Nuwara Eliya is a city in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka. Its temperate climate gives the city a very different feel from other parts of the country and, along with the colonial architecture, has earned it the name 'Little England'.

Nuwara Eliya

Gold Club at Nuwara Eliya

Get in

By train

The train journey from Colombo or Kandy to nearby Nanu Oya is spectacular. Easiest way to catch Colombo - Badulla train, Train Name is 'Udarata Menike'. Local buses run frequently from Nanu Oya to the centre of Nuwara Eliya. Three wheelers/tuk tuks are also present at the station.

By bus

Buses can be taken from Colombo (No. 79),- three times per day, six hours,- or from Kandy.

Be aware - road transport between Colombo and Nuwara Eliya is very slow. The journey will typically take five to six hours to cover the 180km. Traffic, poor weather or failing light can extend the time needed. Rail transport is about the same due to the old and meandering track.

Get around

The town centre is small enough to walk around. To visit sites further afield, take a bus or hire a three-wheeler.

The same caveat applies to touring around the area as for getting there. Assume that you'll not exceed 20 kilometres per hour no matter what the mode of (ground) transport. So plan any excursions carefully, and don't assume that you can cover more than about 100 km in a day, including stops.

See

• 1 Hakgala Botanical Garden, Peradeniya-Badulla-Chenkaladi Hwy. Large and impressive, just a short bus journey away. 

• Galway's Land National Park, a wildlife sanctuary on the edge of town which is great for bird watching.

• Hortons Plains and World's End Offer fascinating walks though this temperate mountain environment, with an 800 m vertical drop to be found at World's End. As of Jan 2013, there are numerous fee's and charges associated with visiting Hortons Plains. These are not documented in the latest edition of Lonely Planet which claims R100 entry only. Despite this, it should cost no more than R8,000 for 2 people to hire a van and get into Horton's Plains to see World's End. This should include the van hire (R3,500), park fee's for both tourists and the van itself and the hiring of a local guide. Gently question anyone who quotes more than this as it highly likely that they are attempting to overcharge you.

• Lake Gregory, a large man made lake, along the edge is a beautiful park, with water sports (paddle boats, jet ski rides and cruises) as well as other recreational activities.

• Victoria Park nearby is a pleasant place to spend an hour or so, with an astonishing variety of plants, ranging from tropical rain forest to English country garden.

• Pedro Tea Factory offers fascinating tours of a working tea factory. In the hills nearby there are paths through the tea plantations to wander along.

Within the town itself there are a number of interesting sights, including the Nuwara Eliya Post Office, a tudor style two-storey red brick building; the Hill Club, a two- storey grey stone gentlemen's club; Nuwara Eliya Golf Course - remnants of the British Colonial era.

The mountains in the central province of Sri Lanka and near to Nuwara Eliya are adorned with many picturesque waterfalls including Dunhinda Falls, Diyaluma Falls, Baker's Falls, St. Claire's Falls, Ravana Ella, Bambarakanda Ella, Aberdeen Falls, Laxapana Falls, The Lovers Leap and Bridal Falls.

Horton Plains camping and hiking tours: https://www.facebook.com/Srilankahiking

Do

Take a walk up through the tea plantations south-west of the town to the top of Single Tree Mountain for a splendid view over Nuwara Eliya. From the hill top you can walk north for a couple of kilometres along the ridgetop to a nearby village and get a tuc-tuc/three-wheeler or walk back to town.

For more sightseeing you can visit Victoria Park and Hakgala Gardens. Lake Gregory lies less than a mile from the centre of town and offers a splendid and peaceful environment for sightseeing and boating. Boats can be hired from the area.

You can also explore the tea plantations and factories and stay at one of the colonial bungalows near the plantations for easy access and tours.

Playing golf is also an option, along with heading to the racecourses (the only proper ones you'll find in Sri Lanka). These are both traditions left over from the colonial era.

Take a train trip from Nanu Oya towards Kandy. For the colonial experience book a 1st class ticket in the observation car. For an authentic local experience book a 3rd class ticket and hang out of the door of the carriage.

Eat

• St Andrews Hotel does a good buffet, described as a "fusion" of eastern and western tastes.
• The Hill Club is a special experience which will take you back almost 100 years. But you must dress for dinner. If you don't have a jacket and tie you can borrow from their collection. Food is excellent and served by waiters in national dress with white serving gloves.
• Grand Hotel does a great high tea.
• Grand Indian at the Grand Hotel, is possibly the best place in Nuwara Eliya to get good traditional Indian food.
• Adma Agro, located at the far end of Lake Gregory, only serves strawberry based dishes - using locally grown strawberries.

Sleep

There are a number of accommodations in Nuwara Eliya, which makes exploring the city's wildlife and architecture more convenient.

Mid range

• Galway Forest Lodge, No. 89, Upper Lake Road, Havelock Drive, ☏ +94 52 2223739. Has 52 rooms in various colour themes, with dining and recreational facilities, and tour arrangements. From 60/70$ sgl./dbl.. 

• Mount View Cottage (is a small guesthouses with 4 rooms. Clean accommodation and is operated by honest people. They will arrange tours to Horton's Plains using the guesthouse's van for a reasonable amount of money (see section above). From 50/57$. 

Splurge

• Craig Bank, No: 48, Water Field Drive, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, ☏ +94 77 7005500. Situated just above Nuwara Eliya town, Is a villa set within magnificent gardens that overlook the golf course and rolling hills. Ideal for groups of families and friends who will love its privacy and secluded yet central location. Designed by a Frenchman, the villa's European styling blends perfectly with the property's colonial atmosphere which harks back to a former era. 660 $ per villa. 

• The Tea Factory Hotel, ☏ +94 52 2229600, fax: +94 52 2229606, fom.teafactory@aitkenspence.lk. Colonial style rooms with views of the surrounding tea plantations. All the rooms (superior, premium or executive + suits) come with rain showers and baths. Over 160$. 

• King Fern Cottage, 203/1A St Andrew's Drive, Nuwara Eliya, ☏ 077 358 6284NOCC. Welcoming budget guesthouse with a friendly owner, large sized rooms with comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms. 
• Spring Acre, 495 (Situated just 5 minutes drive from Golf Course), ☏ +94 725 94 66 13. This tastefully furnished luxury holiday bungalow can accommodate up to 10 persons and has a breathtaking view of a tea estate and the Pidurutalagala mountain range. Over 250$. 
• Langdale by Amaya, Radalla, Nanu Oya, Nuwara Eliya, ☏ +94 52 4924959. Boutique resort. Escape to the cool mornings and crisp air of Randalla, a quaint hill station tucked in the mountain ranges of the central highlands. Over 250$.