Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka: travel guide
A cool hill station of tea estates, colonial villas and Horton Plains
"Little England" — a cool-climate hill station amid emerald tea estates, colonial bungalows, Gregory Lake and gateway to Horton Plains.
About Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya sits high in the central hills, where the air is noticeably cooler and the surrounding slopes are covered in tea. Its colonial-era villas, flower beds and old clubs earned it the nickname Little England.
Things to do include visiting a tea estate, walking by Gregory Lake and Victoria Park, and seeing Hakgala Botanical Garden or the Seetha Amman Temple. Horton Plains National Park, with its cliff edge known as World's End, is the main day trip and is best done early in the morning.
It suits travellers who want cooler weather and green scenery. The driest period is generally January to March, while April brings a busy local holiday season.
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Currency
- LKR
- Time zone
- Asia/Colombo
- Typical trip
- 2-3 days
Last updated
Top places to visit in Nuwara Eliya
Horton Plains National Park (World's End)
national-park · 4.6 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate
A windswept highland plateau of cloud forest and grassland with the dramatic World's End escarpment (a 870 m sheer drop) and Baker's Falls, on a 9 km loop trail.
Victoria Park
urban-park · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
A beautifully kept Victorian-era town park, prized by birdwatchers for Himalayan migrants and ablaze with seasonal flowers.
Hakgala Botanical Garden
botanical-garden · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A high-altitude garden on the slopes of Hakgala rock, with terraced beds of roses, ferns and a Ramayana-linked Sita Eliya setting.
Seetha Amman Temple
hindu-temple · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A colourful Hindu temple at Sita Eliya believed in the Ramayana to be where Sita was held captive, beside a stream with curious "footprint" marks.
Moon Plains
grassland-viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A scenic grassland plateau reached by 4x4, with a "mini World's End" viewpoint over five provinces and free-roaming deer and buffalo.
Gregory Lake
lake · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A colonial-era reservoir at the centre of town with pedal boats, jet-skis, pony rides and a lakeside promenade — the hub of Nuwara Eliya leisure.
Single Tree Hill
hill-viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The highest viewpoint around Nuwara Eliya, an easy walk to a lone tree with sweeping views over the town, lake and tea valleys.
Pedro Tea Estate
tea-estate · 3.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A working hillside tea estate and factory just outside town offering guided tours of the plucking-to-packing process, ending with a fresh cuppa.
Things to do
- Horton Plains & World's End Guided Trek Nature · 5 h · from LKR 42,200 per person
- Gregory Lake Boating & Pony Rides Water Sports · 1 h · from LKR 8,800 per person
Day trips and tours
- Nuwara Eliya & Horton Plains Day Tour 10 h · from LKR 49,300
Where to stay in Nuwara Eliya
- Town Centre about LKR 16,000 per night
Central Nuwara Eliya with colonial hotels, the racecourse and easy access to markets and tea estates.
- Gregory Lake about LKR 18,000 per night
Lakeside area for boating, pony rides and family-friendly stays just south of town.
Hotels
- Heritance Tea Factory 5-star · LKR 35,000 to LKR 62,000 per night
- Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya 5-star · LKR 30,000 to LKR 55,000 per night
- Jetwing St. Andrew's 4-star · LKR 28,000 to LKR 48,000 per night
- Araliya Green Hills Hotel 4-star · LKR 24,000 to LKR 42,000 per night
- Oak Ray Tea Bush Hotel 3-star · LKR 12,000 to LKR 22,000 per night
- Laughing Leopard Hostel
Where to eat
- Grand Indian Indian · about LKR 2,500 per person
- Milano Restaurant Sri Lankan, Chinese · about LKR 1,800 per person
- Salmiya Restaurant Sri Lankan · about LKR 1,200 per person
- The Hill Club Dinner British, International · about LKR 5,000 per person
Getting to Nuwara Eliya
Nearest airport: Colombo (CMB), about 103 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
How visitors arrive in Nuwara Eliya
- Road from Kandy by car or bus By road from Kandy · common
Buses and cars run up from Kandy into the hill country; the road is narrow and winding. Source: roughguides.com
From the railway station to the centre
- Tuk-tuk or taxi from Nanu Oya station
Nanu Oya station is about 8 km from the town, so visitors take a tuk-tuk or taxi onward. Source: roughguides.com
Getting around
- Car With Driver
- Tuktuk
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Overpriced Horton Plains taxi
Nuwara Eliya
Drivers quote very high one-off fares for the early Horton Plains run, exploiting the dawn start.
How to avoid it: Arrange the trip through your guesthouse the night before at a fair rate (~LKR 6000-9000 return per vehicle).
Best time to visit Nuwara Eliya
- Jan 20°C
- Feb 21°C
- Mar 22°C
- Apr 23°C
- May 22°C
- Jun 19°C
- Jul 19°C
- Aug 19°C
- Sep 20°C
- Oct 20°C
- Nov 20°C
- Dec 19°C
More in Sri Lanka
Frequently asked questions about Nuwara Eliya
- How many days do you need in Nuwara Eliya?
- A typical trip to Nuwara Eliya is 2-3 days.
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Nuwara Eliya?
- The highest-rated places in our Nuwara Eliya guide are Horton Plains National Park (World's End), Seetha Amman Temple, Gregory Lake, Hakgala Botanical Garden, Moon Plains.
- Where should I stay in Nuwara Eliya?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Nuwara Eliya: Town Centre, Gregory Lake.
- How do I get around Nuwara Eliya?
- Ways to get around Nuwara Eliya covered in our guide: Car with driver, Tuk-tuk, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Nuwara Eliya?
- Scams reported to us for Nuwara Eliya include Overpriced Horton Plains taxi. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Nuwara Eliya?
- Average daytime highs in Nuwara Eliya run from 19°C in Jul to 23°C in Apr.