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Nuwara Eliya (pronounced nu-REL-iya) is a city in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka. At 1,868 m (6,129 ft) altitude, the architecture and temperate climate gives it a very different feel from the rest of the country.
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A pleasant place to spend an hour or so, with an astonishing variety of plants, ranging from tropical rain forest to English country garden. At the far southern end of it there is Victoria Museum which houses a collection of old colonial era photos, entrance fee is included into Victoria Park's entrance ticket.
A picturesque Tudor-style, two-storey red brick building close to the big roundabout at the centre of town. One of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka and still in use. It has a postcard and stamp collectors shop, which sells some recent first day covers, from 100Rs.
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. Offers a splendid and peaceful environment for sightseeing and boating. Boats can be hired from the area.
A gentleman's club that was established in 1876 by British coffee planters and has about 750 members today. It is housed in a two-story grey stone building right next to Nuwara Eliya Golf Course, another remnant of the British colonial era.
A beautiful 30-m-high waterfall. Legend has it that a prince and his lover jumped down this waterfall after the king prohibited their love. To get there, take a tuk tuk to Boralanda (before the turnoff to Pedro Tea Factory) for about Rs 700 from town centre. Start walking uphill to the left from there. After about 500 m, follow the sign to the left and stay on the path. You will reach the waterfall after another 2.5 km.
Offers fascinating tours of a working tea factory. In the hills nearby there are paths through the tea plantations to wander along. You can visit the shop and stroll through the tea fields for free, or hire a guide for a tour.
A wildlife sanctuary on the edge of town which is great for bird watching. It's also the smallest Sri Lankan National Park and it's quite run down. Very expensive now for foreigners.
Large and impressive, just a short bus journey away. However, it's far smaller and less pretty than Botanical Garden in Kandy.
Short 5-15 minutes excursion which is followed by a complimentary cup of tea, generally guide asks for a donation in the end. Overall, the entire process looks much more as a preparation for buying overpriced teas in their shop than the educational event. Visitors can proceed later to the tea plantation fields, which has a remarkable view over the valley.
Big 108m high waterfall.
A 2,243m mountain located about 30 km away from Hatton, of religious significance for many pilgrims heading there every month. Dalhousie is the nearest place to Nallathanniya, which is one of the many entrances to Adam's Peak. This trail is the steepest of all trails in Sri Lanka, although it is also shorter than any other trail. It is recommended to stay overnight at any hotel in or near Dalhousie and start climbing the Adam's Peak early in the morning. There are plenty of budget hotels. It will take 2½–3 hr to climb up and some 1½–2 hr to come down. (Longer in the rain.) Avoid weekends, public holidays, poya (full moon) days and school holidays when the queue at the top can be 2 km long with sometimes more than 12 hr wait. Having said that, there is an alternative route to the top, splitting off the stairs at about 1,920 m elevation. This could spare you the queue, but there is no lighting and is a proper trail partly with no stairs.
Possibly one of the best budget restaurants that takes care about hygiene and quality of the food. Extensive menu which mainly focuses on rice, noodle, burgers. Big portions. They also sell some sweets.
Serves only strawberry-based dishes, using locally grown strawberries.
Just next door to De Silva, similar food, prices and quality. Serves pizza and Chinese dishes as well.
Close to Milano and De Silva, this sprawling restaurant provides tasty authentic Indian food on three floors at good prices.
Does a good buffet, described as a "fusion" of eastern and western tastes.
It 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.
It does a great high tea.
It is possibly the best place in Nuwara Eliya to get good traditional Indian food.
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
18-room hotel on the edge of town. Rooms are heated; family rooms have two double beds, and the suites have a separate living area and kitchenette. The restaurant, The Four Eighty, serves halal food, lunch, dinner and high tea, and is open to non-residents. No alcohol is served.
Exclusive all-inclusive boutique hotel, founded the 1870s.
Sitting 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.
Colonial-style rooms with views of the surrounding tea plantations. All the rooms (superior, premium or executive + suites) come with rain showers and baths.
Welcoming budget guesthouse with a friendly owner, large rooms with comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms.
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.
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.
This bungalow built from quaint stone, and its interior was inspired by Scottish architecture. Offers a spa, dining, personal butlers, and an in-house library.
By bus
Buses can be taken from Colombo route #79, three times per day, six hours. Or from Kandy, every 20 minutes, 2½-3 hour trip.
The town centre is small enough to walk around. To visit sites further afield, take a bus or hire a three-wheeler. A tuktuk within town (e.g. from city center to Pedro Tea Factory) should cost around Rs 700 (2024).
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