Нувара-Элия

Understand

thumbnail|Nuwara Eliya Post Office thumbnail|Racecourse at Nuwara Eliya The city was founded by British explorer Samuel Baker in 1846. Nuwara Eliya (which literally means 'city of lights') was built as a hill country retreat where the British colonialists could immerse themselves in pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket. Many of the buildings retain features from the colonial period such as the Queen's Cottage, General's House, Grand Hotel, Hill Club, St Andrew's Hotel and Post Office. New hotels are often built and furnished in the colonial style. Visitors to the city can wallow in its nostalgia of bygone days by visiting its landmark buildings. Many private homes maintain their old English-style lawns and gardens.

Get around

The town centre is small enough to walk around. To visit sites further afield, take a bus or hire a three-wheeler. A tuktuk within town (e.g. from city center to Pedro Tea Factory) should cost around Rs 700 (2024).

The same caveat applies to touring around the area as for getting there. Assume that you'll not exceed 20 km/h no matter what the mode of (ground) transport. So plan any excursions carefully, and don't assume that you can cover more than about 100 km in a day, including stops.

Do

Take a walk up through the tea plantations south-west of the town to the top of Single Tree Hill for a splendid view over Nuwara Eliya. From the hill top you can walk north for a couple of kilometres along the ridgetop to a nearby village and get a tuk-tuk/three-wheeler or walk back to town. Playing golf is also an option at , along with heading to the (the only proper ones in Sri Lanka). These are both traditions left over from the colonial era. Take a train trip from Nanu Oya towards Kandy. For the colonial experience book a 1st class ticket in the observation car. For an authentic local experience book a 3rd class ticket and hang out of the door of the carriage.

Buy

Buy postcards and stamps from the famous old post office.

Go next

Badulla — final station on the railway road Colombo — capital Ella — beautiful mountains similar to Nuwara Eliya Horton Plains and World's End offer fascinating walks though this temperate mountain environment, with an 800m vertical drop to be found at World's End. Kandy