A Tour of Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya, meaning The City of Lights, lies at an elevation of 1,868 metres (6,128 ft.) above sea level, a short distance from the island’s highest summit, Mount Pidurutalagala. The city’s high altitude means that it has a temperate and unique climate throughout the year, making it one of the best locations for tea production in the country. During the colonial era, Nuwara Eliya was a preferred holiday retreat by the British and was used to indulge in hunting as well as engage in sports such as golf, cricket, and polo. Even today, the town is often referred to as ‘Little England’, as it retains a British country-village feel to it, with its golf course, colonial era bungalows, pretty gardens, and mock-Tudor buildings. On this tour, a local guide will accompany you to some of the most famous attractions in town.
These include:
- Nuwara Eliya Golf Club – one of the oldest and most beautiful golf clubs in Asia, steeped in history and tradition.
- Victoria Park – one of the country’s most attractive and well- maintained town parks with an extensive array of flowering plants, especially during the months of March to May. The Park is also home to several Hill Country birds, including the Kashmir Flycatcher, Indian Pitta, and Yellow-eared Bulbul.
- Post Office – another historical landmark in Nuwara Eliya. This Tudor style two-storey red brick building was constructed in 1894 by the BritishLake Gregory – a scenic reservoir with water sports and boat rides, as well as a beautiful lawn for picnics, strolls and other activities.
- Bale Bazaar – a local bazaar, popularly known as the ‘winter market’, where you can get great bargains on warm clothing, as well as lovely, fresh produce including strawberries, pineapples, and mangoes.
- Adma Agro Strawberry Farm Shop – no visit to Nuwara Eliya is complete without indulging in Nuwara Eliya strawberries. Adma Agro is well known for their strawberry desserts and jams, and you can choose to savour strawberries with fresh cream, condensed milk or in the form of a juice.
Other notable attractions in the vicinity include Hakgala Botanical Gardens, Galway’s Land National Park, and Moon Plains, which can be combined with the city tour. Please refer the next few pages for
more information on these excursions.
There are also many popular waterfalls around Nuwara Eliya, such as St. Clair’s Waterfall and Devon Falls. If you missed them on your journey to Goatfell, we recommend stopping for a few minutes on the way to your next destination, to soak in these breath-taking views
