Located in the Central Hills, Nuwara Eliya is also known as Little England given that it has a cold climate and colonial-era type bungalows. It’s a beautiful city in the tea country hills of Sri Lanka lying at an elevation of 1868m.
It is usually well known for its cool climate, tea, colonial architecture and its vegetation. The city overlooks the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka which is Pidurutagala Mountain.
Nuwara Eliya is also home to wonderful wildlife such as Sri Lankan Blue Magpie, jungle fowl, wild boar, leopard, and numerous bird species.
Having a climate ideal for tea, Nuwara Eliya is home to some of the best tea in the world. There are plenty of places in Nuwara Eliya where you can taste and purchase tea.
16 October 2024 | 13 Min Read
156 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
Colombo – Kandy – Nuwara Eliyah Highway – with traffic
Colombo – Badulla Express train – 6 hour’s
Walk in to Colombo fort railway station and you can get tickets for 3rd class and 2nd class. (3rd class railway tickets price is very cheap)
3rd class seats are available thought seats are not guaranteed. The availability of seats depends on the crowd. During the weekends the trains may get crowded.
To pre-book a rail journey contact a travel agency
For more information, and for ticket bookings – http://www.railway.gov.lk/web Once you book a ticket, you can visit the station on the day of your journey and get your pre booked tickets at the counter. Most of the counters that issue pre booked tickets have no queque. A train ride is highly recommended as it gives you the best view of the central hills and makes your journey exciting!
Colombo – Nuwara Eliya – 20 to 30 minutes
The following travel companies offer internal chatter flights and Helicopter tours
https://www.senoksl.com/travel-and-leisure/airport-and-aviation-services-sri-lanka.html
If you’re seeking for some adventure along the hills with a rewarding view, Horton Plains is the perfect fit for you!
It is an evergreen natural park with rolling grasslands and picturesque beauty of nature. The Horton Plains National Park is full of beautiful flora and fauna. It has about 750 different plant species. You will also see the Sambar deer and other animals in this park roaming freely.
The Horton Plains offer 3 major attractions through a single trek. You will be able to visit Baker’s falls, the mini world’s End and the World’s End. As a cliff of about 4,000 feet in height, the World’s End is a hot spot in the park. Due to its steepness and depth of fall, the World’s End a great option for hiking anytime you visit the Horton Plains.
There are signposts to guide you. There are two main routes and the order in which you will meet these attractions depends on which route you take. Don’t worry, you will be able to visit all 3 of these attractions from both the pathways.
The full trek is approximately 9 km. However if you only visit the world’s end and turn back and follow the same route you came from, the journey will be 8km.
Be sure to take as little luggage with you as possible for a comfortable trek.
185 km and 5 ½ to 6 hour’s drive
You need to buy tickets. Vehicles are allowed up until the car park area and you will have to pay an additional fee for the vehicle apart from tickets.
6.00 am to 5.00 pm
Going as early as possible (preferably 6am) can ensure that you avoid the ticket queue. By going early you can leisurely enjoy the beauty of this park.
Ambewela, also known as “Little New Zealand” is a beautiful dairy farm in Nuwara Eliya. It is on your way to the Horton Plains National Park in the Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka approximately 17km away from the Nuwara Eliya city. The lush green pastures and hills make it an ideal spot for tourists who seek to experience a tranquil farm experience as well as relaxation. The farm is a great place for family walks as well as picnics. You can take guided tours by contacting the dairy farm. These yours will give you insights about production, interaction with animals and other fascinating facts about the farm.
170 km or 5 to 5 ½ hour’s drive
Entry fee required.
7.30 am to 5.30 pm. However, please call the farm before visiting as the farm may close on certain days.
Don’t forget to drink a fresh cup of milk.
Situated in the Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka is the Ohiya rural village. It is closer to Horton Plains National Park (about 8 kilometres) and has several attractions. The Railway at Ohiya is the third largest railway in the whole of Sri Lanka. There some many amazing places in Ohiya. Several of these are; the Devil’s Staircase, Bambarakanda Falls, and the Rahangala Mountain. Ohiya also offers a great rural experience with it’s charming local culture, friendly villagers and hospitality.
188 km or 5 ½ to 6 hour’s drive
No need to buy tickets
24-hour open
You won’t believe that you are in a Tropical country once you are here! Make sure to explore this village at least for a day.
Also known as ‘the Veil of the Valley’, the Devon Waterfall is a spectacular waterfall in the Nuwara Eliya district. It’s located near the town of Talawakelle, close to Nuwara Eliya. The best time to visit is during December through March. The Devon Waterfalls is about 97m high and is a tributary of the Kothmale Oya (or Kothmale River). This waterfall gives you an impressive feel of nature in all its beauty and serenity. To get the best view, we advise to view the waterfall near the Mlesna Tea Centre!
125 km or 3 ½ to 4-hour drive
No need to buy tickets
24-hour open
Do NOT swim or bathe here. After enjoying the waterfall don’t forget to have a fresh Ceylon cup of tea at Mlesna tea castle with the view of Devon waterfall.
Being one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, the St. Clair’s Falls is also known as the ‘Little Niagara’ and it’s known for it’s twin cascades. It flows over three massive outcrops before falling. It’s named after the tea estate in which it runs through. It is close to the Devon Falls in Talawakelle. It is made of two falls and is also the 20th highest fall in Sri Lanka.
130 km or 3 ½ to 4-hour drive
No need to buy tickets
24-hour open
There’s a great viewpoint right by the roadside! Try to go during sunrise or sunset as it is the ideal time for taking a perfect photograph!
A lake named after the British Governor at the time (Sir William Gregory), Lake Gregory is a seamless place for your leisurely walks. The weather at Nuwara Eliya is very cool there. Lake Gregory offers various leisure activities as well as food stalls. The park is ideal for a family or even a peaceful day!
160 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
30 minutes by sea plane from Colombo
There is an entry fee.
6.00 am to 6.00 pm
You can do cycling, pony rides, swan boating and a lot more. Each activity requires a fee.
Ramboda Waterfalls is a spectacular waterfall en route Nuwara Eliya. Its view from Nuwara Eliya is amazing. The fall is beautiful throughout the seasons and irrespective of the time of the year. The Ramboda Waterfalls is on the Pana Oya watercourse. Another highlight of the Ramboda falls is the Ramboda tunnel which is closely situated to the Ramboda falls, the tunnel is 225m long making it the longest tunnel in Sri Lanka.
160 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
No need to buy tickets
open 24-hour
There are some great restaurants nearby to have a lunch with a view! As you get closer to the waterfall you can hear the thundering splashes of water heightening the sense of adventure.
If you want to discover unusual plant and flower varieties, Hakgala Botanic Gardens is one of the finest places to visit in Nuwaraeliya. As the Garden has a lot to offer, please make sure you have a good few hours here to enjoy everything.
Hakgala Botanical Gardens was established in 1861 and was initially a place of cultivation to experiment with crops like tea. The Gardens are famous for their enchanting assortments of orchids and roses that are best loved during the spring season (March - April) in Nuwara Eliya. For further details about the garden you can visit their homepage https://www.botanicgardens.gov.lk/service/botanic-gardens-hakgala/
163 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
Rs.3000 per adult, Rs.2000 per student, Rs.1500 per child 5-12 years (Foreign)
7.30 am to 5.00 pm
You can hire a golf cart for an additional fee, this will make sure you can explore the whole garden while relaxing!
Victoria's Park was originally a research field of Hakgala Botanical Garden. Victoria’s Park has large trees and rare birds. This park offers an extremely relaxing atmosphere and highly suitable for picnics and leisure.
157 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
You need to buy tickets
7.00 am to 6.00 pm
The Park is beautiful between March-May and August-September when the flowers are in full bloom. It’s also an superb place to observe some rare species of birds.
Being one of the oldest golf clubs in Sri Lanka, this is a must-see destination for golf enthusiasts. Nuwara Eliya Golf Club was created in 1889 by the elegant British who governed the island at the time. Even today, the atmosphere is a merge of colonial and contemporary, with a large span of lush flora impeccably matching its charm. You can visit https://www.nuwaraeliyagolfclub.com/visitor-golf for further information.
157 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
you need to buy tickets
8.00 am to 5.00 pm or you can stay there
Check availability before you go if you are going to stay there. If not, you can have a visit and play some golf with your friends.
Mount Pidurutalagala, also known as Mount Pedro, is the island's highest mountain in Sri Lanka, standing at 2524 meters. It is surrounded by a forest reserve, which is home to a diverse range of flora and wildlife, comprising of several indigenous species.
The mountain's peak serves as a base for the country's radar system, making it a high security zone guarded by the military.
163 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
No need to buy tickets
You will need to contact the ministry of defense via 0112430860 and request permission to visit.
Trekking the mountain is not permitted, but you can go on a jeep ride after obtaining permission from the authorities. The best time to visit Piduruthalagala is during the morning hours when it’s not too foggy.
Bombaru Ella which is also known as Parawella Falls, is situated near the border of the Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts. Considered as the widest waterfall in Sri Lanka this has become a tourist attraction. Camping is not permitted on the grounds.
The waterfall is accessible through a 2-kilometre hike from the Bomburu Ella settlement. To travel to the town, you can take public transportation or hire an uber.
175 km or 5 to 5 ½ hour’s drive
No need to buy tickets
open 24-hours
Take precautions to avoid leeches such as spraying on soap water to your arms and legs. To reach the waterfall, you have to embark on a 2 km trek from the Bomburu Ella village.
The high altitude of Nuwara Eliya makes it ideal for tea plantations, and some of the best varieties of the world-famous Ceylon Tea are made here. There is a number of tea factories you can visit in Nuwara Eliya. The location tag provides you with 3 factories you can visit.
160 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
No need to buy tickets
9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Make a Call to the factory before you go there. You can learn about Ceylon Tea, the history of Ceylon Tea, How tea is manufactured and you can buy original Ceylon tea from these factories.
The racetrack is one of the highest in the world, at 1,868 meters (6,129 feet) above sea level. The track measures 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) in circumference (about 9 furlongs) and contains a 333-meter straight.
157 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
No need to buy tickets
6.00 am to 10.00 pm
The month of April is the ideal time to visit if you want to see horse racing. That is the festive season of Nuwara Eliya.
This waterfall, which pours from Sri Lanka's tallest peak, Pidurutalagala, has a tragic legend attached to it. With a 1.7 miles (approx.) hike to visit the waterfall, it can be challenging and may have slippery pathways along the way, keep in mind to wear appropriate gear.
According to legend, it was here that a prince and his lover, a local village girl committed suicide after the prince's family objected to their relationship, they believed by doing so it would grant them everlasting union in death.
160 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
No need to buy tickets
8.00 am to 5.00 pm
The route to Lover’s Leap Waterfall starts from the Pedro Tea Estate entrance!
Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple a culturally significant site in Sri Lanka and it is located on the top of a spectacular mountain near Ramboda, 30 kilometers north of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka's tea country hill station. The temple is devoted to the God Hanuman. Inside the Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple in Ramboda, visitors may see the 18-foot Hanuman statue, which is the tallest Hanuman statue in Sri Lanka. The temple hosts ceremonies and events which spreads its cultural heritage bringing together the community.
130 km or 3 ½ to 4 hour’s drive
No need to buy tickets
7.00 am to 1.00 pm and 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm
Don’t forget to enjoy traditional Indian food in the restaurant on site
Galway's Land National Park is a tiny national park in Nawara Eliya consisting of dense montane forest. On May 27, 1938, it was legally designated as a wildlife refuge. On May 18, 2006, Galway's Land was designated as a national park. The Park was established to protect highland ecosystems. The park is about 27 hectares and home to approximately 20 uncommon migrant bird species and 30 native bird species. Aside from the avifauna, the park is home to a variety of valued floral species, both native and exotic.
160 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
You need to buy tickets
6.00 am to 5.00 pm
You must visit early in the morning to see the birds. Don’t expect to see a lot of large animals as you can see in other national parks in Sri Lanka. This is the best place to study the montane ecosystem of Srilanka.
The St.Francis Xavier church is a Roman Catholic church located in Nuwara Eliya. This was built in the early 20th century reflecting it’s gothic as well as Sri Lankan architectural elements. Whether you are a worshipper or a visitor this place is open to anyone. The interior is impressive as its exterior with beautiful murals and statues making it an architectural masterpiece.
160 km or 4 ½ to 5 hour’s drive
No need to buy tickets
8.00 am to 5.00 pm
Don’t forget to visit Franciscan sister’s Jam Room - This small shop is run by a group of nuns who manufacture the products in the building located behind the shop. Most of the fresh produce, like strawberries, are also sourced from the garden in the shop premises.
Please check on the opening time before you go - +94522222564
