Nuwara Eliya Hotels

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Any town that serves as the heart of a prosperous and historic tea trade must be special. That Nuwara Eliya is and, indeed, so much more. The colonial resort par excellence in Sri Lanka ranks with the very best of the old hill station holdovers from the British Empire and still resonates with time warp charm. This is most evident in the genteel former members-only clubs that dot the district of 700,000 plus, from the Hill Club to Nuwara Eliya Golf Club.

Orange pekoe cultivation may be the old bread and butter of the Central Highlands but fresh of a UNESCO World Heritage nod in 2010, the lungs of Sri Lanka have come to define ecotourism in the country. Nuwara Eliya is a convenient and popular gateway to a lot of the most spectacular scenery on the island, from the summit of Pidurutalagala to Horton Plains National Park, Peak Wilderness Sanctuary to Knuckles Conservation Forest.

A famously mild climate makes the resort town a wonderful place to cool off from the hustle bustle of Colombo. Tea is still a powerful lure, of course, and most estates oblige the crowds with comprehensive tours of the premises. Other worthwhile points of interest include Hakgala Botanical Garden, Seetha Amman Temple amd Victoria Park.

Nuwara Eliya’s Top 10

10. Victoria Park is a lush public park and prime spot for bird-watchers.	5. Seetha Amman Temple is a marvelous Hindu shrine.
9. HeritanceTeaFactory is a grand old landmark and the best hotel in Nuwara Eliya.	4. Nuwara Eliya Golf Club dates back to the late 19th century. An incomparable Hill Country colonial landmark.
8. Pidurutalagala Forest Reserve, home to the dominant mountain in Sri Lanka, is on the doorstep of Nuwara Eliya.	3. Pedro Tea Estate still produces tea much the same way it did well over a century ago.
7. The Hill Club is a time warp of a colonial private resort.	2. Hakgala Botanical Garden is one of only three botanical gardens in Sri Lanka and abuts Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve.
6. Single Tree Hill provides the best base for a stroll in Nuwara Eliya.	1. Horton Plains National Park is part of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nuwara Eliya Events

Day trips to the remote corners of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, from the Peak Wilderness Protected Area to Horton Plains National Park and the Knuckles Conservation Forest, often set off from Nuwara Eliya.

Tea plantations in the area all offer tours of one kind or another.

The Sinhalese and Tamil New Year in April is a festive time in Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya Race Course holds various events throughout the year.

When To Go

Some hill resorts provide only brief respite from the tropical heat. Not so Nuwara Eliya, where the high altitude and temperate climate locks annual average temperatures in from 45°F (7°C) to 72°F (22°C).

A far cry from Colombo indeed and a docile, amenable base for outdoor treks through the Central Highland hills and national parks.

There is rain of course - a good 92 in (2,362 mm) worth over the course of the average year. The low precipitation period is from January to May.

Getting Around

Nuwara Eliya, like the rest of non-coastal Sri Lanka, can be a bit of a slog from Colombo by car. The 100 mi (160 km) journey takes 2.5 hours on paper but in practice, can take as long as 6 hours. Blame poor infrastructure, weather and traffic.

Rail transport is not more efficient but is more comfortable and scenic than a coach bus or car. A good swath of Sri Lanka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason and the train is the best way to see why. Visitors can ride the rails from Colombo to Nanu Oya (13.6 miles or 22 km from Nuwara Eliya, with ample bus access from the station), via Kandy or direct.

Nuwara Eliya is small and poses no problems for pedestrians. For short trips outside of town, a three-wheel taxi or bus serves very well.

Nuwara Eliya Information

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