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Nuwara Eliya

Located 2000 metres (1.2 miles) above sea level, Nuwara Eliya is the base of tea cultivation in Sri Lanka. Built from scratch by the British officials and planters of the 19th century, Nuwara Eliya is also known the world-over as 'little England'. The architectural similarity to English country homes and the cool climate draws thousands of tourists, both foreign and local, to Nuwara Eliya. A quiet and soothing retreat in tropical Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya is the affordable holiday getaway of the country's affluent society.

Mountainous settings, lush green tea plantations, deep forests, waterfalls, national parks, botanical gardens and golf courses are the main attractions in Nuwara Eliya.

Tea Country

The Tea Factory, Labukelle Tea Plantation, Tea Cup by Watawala Plantations Ltd, and St Clair's Tea Centre offer delightful cups of tea, tea packets on sale and sometimes, tours of the tea factory.

Adventure

The abundance of mountains and extensive forest land invite tourists to trek up the many peaks, including Pidurutalagala Mountain, the highest peak in Sri Lanka, and the mountains surrounding Adam's Peak. Sri Pada, better known as the Adam's Peak, is also a great area to hike and go trekking uphill, but because of its religious significance, it's best to take deviating tracks from the trail used by pilgrims.

Sports

The Nuwara Eliya Golf Club offers an 18-hole golf course and the Hill Club provides temporary membership for visitors, allowing access to its fine dining club with a golf course and tennis courts. The Turf Club of Nuwara Eliya provides pony and horse rides within the city. Horse races are a monthly attraction in Nuwara Eliya.

Nature

Victoria Park, the only urban park in Nuwara Eliya, is ideal for an early morning stroll along the paths and observing a variety of birds and other fauna. Boat rides are arranged for groups of tourists, by the Boat House, and these rides take you along the beautiful Gregory Lake. Waterfalls such as Ramboda, Devon, Laxapana and Bakers provide majestic illumination to the rocky hillsides with the great volumes of water cascading through the precipices.

Horton Plains, the highest plateau of Sri Lanka and a national park reservation, is an excellent place to enjoy the magnificence of nature. Fauna, flora and the most delightful open spaces of greenery are highlights of this park. The World's End, a great drop of 1000 metres (0.6 miles), is also located inside the Horton Plains. World's End is almost always covered in mist throughout the day, giving the illusion of complete nothingness beyond, but on the rare dry days, visitors can view the Bakers Falls, hiking trails and the vegetation below.

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