Spectacular Things To Do In Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka is famous for green tea leaves, its magnificent waterfalls, and old-fashioned colonial buildings. The tea plantation is also named after English counties and cities.

This is no wonder why it is also called Sri Lanka’s little England.

It is a favourable town to visit partly because of the cool temperature – the weather stays cold throughout the year and Nuwara Eliya receives more rainfall compared to all the other cities.

Read on to find out what makes Nuwara Eliya so unique and a must visit in every trip to Sri Lanka, as well as the best time to visit this town.

Where to Stay – Hotels in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Araliya Green Hills Hotel is an amazing four-star hotel where we stayed. It provides comfortable accommodation and makes you feel at home. You can relax, chill and be yourself at Araliya Green Hills Hotel.

Some other highly-rated hotels in Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka that you may like to consider for your stay includes:

• Jetwing St. Andrew’s – USD 160/night
• The Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya – USD 142/night

If you’re budget conscious, you can also find several cheap hotels in Nuwara Eliya mostly starting from USD 12/night.

• Yoho The Train View – USD 7/night
• Sandella Holiday Home – USD 8/night
• Backpackers Nest – USD 10/night

Getting to Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

By Train:

Nuwara Eliya can be reached by the Kandy to Nuwara Eliya train route. This route is considered one of the most beautiful train routes in the world. This also makes train travel the number one choice for getting to Nuwara Eliya.

By Bus:

You can also get to Nuwara Eliya by bus from Colombo. Buses operate from route #79 in Colombo and depart 3 times on a daily basis at an interval of 6 hours. The traffic is very slow and the journey from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya may take up to 6 hours to cover 180 km.

Essential Things to Do in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Since Nuwara Eliya is home to many natural and historic attractions, here is a list of some of the things you must do when visiting Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.

1. Damro Labookellie Tea Factory

For a country who is the fourth largest tea exporter in the world, it comes as no surprise then that Damro manages approximately 27,000 acres of tea plantation estates in the whole of Sri Lanka.

Damro Labookellie Tea Centre & Tea plantation is one of the largest and oldest tea factories that are over 5000 hectares large. Situated at 2000 meters above sea level, this cool climate makes it conducive for growing tea leaves.

As part of the free tea factory Nuwara Eliya tour, we were brought around the factory to witness how tea is manufactured.

We went behind the scenes of the world-renowned “Ceylon Tea” band and witnessed the manufacturing process of the tea leaves from the very first time it was plucked to the finished tea product. Through a series of rolling, fermentation, and drying, every 5 kg of leaves picked will produce 1 kg worth of tea.

As most of the processes here are mechanized, the whole process can be completed in 24 hours.

These tea leaves originated from China and were brought to India. They employ about 1000 workers, of which 600 ladies do leaf-picking.

Also, the finer the tea leaves are, the stronger the tastes become. We were astounded to find that you can make over 20 types of tea using the same type of plant! At this tea center, they serve a variety of tea types, from green tea to black tea and even white tea.

After we were done with the guided tour of the factory, we were brought to the tea lounge to sample a pure, unblended cup of factory fresh tea before being sent to the Tea Auctions in Colombo for the export of these tea leaves.

This was the part I was looking forward to the most after hearing so much about it! The lounge overlooks a panoramic view of the tea plantation that carpets the slopes of the surrounding hills.

It is also here where you can go crazy shopping for souvenirs for tea, although do expect tourist prices.

TIP: If you’re looking for more affordable options, the local supermarket sells a variety of tea brands that you can buy at home for your friends and family!

2. Little England Nuwara Eliya Cottages

If you’re visiting Nuwara Eliya, a tour to the famed “Little England Cottages” is a must for all tourists because of how photogenic all these cottages look. You will almost believe you’re transported to England!

The Cottages is a gated community, maintained and owned by a famous Sri Lankan real estate company, Jayson’s Realty.

While these luxury cottages are mostly for sale, there are some where you can choose to stay in luxury for a couple of days, like this Kent Cottage.

3. Post Offices

You will be surprised to know that post offices are quite a highlight of Nuwara Eliya.

That’s because most of the post offices depict colonial architecture. The most renowned post office here has a history of 100 years and lies at the centre of the town.

It has a red brick exterior and is built in Tudor style. This gives it a unique edge over the buildings and makes it stand out among all the other remnants. A clock tower is also present on one side of the building.

4. Gregory Park & Lake Gregory

Lake Gregory is one of the more fascinating attraction around Nuwara Eliya’s “Little England” in Sri Lanka.

The lake has always been used for recreational activities even at the time of the British ruling in Sri Lanka and dates back to 1873. The lake receives the most tourists in April, where it is used for recreational activities such as water sports. Gregory Park also offers pony rides to little ones.

You can also find colonial-style buildings around the Gregory Park in Nuwara Eliya. Due to the face upliftment in Nuwara Eliya, some offices have been shifted around the Lake Gregory zone temporarily.

You can make the most of your tour to Nuwara Eliya by engaging with some of the activities around the lake. A lot of local families also visit the lake on weekends.

The lake is on Badulla Road in Nuwara Eliya and is open from 7:30 am to 5 pm.

5. Aadishakti Seeta Amman Temple (Sita Mata – A Hindu Temple)

Sri Seethai is a unique Hindu temple built at a place where Seeta Mata is believed to have spent her days in the Ravana prison about 5000 years ago. It is located close to the picturesque town of Nuwara Eliya.

The locals believe that Seeta sat and meditated on a rock on the opposite bank of the river. This river stream is believed to have catered to the needs of Seeta during her stay here. The 3 idols, including Sita, were discovered in the stream a century ago at this location.

Tourists love visiting this temple to experience the points where Seeta bathed, worshipped and spent her time in prayer. The history of this temple is increasingly making it a popular tourist place.

What’s more interesting is the fact that some footprints are still present at the side of the river. These footprints are believed to be that of Hanuman – the Monkey God. Some footprints are small whereas others are large, which was explained by Hanuman’s immense power to transform himself into any size and shape.

The temple stays open in the mornings from 8 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 6:30 pm.

6. Ramboda Falls waterfall

If you are passing through from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya like I was, you can see this waterfall from a viewpoint at Oak Ray Tea Bush Ramboda. There was also a significant change in climate when we got out of our vehicle after driving a long way from Kany – it was so much cooler here!

This hotel caters lunches to visitors, so you can consider stopping here for a break in between the long drive.

The Ramboda Falls has a unique Y shape that is created by Puna Oya, a tribute to Kotmale Oya. At 109 metres high, it is the 11th tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka.

7. Hakgala Botanical Garden

Hakgala Botanical Garden, located 10km Southeast of Nuwara Eliya, is a peaceful site for local and international tourists alike.

They include a rose garden, a Japanese garden, orchid flower collection, cedar, and cypresses. The entrance fee may be expensive for foreign tourists, but is totally worth it to plan your visit when the flowers have bloomed.

There isn’t much to explore otherwise especially during the plantation season from January to late March.

8. Street Life of Nuwara Eliya

Wander and roam the streets of this town to explore its unique buildings, the busy markets and engage with its friendly people. The weather is simply great even in November when it’s supposedly cold. You can walk without a jacket and even if you do feel cold, you can get one easily from the market.

Nuwara Eliya is no doubt a fabulous town in Sri Lanka that you should add in every Sri Lanka itinerary. It gives a taste of British, Indian to Sri Lankan culture.

March to May and August to September is the most popular season for exploring Nuwara Eliya, owing to the cool weather conditions around this period. Make sure to plan your visit to Nuwara Eliya during these months and indulge in its amazing landscapes, history, food and fun festivals to make the most of your vacation!

Special thanks to Sri Lanka Tourism for this experience! All opinions remain my own.

1 – 9 November 2019, Fri – Sat