Nuwara Eliya is called “Little England” by many foreign visitors. “Nuwara Eliya” in Sinhala means “City of Light”. Travelling through winding roads and lush green valleys, tea estates situated on the slopes and banks of the hills, with tiny streams and water falls and the beautiful misty mountains , you can arrive at the picturesque little city of Nuwara Eliya at a height of over 6000 ft in the central region of Sri Lanka.
Its unique climate, and often covered with an early morning mist and the cold tangy air and its fresh and invigorating atmosphere offers a typical English environment. Nuwara Eliya, which is situated among some of the most beautiful tea estates also has the golf course, race course, horses, rose gardens and British style houses which all add up to a perfect vacation retreat, offering a level of perfection without equal.
Many locals visit Nuwara Eliya during April/May which are the warmest months when Colombo’s elite seek the relief of its cooling invigorating climate.
Most British visitors feel that they are in England when they visit Nuwara Eliya. In fact all foreign visitors to Sri Lanka always make it a point to visit Nuwara Eliya to enjoy its ‘Home away from Home” feeling. The pink brick Victorian Post Office is a sure reminder of the British era.
The golf course, which is one of the best in Sri Lanka, blends well with the surrounding tea plantations on one side and the fauna, flora and tiny streams on the other side, running in between these plantations. At Nuwara Eliya one can enjoy the best fresh vegetables. Nuwara Eliya is a well planned town and still retains its English style. You can take a leisurely walk around beautiful Lake Gregory and enjoy stunning scenery and panoramic vistas, with rugged mountains outlined against clear blue skies making a breathtaking back drop. Visitors can see many water falls too in and around Nuwara Eliya.
The history of Nuwara Eliya roughly dates back to 1818 when Dr. John Davy discovered Nuwara Eliya as a place with a similar climate as England and it was made into a retreat for the British colonists.
In 1872, Sir William Gregory became the Governor of Nuwara Eliya and further developed Nuwara Eliya to a place of beauty having a typical English climate and atmosphere and built the scenic Gregory Lake from a swamp made by a stream flowing from the mountains. He also gave the message to world that Nuwara Eliya was an ideal place for agriculture and specially for coffee, tea, cinchona and animal farming.
In 1877, Sir Robert London became the Governor, who was instrumental in building the railway track from Peradeniya to Nawalapitiya and then from there to Hatton and Nanu Oya.
How to reach Nuwara Eliya
By Train
Nuwara Eliya does not have a railway station of its own. The nearest railway station is Nanu Oya situated 8km from Nuwara Eliya. Nanu Oya is well connected to Colombo through the Main Line. The route will allow you to enjoy mesmerizing sights of lush green tea gardens to tall mountains. It usually takes 7 hours from Colombo to Nanu Oya if the weather is favorable. From Nanu Oya you can take taxis or buses. You can even opt for multi-coloured tuk-tuks that will take you to Nuwara Eliya.
By Road
From Colombo you have two main routes for Nuwara Eliya – via Kandy and one via Hatton. Both the roads go through mountain passes if you are planning to drive to Nuwara Eliya but offer great scenic views. The distance from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya is about 175 km. Tourists can also use the bus services from either Hatton or Kandy. Several intercity buses run from Colombo to Hatton and Kandy almost every hour and there are buses from Hatton and Kandy that will take you to Nuwara Eliya. The Hatton road is preferable to Kandy for cars and vans as it is less steep and less busy. You can opt for bus journeys to train journeys to reach this hill station faster. The fare depends upon the type of service you avail but is quite nominal.
Things to see and do in Nuwara Eliya
Known as Little England, because some British settlers built their holiday bungalows here, Nuwara Eliya offers plenty to do, from hikes and jet ski rides for the adventurous, to markets, farm visits, water falls, beautiful lakes, botanic gardens, parks and colonial-era architecture for pleasure seekers – and everyone should visit the tea estates.
Pedro Tea Estate
To see where your morning cup of tea originates, visit the Pedro Tea Estate. It is located on a landscape with the blue sky as the background with green pastures of tea and water falls cascading, which is a sight never to be missed. Situated about 3.5 KM east of Nuwara Eliya it is accessible by vehicle. Visitors can visit the Tea estate from morning up to 12.30 p.m. and again after 2.00 p.m. At Pedro Estate factory you will be shown the full process of how tea is manufactured and then graded and packed for export to all corners of the world.
Cotswold Stone Cottage
Not Cotswolds, this is the Cotswold Stone Cottage, Nuwara Eliya which is now kept as a 4-star hotel. It lies within 4 km to Gregory Lake and just 4.9 km from the Pidurutalagala mountain, the highest mountain of Sri Lanka.
Lake Gregory
Named after Sir William Gregory in 1873, this is a prominent attraction used for water sports and recreational activities. Lake Park, Boat Rides are available. Can be reached by sea plane which takes only 30 minutes from Colombo. At the southern end of the town is Gregory Lake where the holiday makers can enjoy a leisurely walk on the paved walk way.
Royal Botanic Gardens Hakgala
Rising to an elevation of 5600 ft (1700 m) a few miles off Nuwara Eliya, the Hakgala Gardens was established in the year 1860. The massive Hakgala rock (elephants jaw rock) towers to a height of about 2200 m behind the gardens and surrounding the forest reserve like a solitary giant. Here one can find all the flowers seen in an English cottage garden in spring and summer. This picturesque garden has a cool, fresh climate somewhat similar to an alpine atmosphere. The flora of the garden is distinctly subtropical and consisting of indigenous montane vegetation intermingled with introduced subtropical flora from various countries and includes about 1000 plant species. Visit Hakgala from April to August and October to December when the gardens put up their best display of flowers.
Royal Turf Club
Situated in the heart of the city, 1868 m above sea level, this beautiful Race Course lies alluringly amidst blue mountain ranges, was once one of the most fashionable venues in the 1950s giving an air of Ascot in England. The most notable event is the Governor’s Cup held during the April season. Situated at the end of Victoria Park it can be seen from the Post Office and is easily accessible by taxi or on foot.
Nuwara Eliya Golf Club
The Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, founded in 1889 by a Scottish soldier of the Gordon Highlanders, is one of the oldest golf clubs in Asia and probably the world. It is an institution, rich in customs and traditions of the country’s colonial past. It is situated just a stone’s throw from the town. The course covers approximately 40.5 hectares (100 acres) of land, located at an altitude of 1,830 metres (6,000 ft) above sea level. It is an 18-hole, 5,851 m (6,399 yd), Par 70 layout course. The club maintains 2000 members at present.
Nuwara Eliya Post Office
Built in 1894 this red brick building was built by the British according to the Tudor style and is a two storied building with a clock spire.This building is located at the centre of Nuwara Eliya town and is one of the oldest buildings in Sri Lanka.
The Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya
Grand Hotel, an Iconic Landmark of Sri Lanka situated in the high elms of Nuwara Eliya, counts on a heritage exceeding 131 years. Enchanted with the tranquility and beauty of the salubrious climes of Nuwara Eliya, Sir Edward Barnes, Governor of Ceylon during the era from 1830 to 1850 built the Barnes Hall at his own expense, which now stands as the legendary “Grand Hotel”
The Little England Cottages
The Little England Cottages is a range of English country type residences and hotels having the elegance of British architecture located in the Pedro Estate, Moon Plains, Nuwara Eliya. Surrounded with lush greenery, a perfect place to stay for a family holiday, a romantic break or a group getaway.
Victoria Park
Victoria Park is named after Queen Victoria’s 60th jubilee coronation and established in 1897. It is an elegantly landscaped garden of 27 acres filled with lovely blooms. This is a place where most people, specially holiday makers never fail to visit when the flowers are in full bloom in March, April and May and again in August and September.
The Lover’s Leap Waterfalls
The Lover’s Leap waterfalls is an impressive water fall which is known for its romantic folklore. To reach this place get a taxi or tuk-tuk to drop you off outside the entrance to Pedro Tea Estate. Ask locals for the path to the waterfalls. There is a small signpost to mark the direction. You can’t miss, the only route up into the hills and the waterfalls is the one opposite the Tea Estate entrance.
Moon Plains
Moon Plains (Sandathenna in Sinhala) is an amazing plain located by Ranhawadigama road 5.7 km from Nuwara Eliya. Once you go to this location the scenery is so beautiful that it will make you feel you are in a different world. Moon Plains is a mini Worlds End and at its edge gives a 360 degree view of the surrounding peaks. You can see wild deer, elk, wild buffalo grazing on the green plains and many endemic bird varieties. If you are lucky you may see a leopard or two.
Ref: Nuwara Eliya Info