A cool hill town at about 1,900 metres, surrounded by tea estates, with colonial buildings, flower gardens and misty lake walks.
Founded as a cool retreat for British planters in the 19th century, Nuwara Eliya still feels like a different country from the rest of Sri Lanka. At about 1,900 metres, days are around 15–20°C, mornings are often misty and the hills are covered in neatly clipped tea.
Colonial charm
Walk past the red-brick Post Office, the Tudor-style Hill Club and the Grand Hotel, all relics of the town's colonial past. Victoria Park is lovely when the flowers bloom from March to May, and a pony ride or pedal boat on Gregory Lake is a local favourite.
Tea country
Nuwara Eliya is surrounded by some of the island's highest-grown tea, prized for its light, fragrant flavour. Visit a working estate such as Pedro Tea Estate or Mackwoods Labookellie to see plucking, withering and rolling, then taste the result with a slice of cake.
Day trips
- Horton Plains National Park and World's End: leave before dawn for the best views.
- Hakgala Botanical Garden: rose gardens and cloud forest on the slopes of Hakgala Rock.
- Seetha Amman Temple: linked to the Ramayana legend.
- The hill-country train from Nanu Oya station towards Ella.
April season
During the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April, Nuwara Eliya fills with Sri Lankan holidaymakers for horse races, car rallies and flower shows. It is great fun, but book early and expect higher prices.
What to pack
A warm jumper and rain jacket. Nights can drop below 10°C.
