Nuwara Eliya

Cool-climate tea country with a colonial hangover.

What makes Nuwara Eliya.

At nearly 1,900 metres, Nuwara Eliya is the highest town in Sri Lanka and the coolest — a former British hill station that still keeps its mock-Tudor bungalows, a racecourse, a colonial golf course and a fondness for afternoon high tea. The locals call it 'Little England', and the chill mountain air, the clipped gardens and the manicured hedges make the nickname feel earned. The surrounding slopes grow some of the world's finest high-grown tea, and famous estate factories such as Pedro and Mackwoods welcome visitors to walk the rows and taste a first flush. Gregory Lake, the strawberry farms, the Hakgala gardens and the cloud-forest reserve of Horton Plains are all within easy reach, making the town the hub of the central highlands.

Cool-climate tea country with a colonial hangover.

January – April (clearest highland skies)Best time
7Spots to see
~800KVisitors / year

What to see

Where to explore in Nuwara Eliya.

The landmarks and corners worth carving out time for. Each one a reason this place earns its place on the route.

01
Gregory Lake
A breezy man-made lake for pedal boats and lakeside strolls in the heart of town.
02
Pedro & Mackwoods tea estates
Working high-grown factories where you can walk the rows with a picker and taste the day's flush.
03
Victoria Park
A pretty Victorian garden in the town centre, prized by birdwatchers for highland endemics.
04
Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Terraced highland gardens of roses, ferns and cool-climate trees on the slopes south of town.
05
Lover's Leap Falls
A slender waterfall above a tea estate, reached by a short walk with valley views.
06
Single Tree Hill
A short, steep climb to a viewpoint over the town, the lake and the surrounding peaks.
07
Seetha Amman Temple
A vivid riverside Hindu temple linked to the Ramayana legend on the road to Hakgala.