How to Enjoy Your First Visit to Nuwara Eliya – Explore Sri Lanka’s Little England
Nuwara Eliya is one of the most visited places in Sri Lanka due to its awesome climate, wonderful natural attractions, and amazing tourist spots. If this is your first trip to Sri Lanka’s Little England, you might be confused about what to keep an eye out for. Here is a guide on how to make the best out of your trip.
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When to visit
The ideal time of year to visit Nuwara Eliya is between February and April. Fewer showers are expected, and milder weather prevails. Both these features are perfect for exploring the outdoors in the city. The temperature rotates between 10°C and 20°C, so it is not too harsh on the visitors. You also get some festive activities like flower shows, horse races and Sinhala and Tamil New Year Celebrations happening there during this period. Therefore, crowds throng the city during this time, so it would be wise to book any accommodation you might have in mind early to avoid disappointment.
How to get around the city
There are many transport options to take to Nuwara Eliya. One of the favourites is a scenic train ride. You will feast your eyes on many gorgeous locations on your trip there. Make sure to get down at the Nanu Oya Station and take a tuk-tuk, which will reach the town in around 18 minutes.
If you are travelling from Colombo, you can take the bus services. These travel through Kandy or Hatton to Nuwara Eliya. Intercity buses are ideal for comfortable travelling. These generally reach the destination in around six hours.
Where to visit and what to do
There are plenty of places to visit and activities to engage in this beautiful city. At the top of the list is a visit to tea plantations. Pedro Tea Estate is one of the most famous places you can visit to learn about the tea-making process. Anyone who is a nature lover and loves trekking should visit Horton Plains National Park. It is a great place to experience nature’s beauty.
You can also visit scenic cascades like St. Clair's Falls, which is known as one of the widest waterfalls in the country. Other famous waterfalls you can visit include Devon Falls and Bomburu Ella Waterfall. Hakgala Botanical Garden is another place where you can enjoy nature’s wonders. It is one of the country’s five main botanical gardens. You will be able to witness thousands of flowers in bloom there if you travel there between mid-March and April.
Where to stay
You get a wide choice of accommodations in Nuwara Eliya, ranging from budget-friendly hotels to opulent resorts. Find an accommodation based on your budget, preferences and amenities on offer. There are many hotel offers in Nuwara Eliya, which can be located especially during the off-peak season, which falls from October to February and has chilly temperatures.
You also get choices in lodgings, which are hidden amid some of the most stunning natural settings, as well as city hotels, which are located close to the city’s bustling town region. So if you wish to do a lot of exploring in Nuwara Eliya, it is best to position yourself in an accommodation close to these attractions. Consider staying at a property like Araliya Green Hills, which is just a stone’s throw away from all the locations mentioned above.
What to eat
You get all the local specialities available in Nuwara Eliya. A feature of the local cuisine is that it uses a lot of spices. Many of these use coconut milk as an ingredient. Try sampling some traditional rice and curry here. Other local dishes you can try include vegetable roti (stir-fried stuffed vegetable dough), kottu roti (flatbread pieces mixed with vegetables, meat, fish or eggs with sauces), string hoppers (steamed rice noodle patties) and watalappan (milk, jaggery an egg dessert).
