Places to Visit

 Haggala Botanical Garden.......................................................................................................

10 km on the Badulla Road.The Garden was first established in 1860 under the curatorship of three Britishers of the same name - William Nock, JK Nocl and JJ Nock. It lies under the Hakgala Peak, between 5000-6000 feet in elevation - the highest set Botanical Gardens in the world. It boasts 100 year old Monetary Cypress trees from California, Japanese Cedars, Himalayan Pines and English Oak.

The Botanical Garden is first as a cinchona plantation and then adapted to an experimental garden for the acclimatization of plants from temperate zones in the tropics. Here can be found all the flowers of an English cottage garden in spring and summer, and much else besides - such as the oldest tea-bush in the island, an ornamental pond and quaint summerhouse. Hakgala (Jaw Rock) rises a sheet 1500 ft/460 meters and offers one of the most stunning views ever. Legend says it was part of the Himalayas carried here by the Monkey God - Hanuman in his quest to help God-Rama rescue Goddess - Sita from the demon king - Ravana. Sita-Eliya, site of Sita's imprisonment, stands a mere mile away, with the 'Sita Amman Kovil' close by.

Gregory Lake ............................................................................................................................

 Lake Gregory is one of the significant tourist attractions in Nuwara Eliya. It was built by the Governor William Gregory during 1872 – 1877 periods by utilizing the water from the Nanuoya which runs across the town. It is about 91.2 hectares in extent. It was said to be used for water sports and for re-recreational activities during the British rule.

A boat yard now allows visitors to go boating and rowing.







Queen Victoria Park.................................................................................................................

 The Victoria Park of Nuwara Eliya said to be named to comorate the 60th Jubilee Coronation of Queen Victoria in the year 1897. Originally the park was used as the research field of Haggala Botanical Garden which is located about 04 km away from the city centre. It is known that this park was established by planting an Oak tree by a German Princes who visited Nuwara Eliya at the latter part of the 19th Century.

The park is 27 acres in extent and about 90% of the tree species available are those of foreign plants. Nanu Oya which flows through the park and a number of lakes within it enhances its beauty. A large number of rare bird species can be found in the park. The park is a great tourist attraction in Nuwara Eliya. It was estimated that over 100,000 local visitors as well as around 4000 – 5000 foreign tourists visit the Victoria Park every year. Victoria Park is an attractive and well-used oasis. It is popular with birdwatchers at quieter times because of the good opportunities it gives to see Indian Blue Robin, Pled Thrush or Scaly Thrush lurking in the denser undergrowth. Kashmir Flycatcher is another attractive bird species found in the park.

Galway’s Land Bird Sanctuary  

 A beautiful land area covering an extent of 57.6 hectares of land in Nuwara Eliya had been gazetted as a Bird sanctuary in the year 1938. This bird sanctuary attracts about 20 species of very rare foreign birds and about 30 species of Sri Lankan birds. Most of the endemic bird species as well as migrant bird species could be seen at this sanctuary. In addition to the birds this park has valuable tree species of both foreign and local.

Nuwara Eliya Golf Club.............................................................................................

Walking distance from the town center spread over 90 acres, over a hundred years old (built in 1891), the 18 holes golf course is one of Nuwara Eliya’s biggest attractions. It is reputed to be the only Golf Course where all the holes are visible from the Club House or accessible by car. In the old British cemetery at the rear of the Club House is the memorial to Major Rogers, the elephant hunter credited with killing around 1500 elephants.






 Horton Plains ..............................................................................................................................

 Nuwara-Eliya is the town base for visits to Horton Plains National Park. The journey from Nuwara-Eliya to Horton Plains only takes an hour. Horton Plains National Park is the only Nations Park situated in the hill country and the highest plateau in the island consisting of grassland interspersed with patches of forest, with some unusual high altitude vegetation and an excellent excursion and a paradise for nature lovers, hikers and bird watching.
It falls within the Nuwara-Eliya District 200Km away from Colombo, the capital city. The panoramic beauty of the hill country is witnessed within the park. The Plains are a beautiful, silent, strange world with some excellent walks.
The grassy plains still host many other wild lives. Species found here include Leopard, Sambar and the endemic Purple-faced Langur. Endemic highland birds include Dull-blue Flycatcher, Sri Lanka White-eye, and Yellow-eared Bulbul.
The most stunning place is the World's End, where the southern Horton Plains suddenly ends, and drops off to nearly 1050 meters, when is an awesome sight indeed. This shear drop offers a breathtaking view of the land below on clear days. This is a favorite place fro trekkers, as there are plenty of soft and hard trails.
Early morning visits are essential, both to see the wildlife and to view World's End before mists close in during the later part of the morning.
Flora - Trees & shrubs; up to now 744 species of flowering plants has been identified in the area out of which 112 species are endemic, and 78 species are identified to be endangered. Being a grassland more than 50 species of grass has been identified, majority of which are endemic.
Fauna - 460 species of birds are recorded to be found in Sri Lanka, out of which 33 species are endemic - out of this number more than 100 species are confined to Horton Plains. 12 endemic species of these birds can be seen in Horton Plains. Mammals - more than 10 species of mammals could be seen in the area, and apart from these, some species of reptiles, amphibians and butterflies could be seen in the area.

The Ceylon Breweries ....................................................................................................................

The brewing of beer was started in Nuwara Eliya by Sir Samuel Baker in 1881 at Lover's Leap. It is an interesting visit, for the brewery is one of the finest in the island. It's been in business since 1884.

Sri Pada (Adam's Peak ) .........................................................................................................
  Hill climb of a different type to witness a spectacular sun rise or just for the thrill of the panoramic views of Sri Lanka or for pleasure. Not just a trail but a pilgrimage to a summit sacred to all of the world's major religions. The most popular hill trail in Sri Lanka. Its about 2200m above from sea level. The season is between December and April when the summit is not misty and relatively dry. The base of the climb on the Hatton side is about 2 hours from Nuwara Eliya

British Tombs ....................................................................................................................
Tombs of some distinguished Englishman who lived in Nuwara Eliya can be seen in front of the Golf Ground just few meters away from the existing bus stand of the town. A tomb has been erected in memory of a young person called Ebenisher Golder Manro (born 01st November 1814) and was killed by a wild buffalo on 24.01.1841 at Elephant Plain. He was identified as a son of Lt. John Manro who lived in Sri Lanka.

There is another tomb erected in memory of Sir William Rock who served the country as a Judge. He died at the age of 64 on 19.05.1838 in Nuwara Eliya. There is also an important tomb erected for an Englishman called Major Thomas Rodger who had a habit of hunting white elephants. He was said to be killed by an elephant in the jungle. Legends say this tomb had been continuously damaged over every four years due to highlighting on it which people believe has a mysterious curse. The tomb is now seen as cracked stone pieces. 

Oliphant Estate ............................................................................................................................

A visit to this estate, entrance from the road at the Ramboda end of Nuwara Eliya, is significant because it was here that the first thirty tea plants sent from China to Sri Lanka were planted by Mr. Laurence Oliphant, increasing his tea acreage to 100 acres.

Labookelle Tea Centre

The Labookelle tea center on Kandy road offers guided tours of the factory free of charge and also runs a sales outlet and a restaurant on site.






The Tea Cup ............................................................................................................................

 Enroute to Colombo via Hatton, about 10km from Hatton town towards Colombo The Tea Cup is easily recognizable by the large teacup in the front. Maintained by the Watawala Plantations Limited The Tea Cup offers brewed tea and snacks in addition to being a tea sales center. Toilets here were superbly clean.

The Tea Factory

An old tea factory turned into a fine hotel is about 30-45 minutes away at Kandapola. Managed by one of the largest hotel chains it offers good food and excellent accommodation.

St. Clair's Tea Centre.............................................................................................................

  Another sales outlet and a restaurant which also offers open seating, on the Hatton Road at Talawakale. Just above the St Clairs falls. There is a good viewing platform from the location.

Tracking and Hiking .......................................................................................................................

Nuwara Eliya offers good adventure sport locations because of its landscape.
Pidurutalagala (2550m) highest mountain peak of Sri Lanka is just north of the town. Though the summit is not open to the public, hiking is possible up to 7000ft. There are several water falls along the track.

Mountain - Piduruthalagala ........................................................................................................

This is the highest point in Sri Lanka, overlooking the town to the north. You cannot walk to the top anymore but there is a small path off Water field Drive that leads to a waterfall. From there, the hikers can follow the river up via seven more waterfalls - a neat hike for adventurous folk! This journey goes as far as the 7000 foot marker.

Sri Pada (Adam's Peak ) - The Pilgrim Path .........................................................................

This is through Gampola and Ginigathhena and you will find the story of this old path carved on two rocks off the 28th milestone on the Nawalapitiya - Ambagamuwa road. The spot is called Akuruketupana and the inscription dates to around 1100AD. Today there are four other roads to the peak, the shortest being via Maskeliya and the most popular. Other roads are on the Sabaragamuwa side.

The Nissangala Lena on the road to Sri Pada (Adam's Peak)...............................................
This is believed the cave in the mountainside, where King Keerthi Sri Nissanka buried a great treasure, including his regalia. It is only after one passes this cave and enters the forest that one comes to the Sita Gangula, a holy river of ice cold water, where pilgrims bathe and put on white garments, before continuing their journey to the peak.

City Viewing Point - Shanthipura..............................................................................................
This is marvelous point to view the entire Nuwara-Eliya city. Shanthipura is the village which is situated in highest spot of Sri Lanka.

Pedro Tea Factory ..................................................................................................................

This factory is the only factory in such close proximity to the town of Nuwara-Eliya. One of the most modern factories, producing the highest priced tea that is popular all over the world, manufacture of which could be observed at Pedro Tea Factory.