Is there anything better than waking up in the lap of Mother Nature? With birds chirping, flowers smiling and nature moves in a perfect rhythm. Nuwara Eliya is one of those picturesque town where Mother Nature is found at its best. This town is also referred as ‘Little England’ for it’s colonial architecture and English country village feels.
Below you will find a quick guide to Nuwara Eliya’s places to visit, where to eat, how to get from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and how to get around this town along with some additional tips to make your journey a memorable one.
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THINGS TO DO IN NUWARA ELIYA :
Nuwara Eliya can be literally translated into ‘City of Lights’ and is the coolest town in Srilanka. Everything here is comparatively different in looks than other cities in this country and it’s clearly evident on entering this city. Many movies were shot in this town as it has vast and beautiful landscapes as far as the eyes can go! Below are the list of things you can do in this toy-town.
GREGORY LAKE
One of the picturesque lakes is situated just few km away from the center of this town and is also called as the Gregory Lake. Lot’s of people had started visiting this lake which led to it’s commercialization. Therefore, several activities were started inside the lake premises. Inside and around this lake, there are several food stalls, options for boating, playing in the garden, horse-riding and walking. It’s a great way to chill in Nuwara Eliya.
Tip : Having said everything above, entrance to this lake is a bit costly especially if you’re on a tight budget.
· Sita Temple:
According to mythology, Sita was placed at this temple by Ravana on her abduction. Therefore lots of Hinduism followers especially the Indian travelers are keen on visiting this temple due to it’s importance in the Hindu mythology. The temple and the statues inside are meticulously constructed with a river flowing besides this temple. On entering, one will find footprints of Lord Hanuman. These footprints are said to be the original ones. This is the unique feature of this Sita temple.
P.S : My camera’s battery was dead, and i couldn’t click a picture !
· Hanuman Temple
Enroute Nuwara Eliya one can visit the Hanuman temple located on the side of a hill from where the view of the valley below is absolutely breath-taking. One can see lakes and mountains surrounding these lakes, below. This temple has mythological importance among the followers of Hinduism as it’s believed that Lord Hanuman landed at this place first in search of Sita. It’s worth a stop-over on the long and winding tea plantation roads with quick tour inside the temple.
· Tea estates
Have you ever heard of Ceylon tea? If yes, then you must be knowing that it is produced in Sri-Lanka. Although, its been years that the name of this country was changed, They have still retained their original name in tea production. Ceylon Tea is very popular all over this country. One will find it almost in every store. What if I say you actually can see the process while you’re in Nuwara eliya? Yes, there are several tea estates in and around this town, which takes you through the entire process of tea production. Right from picking up the tea in the farms till packaging. You can experience all of it right at their factory.
TIP : Refrain from buying teas directly from the factory as they sell it at a very high cost.
· Strolling around.
Nuwara Eliya is a great place to walk around. The weather coupled with huge trees and greenery takes you in a completely different zone. At every step, nature surprises us with it’s beauty. Along with walking, there are several opportunities for bird watching. Go grab your camera. What are you waiting for?
TIP : If you have time & are adventurous kind, then you can trek in Nuwara Eliya. There are several trekking routes. The famous one being Horton Plains National Park and hike to World’s End.
I wish I could do these hikes. but unfortunately there was no time for the same. Hopefully one day I’ll get a chance to hike in this town.
HOW TO REACH :
There are two different ways to reach Nuwara Eliya. One is by roadways and another by railway. The best way to start this journey would be from Kandy for both the modes of transport. I traveled by roadways and it took me just 2-3 hours to reach this town.
However, if you plan to go by train, then buy train tickets on the spot as trains sometimes get cancelled due to bad weather. It’s better to buy tickets for the early morning train rides in order to enjoy the view outside. It tends to gets dark faster so refrain from taking the afternoon trains.
HOW TO TRAVEL WITHIN THIS TOWN :
You can do that either by public transport or by pvt car. There are various tuk-tuks around. However the best way honestly would be to walk down whenever possible. This would give you an opportunity to experience this city at your own pace and also marvel at the abundance of natural beauty, it has to offer. Also, check out the places to stay in Nuwara ELiya
WHERE TO EAT :
Street shops in the market , Hands down!
CONCLUSION :
Nuwara Eliya is a must visit place if you’re in Sri lanka. Also, It’s one of my favorite towns and I’d recommend anyone to visit. It’s definitely a stop that you should add to your Sri Lankan itinerary. I believe, one can easily spend an entire week in this city lazing around and relaxing. Well, at least I could!
If you’ve already visited, do share your experiences with me! Let’s share stories. Also, Subscribe to the newsletter at the end of the page to receive new posts directly in your inbox. Also, don’t forget to share among your friends.
very informative and beautiful pictures
Thank you! 😀