and Nuwara Eliya can be fairly slow. The journey averages around 5 to 6 hours covering a distance of 180km.
Traffic, poor weather or failing light can extend the time needed. Rail transport is about the same due to the old and meandering track.
Getting around
The town centre is small enough to walk around. To visit sites further afield, take a bus or hire a three-wheeler. Plan excursions carefully, and don't assume that you can cover more than about 100km in a day, including stops.
Where to stay
For a detailed list of hotels in Nuwara Eliya, do visit our webpage.
What to do
If you are a golfing enthusiast the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club and the more exclusive Hill Club offer an 18-hole golf courses located at a walking distance from the town center. The golf club’s green fee is around LKR 1,500 and clubs, shoes and balls can be rented. At the Hill club, you can apply for a temporary membership, but if you are dining there you will be required to wear a jacket.
Victoria Park nearby is a pleasant place to spend an hour or so, with an astonishing variety of plants, ranging from tropical rain forest to English country garden. The locals flock there on weekends, so if you intend to picnic, a weekday afternoon is best, entrance is minimal.
A little away from the town is Lake Gregory. The lake is more reminiscent of a highland loch, and you can sample strawberries and cream or pancakes from a nearby shop whilst sitting on the banks or go boating.
If you can catch the April and August horse races at the Nuwara Eliya turf club right in the heart of town, they are an exhilarating experience, make sure to sample the great snacks at the Lions restaurant on the track premises.
Hakgala Gardens, established in 1861, are the highest set gardens in the world lying under the Hakgala Peak, around 5,000 – 6,000 ft above sea-level. The gardens boast 100 year old Monetary Cypress trees from California, Japanese Cedars, Himalayan Pines and English Oak.
The Pedro Tea Factory at Boralanda, 3km away, offers fascinating tours. It still uses some original machinery and is less commercialized than other estates. There are some very pleasant walks through the plantations here, especially down to the tank and to Warmura Ella.
Horton Plains National Park is the highest plateau in the island consisting of grassland interspersed with patches of forest, with some unusual high altitude vegetation. The Plains are a beautiful, silent, strange world with some excellent walks. The most stunning place is the ‘World's End’, where the southern Horton Plains suddenly ends, and drops off to 1056 Meters, which is an awesome sight indeed. This is a favourite place for trekkers, as there are plenty of soft and hard trails.
The mountains in the central province of Sri Lanka and near to Nuwara Eliya are adorned with many picturesque waterfalls including Dunhinda Falls, Diyaluma Falls, Baker's Falls, St. Claire's Falls, Ravana Ella, Bambarakanda Ella, Aberdeen Falls, Laxapana Falls, The Lovers Leap, and Bridal Falls.
Take a walk up through the tea plantations south-west of the town to the top of Single Tree Mountain for a splendid view over Nuwara Eliya. From the hill top you can walk north for a couple of kilometres along the ridge top to a nearby village and get a three-wheeler or walk back to town from there. You can also stay at one of the colonial bungalows near the plantations for easy access and special tours.
