Things to Do in Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya is known for its hills and tea estates sloping down on them. There are hundreds of acres of just tea plantations and estates all around Nuwara Eliya. One of the things to do in Nuwara Eliya is to take a stroll around and visit the tea estates and interact with the workers and they will allow you to taste different types of tea and even show you methods of tea extraction and more. There are multiple tea plantations that tourists can get to visit and even taste their specially grown and brewed teas. The two most sgnficant touristy tea plantations are Pedro Tea Estate and Blufield Tea Gardens.

Lake Gregory is a local reservoir situated in the city of Nuwara Eliya. It is a popular place for tourists to visit and enjoy some recreational activities. The lake was named after Sir William Gregory, in 1873, during the British era. Tourists can roam around the lake with the help of boats available for hire. This lake acts as the perfect picnic spot and tourists can also explore the lake by hiring bicycles. The best time to visit this lake is during April.

Located right in the centre of Nuwara Eliya town, Bale Bazaar, also known as Winter Market, sells winter clothes all around the year. One of the things to do in Nuwara Eliya is buying these clothes at a discounted rate. There are also branded clothes that are available at half the cost. Bargaining is a much needed tool that tourists need to master to get the best deals out of the shops in this bazaar.

On the 7-hour journey from Kandy to Badulla, the train ride between Nuwara Eliya and Kandy or Ella is one of the world’s most picturesque broad-gauge routes. The iconic blue train takes you past rolling rice fields, lush tea estates, villages, giant mountains, colonial-era viaducts looming over the forests, crossed bridges with eerily huge drop-offs, and cascading waterfalls. One-way tickets cost only LKR 260 per adult.

Victoria Park is a well-maintained park situated in the heart of Nuwara Eliya. It is the perfect place for family outings where the tourists can enjoy watching exotic birds, and some rare flowering plants. The park also has a children’s play area, and some rides, that make the place enjoyable for all ages alike. The pretty flowers, serene ponds, and many other scenic spots in the park would also make it an excellent location for clicking beautiful photographs. Victoria Park is in the centre of the city of Nuwara Eliya. You need to pay an entrance fee before getting in. It is an ideal place for morning walks and picnics.

Horton Plains National Park is one of the more beautiful National Parks in Sri Lanka that is even beautifully located on top of a mountain. With a wide range of flora and fauna, Horton Plains differentiates itself from the others because of its amazing location. One of the things to do in Nuwara Eliya is to follow the hiking trails inside Horton Plains, some of the best that is, and it will lead you to a drop-off at the edge of a huge cliff at the end of the plateau known as the World’s End.

Occupying a sprawling English colonial country-style manor with a half-timbered facade, the chic 5-star Grand Hotel boasts its own golf course, high-end Ayurvedic spa, and shopping arcade. Amidst landscaped gardens, the resort’s 154 rooms flaunt Elizabethan-era furnishings and antiques. Suites add living rooms and countryside views. Relish English, Indian and Asian gastronomy at four onsite restaurants and bars. For leisure, there is a gym and indoor pool.

An idyllic representation of Sri Lanka’s natural being is the famous St. Clair’s falls. Referred to as the Niagara of Sri Lanka, the waters of St. Clair’s runs cold but never weary of the gushing force. It is located in the Talawakele town of Nuwara Eliya District and St. Clair’s stands as one of the widest falls in Sri Lanka. At an altitude of 1198 metres, Little Niagara summons everyone’s eyes to itself – the majesty with which the waters hit the rock and fall into the stream is an absolute delight.

Nuwara Eliya is touted as Sri Lanka’s “Strawberry Capital”. Two of the most popular strawberry fields here are in Ambewela and Ragala, famous for scenic plantation walks or tractor tours to gaze upon mountains and valleys and purchasing freshly picked strawberries and strawberry-based products. Also, visit Adma Agro Strawberry Farm and Rose Garden Farms, where one can also enjoy strawberry drinks, ice creams and pancakes.

One of the country’s oldest post offices, the 1894-built Nuwara Eliya Post Office is a heritage Tudor-style mansion, complete with spires and a clocktower. Its bright orange roofs and red brick walls create contrast against the surrounding gardens. Pretty postcards and collections of stamps are sold at the post office’s souvenir shop. Tourist accommodation is available on the upper floor.

The farm, also known as New Zealand farm, is a hub of organic countryside activities in the pristine landscape of Ambewela hill station. The lush green fields, rugged mountains, and the bright blue sky gives Ambewela the title of 'Little New Zealand'. The drive to the farms is one of the things to do in Nuwara Eliya which is a pleasant experience, with scenic views of vegetable farms, lakes and forests. A famous attraction in this area is World's End, which is a cliff with an immense depth of more than 1200 metres. This thrilling spot is often used by visitors to click pictures.

Moon Plains, also known as Sandathanne, was recently opened to the public in 2014 and has readily become one of the most loved biodiversity spots for travelers. Earlier it used to be a garbage dump area which has now been converted into a park. Moon Plains is situated 6 km away from the main city of Nuwara Eliya.

On a hill slope 3,200 feet above sea level, Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple is a Hindu shrine with interesting legends and elegant forest and lake vistas near Ramboda Falls. Planned by Chinmaya Mission, the 1981-built temple flaunts a 16-feet-tall idol of Hanumanji amidst tea plantations. Juxtaposed to it are sixteen ashram rooms, named Vibheeshan, Jambavan, Sugriva and suchlike based on characters of the Ramayana. A vegetarian restaurant is maintained on the grounds.

A walking tour of Nuwara Eliya involves scenic views of Sri Lanka's forested hills. One can take a stroll around the tea plantations and visit the many different sightseeing places around. It is known as 'Little England', and has old buildings with colonial and Tudor architecture, making it a pleasurable place for walking around. The town also has many historical sites and temples, that are very valuable to different cultures. This town is the perfect place walka relax, rewind, and get a taste of different cultures, spanning between a few kilometres.

The Lover's Leap is a beautiful waterfall nestled amongst the tea plantation hills. Tourists can visit this place when they visit the Pedro Tea Estate since the waterfalls are nearby. The waterfall has many myths and stories associated with it, which makes it even more exciting and attractive. Tourists have to hike up the hill to get to the waterfalls which are one of the lesser-known and lesser-visited tourist spots in Nuwara Eliya, so tourists can leisurely explore the place. It is about 3.5 kilometres away from the central city and easily accessible via local transport.

Timings : 24 Hours

Time Required : 1-2 hours

Entry Fee : Free