Nuwara Eliya (‘city on the plain’ or ‘city of light’ in Sinhala) is located in the Highlands in one of the largest tea-producing areas in Sri Lanka. This city, which is also known as ‘Little England’ because of the prevailing English colonial architecture, is 1,900 metres above sea level and only 5 kilometres from the island’s highest mountain, Pidurutalagala (2,527 metres).
When taking a train through the Highlands from Kandy to Ella, an intermediate stop on this journey is at Nanu Oya, which is 8 kilometres from Nuwara Eliya and three and a half hours away.
Some of the activities you can do include visiting tea plantations, spotting the Pidurutalagala, getting close to Devon and St Clair’s Falls, visiting the spectacular Horton Plains National Park, and enjoying Lake Gregory.
Horton Plains National Park
In 2010, UNESCO decided to include on its World Heritage List the Horton Plains National Park, the Knuckles Conservation Forest and Wilderness Peak for providing the habitat for ‘extraordinary flora and fauna’, including threatened animal species such as the Horton Plains slender loris.
The Horton Plains National Park is located south of Nuwara Eliya, just over 30 kilometres by road (although the drive takes about one hour). It is an area of wet grassland that spans two of the highest mountains in Asia: Kirigalpotta and Thotupola.
Walking along the plains, with altitudes ranging from 2,100 to 2,300 metres, and taking in the scenery is well worth the effort, and is one of the best things to do if you are in Nuwara Eliya for a couple of days. It is also ideal for bird watching and, if you are lucky (although this is very difficult), you might even see a leopard.
You should go to World’s End, this is a must. It is a place where the park ends abruptly as a cliff 1,050 metres high. The views are spectacular on a clear day.
Seetha Amman Temple
The Seetha Amman Temple is a colourful Hindu building full of figures located about 5 kilometres from the city centre of Nuwara Eliya.
The temple is dedicated to Devi Sita, daughter of Mother Earth, and is located on a site where she is believed to have been a prisoner of King Ravana.
Explore tea plantations
Sri Lanka is the world’s fourth largest tea producer after China, India and Kenya, and a major exporter. It all started in 1870, when the Scotsman James Taylor planted the first seed brought from China in an area near Kandy. Three years later, the first shipment of tea arrived in London from what was then Ceylon.
From then on, everything went in crescendo. The humidity, cool temperatures and rainfall in the Central Highlands provide a climate conducive to producing high quality tea. Many plantations are located at high altitudes, above 1,500 metres, which results in tea plants with a very intense flavour.
The tea plantations are in the Highlands, and Nuwara Eliya and the surrounding area is a good place to visit because it is where they are most abundant. Going from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, there are tea fields such as Glenloch Tea Factory, Blue Field Tea Factory and Damro Labookellie Tea Centre which you can visit. If you stop at Nuwara Eliya, you can take a tour of Pedro Tea Estate, a famous estate located less than four kilometres from Nuwara Eliya, where Ceylon tea has been grown since 1885.
Nuwara Eliya Central Market
As in other Sri Lankan cities, visiting the central markets is a complete experience. Nuwara Eliya is no exception.
Located on New Bazaar Street in the city centre, Nuwara Eliya’s central market is lined with dozens of stalls selling everything from exotic fruits, tea, vegetables, spices and even warm clothes for tourists who are not prepared for bad weather.
Colours, smells and haggling are part of the atmosphere of these markets.
Hakgala Botanical Garden
Another plan in Nuwara Eliya is visiting the Hakgala Botanical Garden, located on the outskirts of the city, about 5 kilometres along Badulla Road, and the second largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka, with 10,000 catalogued species. Being at a high altitude, it is considered one of the highest botanical gardens in the world.
Opened in 1861, a stroll through this idyllic space is an opportunity to relax and enjoy a rich biodiversity in a rather cool environment. At the time, the gardens were used for experimental tea cultivation for later outdoor cultivation.
Where to eat
If you do not mind spending more money, a good option is to have lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants at the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya. Located on a hill, next to the golf course, this luxurious hotel founded in 1891 offers different menus in several spaces: Grand Indian (Indian food), Grand Thai (Thai food) and Tea Lunch (British and international food).
If you fancy a cheaper and more local restaurant in the city, De Silva Food Centre has a large variety of Sri Lankan and more international dishes such as burgers. It is suitable for all budgets and offers generous quantities.
Finally, for those who want to eat in a tea factory after a visit, go to the restaurant at the Heritance tea factory, which is away from the city and in a quiet atmosphere. It serves local and international food in a luxurious and comfortable space, with higher prices.
