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Mock-Tudor architecture, hills blanketed by dense green tea plantations, and Horton Plains National Park, all around Nuwara Eliya.
A British-accented community in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country, Nuwara Eliya is, in one word, green. Almost every hillside is bright with neatly trimmed tea bushes. The mock-Tudor architecture and velvety golf courses recall the days when this was the preferred retreat of the British in the years after they defeated the Kandyan Kingdom to take control of Sri Lanka. The area is less than three hours north of Kandy and many people prefer to arrive via train, but we can also arrange for you to take a car, which will gives you the flexibility to indulge in side jaunts with time to stop and enjoy the views at your own pace.
Things to see & do in Nuwara Eliya
Visiting a tea plantation
Driving along the twisting roads through a tea estate, you’ll see brightly clad workers, predominantly women of Tamil origin, working among the manicured rows. At the heart of the verdant fields, the tea factory offers a glimpse of the complex stages of the tea-making process. Depending on the day, you might see different parts of the process, which starts with plucking just the lightest-green leaves from the top of the branches and continues through many steps like drying, oxidation, curing, and sorting. True tea devotees can even stay in a former tea factory.
Horton Plains National Park
Located an hour south of Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains National Park is an undulating plateau of montane grassland, misty lakes, and dense cloudforest. This is home to a wide range of bird species, including three that can only be found in the park — the dull-blue flycatcher, Sri Lanka white-eye, and Sri Lanka wood pigeon. It’s also a herpetological paradise, with as many as 15 species of lizards.
We can arrange for you to visit the park in early morning with a private guide, when the birds are most active. Ascend through the wooded countryside along winding lanes and, if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Adam’s Peak in the distance — the tall conical peak has a footprint-shaped formation near the summit, held to be let by the Buddha, and the mountain is considered sacred.
Best time to visit Nuwara Eliya
The British nicknamed this part of Sri Lanka ‘Little England’, due to its year-round tendency to rain. However, for the best weather and fewest showers, visit Nuwara Eliya from February to May. Be aware that the Sinhalese New Year falls in mid-April, bringing crowds and festivities.
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Suggested itinerary featuring Nuwara Eliya
This sample itinerary will give you an idea of what is possible when you travel in Nuwara Eliya, and showcases routes we know work particularly well. Treat this as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.
Places near Nuwara Eliya
- Horton Plains 11 miles away
- Hatton 13 miles away
- Bandarawela 19 miles away
- Adam's Peak 21 miles away
- Kandy 24 miles away
- Udawalawe National Park 33 miles away
- Sinharaja Biosphere 45 miles away
- Pallepola 47 miles away
- Yala National Park 57 miles away
- Wadduwa 61 miles away
- Colombo 63 miles away
- Dambulla 64 miles away
- Bentota 65 miles away
- Tangalle 66 miles away
- Negombo 66 miles away
- Sigiriya 68 miles away
- Polonnaruwa 70 miles away
- The Southern Coast 73 miles away
- Minneriya National Park 73 miles away
- Galle 75 miles away
- The Cultural Triangle 81 miles away
- Passikudah 87 miles away
- Anuradhapura 98 miles away
- Trincomalee 116 miles away
- Jaffna 194 miles away
Photos of Nuwara Eliya
Accommodation choices for Nuwara Eliya
We've selected a range of accommodation options for when you visit Nuwara Eliya. Our choices usually come recommended for their character, facilities and service or location. Our specialists always aim to suggest properties that match your preferences.
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Warwick Gardens
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The Langdale by Amaya
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Stafford Bungalow
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Ideas for experiencing Nuwara Eliya
Our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know the places that could feature in your trip. These activities reflect some of the experiences they've most enjoyed while visiting Nuwara Eliya, and which use the best local guides.
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Tea Estate Visit Tea Estate Visit
Tea Estate Visit
Driving through the twisting roads of the tea estate, you see the colorful women, mainly of Tamil origin, at work in the plantations.
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Horton Plains Walk Horton Plains Walk
Horton Plains Walk
Horton Plains was declared a National Park in 1988 and covers 3,160 hectares of grasslands interspersed with forest and forms an undulating plateau more than 2,000 m high.
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