Nuwara Eliya is often given the nickname of “Sri Lanka’s Little England”. The town was established by the British in the 19th century and its houses architecture resemble some English cottages. Thanks to its location in a valley just below Mount Pedro, which is the highest peak of Sri Lanka at 2524m, the climate is cooler and perfect for tea production. Nuwara Eliya brings the much needed relief from the hot and humid lowlands. It allows the visitors to wander through countless tea plantations and admire some astonishing views. Discover is this guide all the best things you should do when you visit Nuwara Eliya.
Wander around the Town
Guide your steps around the Nuwara Eliya and visit Victoria Park and The Gregory Lake. Here you can rent a small boat and row across the lake.
At the end of the day go for a drink at the Hill Club or Grand Hotel. Those elegant, colonial-era hotels have colourful flower gardens and great views.
Hike in the Tea Plantations
Sri Lanka is the 2nd biggest tea exporter in the world and we can bet that at least once in your life you drank a tea that was produced right here. Wandering through the lush green tea plantations is one of the most interesting things to do. Pay attention on how each leaf is carefully plugged all day by incredible women with baskets attached to their heads.
The most popular hike (2km) leads southwest to Single Tree Hill and offers panoramic views of Nuwara Eliya. If 2km is too short for you, walk further past the Single Tree Hill through the tea plantations all the way to the Sri Lanka’s highest located village of Shantipura. Later on continue past the village to the famous view point at Uda Radella facing Adam’s Peak.
You can do both of this hikes alone. But make sure to ask your hotel for directions, otherwise hire a guide in Nuwara Eliya.
↬ TIP : An alternative to hiking is asking your hotel to arrange a tuk-tuk for a full day trip around tea plantations. It would usually include a trip to a tea factory, where you can see the process of tea making as well as taste different kinds of teas.
