From the rather warm Batticaloa on the east coast of Sri Lanka, I drove up to Nuwara Eliya, taking the less-popular routes, thereby enjoying the stunning landscape of central Sri Lanka.
It was late afternoon when we arrived in Nuwara Eliya, the country’s highland city, passing distant waterfalls and numerous tea plantations, still going by the name of the British owners.
In fact, Nuwara Eliya prides itself as being “English,” and even the hotel I chose to stay at was set amidst a tea plantation and went by the name of Little England. Once an idyllic town made entirely of colonial buildings, today Nuwara Eliya is a tourist hub and the country’s important business center.
But what really gave the impression of being in England was the weather – and that, in my opinion is Nuwara’s crowning glory.
It was only the next morning we decided to explore and really get down to enjoying Nuwara Eliya.
In this post, I will tell you about the places to visit and things to do in and around Nuwara Eliya.
A minimum of 3 days is recommended to fully enjoy this beautiful town, although staying longer will allow to linger on and explore in depth, stay at different locations …. But if you are short on time, you can easily see and enjoy the highlights of this town.
Nuwara Eliya and its local attractions
The morning was cool – a perfect day for exploring, for which I secured the services of a tuk-tuk via a very useful app called Pick Me (and far cheaper than uber.) There was something so real about the tuk in Sri Lanka, as though it was the country’s lifeline.
Nuwara Eliya translates to city on the plain or city of light is bursting with things to see and do – but in my case, I was enjoying not doing much – except for relaxing over a coffee at Grand Café watching life go by. In a city filled with tea plantations, it was a pleasure to drink fine coffee whilst the morning light filtered down the mountains surrounding it.
I gave a letter to the postman…
Next, I proceeded to the post office, a Tudor-style two-storey red-brick building. I always make it a point to visit post offices wherever I travel, but this one gave the impression of going back in time and naturally so – after all it was constructed in 1894 by the British and still stands as one of the more timeless places to visit. You can post a letter/postcard to anywhere in the world for a very reasonable price.
This colonial-style building has a clock tower and red shingles and exudes British-infrastructure vibes. The city’s British-ness is further enhanced by the presence of red telephone boxes and red post boxes scattered throughout. As every tourist does, I posted a few postcards too, besides of course showing off my book Plentiful Springs to the world. (One lucky reader is going to get that book by post stamped in Nuwara Eliya.)
The tuk-tuk takes me to Victoria Park, located opposite to the post office. I could have walked, really. This 27-acre park was originally called the Hakgala Botanical Garden but changed its name to Victoria Park in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 60th year on her throne. The park boasts of an extensive array of flowering plants, with rare endemic flora. If you find yourself with time to kill, this is a very productive way of employing that time – what’s more, you can even watch some rare birds here.
Towards the evening, I head out to Gregory Lake located in the heart of the city. Created in 1873 by British governor Sir William Gregory, this lake is the is easily the most popular destination in the city, so much that (I am not sure if this is entirely true) tourists from Colombo arrive on a sea plane from the capital to Lake Gregory in 30 minutes!
There is much to do here. Jet skiing, boating or simply ambling around the lake is a great way to pass time. This pretty spot is great for picnics or just watching ponies trotting by.
Tea outlet: If you are a lover of tea (and you will once you come to Sri Lanka,), make sure to visit this government run outlet for some very fine collection of teas. You can even sample tea and learn of the many varieties.
Experience the romance of a train journey
Day two is reserved for the train ride to Ella, every visitor’s must-do activity. Where you are here for a day or four, riding the train to Ella is highly recommended. You will need to set aside an entire day for this, but you won’t regret your decision. This journey, however, needs advance preparation – like booking tickets. If you are doing the “impulse” journey, the only ticket you’ll get in the third class one without any guarantee of seats – which is fun too – if you don’t mind hanging on the footboards.
The old-fashioned train is famous for its open windows and doors, which have become a magnet for people who want to feel the wind through their hair as they travel.
For me, this journey was a personal favourite – I really love trains journeys however long or short. On this one, the train goes through some spectacular scenery consisting of forests and tea plantations alternatively and is every bit charming as the websites tell you.
As expected, tea-wallas make an appearance from time to time, serving pale, hot tea, followed the snacks-seller, whose lukewarm parippu-vada (served with crunchy chilly) perfectly pairs with the brew.
It will remind you of every Indian movie you have seen involving train rides and romantic songs.
A minimum of three days is recommended to fully enjoy this beautiful town, although staying longer will allow to linger on and explore in depth and give you the chance of staying at different locations. But if you are short on time, you can easily see and enjoy the highlights of this town.
Day three is for exploring the outskirts –
If you are still in Nuwara Eliya on Day 3, then plan a trip to the Horton Plains National Park – this is the place you’ll find the Greater World’s End Viewpoint, Mini World’s End Viewpoint & Baker Falls. It is home to the last montane forest in the country. Situated at 7,000 feet above sea level, the walk to ‘World’s End’ and “Little World’s End” within the park offers one of the finest views in Sri Lanka. On a clear day you can see the sea. I didn’t.
Don’t miss –
St Clair Falls, Devon Falls & St Clair Tea Centre: These three places are around 30km outside of Nuwara Eliya but are close to each other – you can easily visit them at the same time. Enjoy two waterfalls and a castle boasting the biggest tea shop in the world.
Nuwara Eliya is easily a treat of tea, lakes and high peaks, so whether you are intent on drinking great quality tea or visiting historical colonial tea production estates, Nuwara Eliya is the place for you.
Must Do
- Go on a tea tour: Nuwara Eliya is located 1868m AMSL – perfect environment for growing tea – which means, there are huge plantations and tea- houses here. By taking a tea-tour you will get a chance to visit a tea factory and enjoy some fine Sri Lankan tea.
- High Tea at Grand Hotel: A must do in Nuwara Eliya. This offers a sophisticated and modern sophisticated take on this classic tradition in a very chic setting. Costs about 9 Euro.
- Stay in a heritage bungalow: There are many options for stay in Nuwara Eliya, but to truly feel the colonial past, stay at a heritage bungalow/hotel to get a taste of the past.
Must Try food
Sri Lankan food shares many similarities with Indian food, especially south Indian food. Most dishes are coconut-based, and sea food is very popular, as is the use of spices.
- Vegetable Roti: A popular snack made from flour dough stuffed with a spicy mix of chopped vegetables and then grilled or deep-fried.
- Kottu Roti: A delectable street food dish made by stir-frying strips of Godhamba roti (a type of flatbread) with a variety of spices, vegetables, and optional chicken or seafood.
- String Hoppers: Delicate rice noodle patties that are steamed and served with curry and coconut sambol.
- Watalappan: A dessert (like custard) made from coconut milk, eggs, jaggery, and spices such as cardamom and nutmeg.
- Vegetable Curry: Local vegetables cooked in a blend of Sri Lankan spices and creamy coconut milk, typically served with rice.
- Dhal Curry: A flavorful lentil dish cooked with spices, tomatoes, and creamy coconut milk, a staple in Sri Lankan cuisine.
- Chicken Curry: A rich curry made with chicken, traditional spices, and coconut milk, representing the fusion of Sinhalese and Tamil flavors.
Did you know –
Nuwara Eliya is most famous for its tea production and their tea is the one produced at the highest altitude in the whole country. Dilmah is Sri Lanka’s most popular tea company, and all their tea is produced around the area of Nuwara Eliya.
Useful Info
- Indians get visa on arrival
- Nanu Oya is the train station closest to Nuwara Eliya – a tuk-tuk can bring you to the city in ten minutes.
- It is a good idea to bring warm clothes and good walking shoes here.
- Some of the country’s finest teas are produced here.
