sri lanka
TOP 9 THINGS TO DO IN nuwara eliya
To surround yourself with breathtaking sceneries of mountainous landscapes sipping a warm cuppa tea, cocooning yourself in the ultimate bliss and serenity… Nuwara Eliya is the best place to be to give your holiday in Sri Lanka a meaning of ecstasy.
Nestled in the beautiful hill country, Nuwara Eliya is a city with alluring natural beauty and breathtaking sceneries at every corner. With rolling hills enveloped in mist, slopes blanketed with tea plantations, scenic waterfalls and English styled bungalows with colourful flower gardens, Nuwara Eliya gives you the vibes of a magical English country village. Known as the Little England, the city is an excellent hideaway for peace seekers who want to relax.
In this article, we share the top 9 things to do in Nuwara Eliya to help you plan your stay in the city to be magical and unforgettable.
1. Soak in tropical nature at Hakgala Botanical Garden
The Hakgala Botanical garden is one of the top attractions in Nuwara Eliya that will offer you an ample of opportunities to immerse yourself in nature admiring colourful flowers. This is the largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka that attracts hundreds of locals and tourists alike every day.
If you are into nature and plants, this is a place you must make time for. Located 16 Km away from Nuwara Eliya city centre, the garden can be easily reached by bus, tuk-tuk or a car.
The place is home to many rare plant species and will present you an unforgettable tropical garden exploration adventure. The well-maintained lawns boarded with colourful lines of plant varieties along with rose beds and the orchid house take visitors’ breath away.
2. Unwind at Gregory Lake
Go for a walk around the Gregory lake. The beautiful lake with freezing water is an ideal place to spend an evening with your family and friends and soak in the local lifestyle of the city over a street snack. Sit on the grass next to the lake and enjoy the sunset against the lake- a view that will blow your mind and make you appreciate small things in life.
For those who love a bit of adventure, you can go on a boat ride and enjoy the surrounding sights. The swan paddling boats is a great way to explore the beauty of the Gregory lake.
3. Explore the city of Nuwara Eliya
Covered in Mist, Nuwara Eliya is a city that blows your mind everywhere you go. This is why you should make time just to roam around the town of Nuwara Eliya during your stay. Saturated with English styled bungalows and colonial building, Nuwara Eliya has so much that impresses architecture enthusiasts.
A visit to the local market will find your cheap warm clothes as well as locally grown fresh fruits and veggies such as Strawberries, Carrot etc. Cut flower industry also, massive in the area. So, you can easily find a beautiful flower bouquet of roses, lilies or daisies for your lady.
4. Enjoy the Victoria Park
Spanning over 25 acres, Victoria park is another great place to enjoy a blissful time in nature enjoying colourful flowers. Named after the Queen of England, the park has a lot of plant varieties that will take your breath away. People can easily visit the Park as the park is located in the middle of the City.
5. Trek Horton Plains National Park
If you are up for a hike along a beautiful trail amidst grassy plains covered in mist, Horton plains is a hike you don’t want to miss. The 9 Km trail offers you stunning views of the surrounding landscapes and waterfalls. The World’s End is the main highlight of the place, which is a steep drop of 270m that offers you unbelievable views of the cities and villages below that runs as far as the eyes can see.
6. Explore Ambewela farm
Located a little bit out of town, Ambewela farm is one of the largest dairy production farms on the island. The farm spans over 1500 acres of the area- So you will have to do a lot of walking to explore the farm. The cows freely roaming around in grassy hills are a common sight at the farm. Apart from cows, you will see rabbits, goats and horses and other farm animals at the place.
Don’t forget to enjoy a fresh steaming glass of milk before you leave the farm while enjoying the surrounding landscapes.
7. Witness the beauty of St. Clair's falls
The 50-meter falls is one of the most visited waterfalls in Nuwara Eliya. Located on the Hatton-Talawakele Road in Nuwara Eliya District the waterfall is also known as the little Niagara of Sri Lanka. This is the 20th tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka and has two beautiful drops. If you visit Nuwara Eliya, St Claire falls is a must-visit attraction that will make your Nuwara Eliya holiday memorable. Also right near the St. Clair’s falls you can view the 19th highest waterfall in the country, Devon falls.
8. Discover the history of Seetha Amman Temple
Pay a visit to Seetha Amman temple and enjoy the unbelievable stories of Rama, Rawana and Seetha. The temple that has a fascinating folklore is another top thing to do in Nuwara Eliya. The temple located on the roadside is said to be the place where Seetha was held in captive by King Ravana. It is said that Seetha prayed for Rama to rescue her at the temple. It is believed that the giant footprint near the water stream next to the temple is of Hanumantha’s.
The Hindu temple adorned with beautiful architectural elements, colourful designs and giant statues will remind you of a Hindu temple in India. The place is often covered in mist which adds a mysterious ambience to the temple.
9. Visit a Tea factory
Before you leave, make sure you make time to visit a tea plantation and explore a tea factory and learn about the Ceylon’s tea production process.
Whether you love a good cup of tea every morning or a coffee, you will find a tour to a tea factory exciting. Located amidst a tea plantation, a tea estate will show you the tea powder making process from tea leaves plucking to processing and packaging. The innocent smiling ladies who pluck tea leaves wearing colourful sarees is a unique sight that will show you the hard work that goes into making a refreshing cup of tea.
At the tea factory, you can enjoy a guided tour where you will be explained how the tea powder making process is done to make the world’s finest Ceylon tea. The story of tea leaves becoming an aromatic cup of tea is exciting and enticing and will add unforgettable travel moments to your Sri Lanka holiday. Make sure to buy some Ceylon tea of your liking before you leave the factory to enjoy a warm cup back at home.
Traveling to Nuwara Eliya
You can easily reach Nuwara Eliya by taking a train or a bus or travel with a rent a car service. The best way to travel from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya is by taking the train from Colombo to Nanu Oya and then taking a bus or a tuk-tuk to go from Nanu Oya to Nuwara Eliya.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of accommodations in Nuwara Eliya and below are our recommendations.
See all Hotels to stay near Nuwara Eliya
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