Traveling to Sri Lanka anytime soon? Here are 10 places to visit in Nuwara Eliya.
Sri Lanka, a beautiful coastal country, has a lot of tourist destinations. One of them is Sri Lanka’s “Little England,” or Nuwara Eliya. Cool climate, mesmerizing landscapes, and tea plantations feel no less than heaven.
This article covers the most beautiful spots in Nuwara Eliya. These locations will make your trip memorable. Also, you will get to see a new side of Sri Lanka through Nuwara Eliya.
Queen Victoria Park
First and foremost, visit Queen Victoria Park. The park has existed since 1873. Earlier, it was treated as a part of the botanical garden. But later, it was made a separate park.
The entry fee for Queen Victoria Park is LKR 300, and timings are from 7 am to 7 pm. You can take a walk, sit, relax, and reflect on your thoughts. You can start your day early by taking a walk in this garden.
The garden has beautiful flowers. If you are lucky, you will spot many rare species of birds here. If this interests you, Queen Victoria Park is something you should not miss.
Seetha Amman Kovil
It is time to move to a religious destination. This is the temple of Sita Mata, a Hindu deity. This is the only temple of Mata Sita in Sri Lanka. As per the Hindu epic Ramayana, Nuwara Eliya is an important location. There are a lot of stories on this one.
The soil here is black. And the temple now belongs to Lord Ram and Lakshman, along with Mata Sita. The temple timings are 8 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6.30 pm. Though there is no entry fee, if you want to perform a special prayer or ritual, you need to pay LKR 200.
Locally, it is called Sita Eliya. The location of this temple in itself is very beautiful. Surrounded by Ashoka trees and hills, the view is stunning.
Horton Plains National Park
20 km to the south of Nuwara Eliya lies Horton Plains National Park. The status of the park was designated in 1988. Montane grassland and cloud forest are part of this national park.
The national park is home to many endemic species of plants. The Horton Plains are the farthest point of three major rivers of Sri Lanka, the Mahaweli, Kelani, and Walawe. The plain is an important archaeological site, as stone tools have been discovered from here.
The most beautiful spots in this national park are World’s End and Baker’s Falls. The visiting hours of Horton Plains National Park are 6 am to 4 pm every day. The ticket price varies depending on your group. If you are the only person visiting, then you need to pay $43. It also includes fees of a local driver. For 3 foreign adults and a local driver, entry fee is $103.
Nuwara Eliya Post Office
You must be wondering why is post office a tourist attraction. It is one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka. It is a two-story building built in Tudor-style using red bricks. It was constructed by the British in 1894.
The clock spire makes it look even more beautiful. Tourists are allowed to see the post office even from inside but only from 8 am to 4.30 p.m. As of now, there are debates on the use of the post office.
It is given as guest accommodation. If you are unable to book a stay here, you can still visit the post office. You can also purchase souvenirs from the shop there.
Lake Gregory
Lake Gregory is named after former British Governor, Sir William Gregory. It is a reservoir amidst the greenery. You can enjoy a boat ride on the lake. You can also sit calmly and let the breeze relax you.
The lake also has an open aerodrome for seaplanes. Built back in 1873, Lake Greogory is an artificial lake that was originally built for the purpose of generating electricity. The ticket price for foreign adults is LKR 200.
To roam around, you can rent a bicycle for LKR 100 per hour. The visiting hours of Lake Gregory are 8 am to 9 pm. For a boat ride, you will have to pay LKR 500, and for a 15 minutes of pony ride, you need to pay LKR 300.
Hakgala Botanical Garden
On the slopes of Hakgala Rock, lies the Hakgala Botanical Garden. It is home to a diverse collection of flora from across the globe. It is spread over 28 hectares and has roses, ferns, orchids, medicinal plants, and much more.
The botanical garden is part of the legend of Ramayana, the Hindu epic. But if sources are to be believed, the botanical garden was established by Dr. Thawaites and Mr. Nock in 1891.
7.30 am to 5 pm are the visiting hours of the Hakgala Botanical Garden. The entry fee to the botanical garden is LKR 1500 for adults and LKR 750 for children. The climate here is often cool, and the botanical garden is 16 km away from Nuwara Eliya.
Devon Falls
The most stunning waterfall in Sri Lanka is Devon Falls. as it falls from a height of 97 metres, it is also called the “Veil of the Valley”. Devon Falls is the 19th highest waterfall of Sri Lanka.
A popular British coffee planter, Devon, has his coffee plantations just near the falls. Hence, this gives the falls their name. If you are traveling through the A7 highway, you will get a spectacular view of the falls. the roadside has a viewpoint where you can take a halt and enjoy the falls.
The best time to see the falls is during rainy season. Once you visit the Devon Falls, you will realize that you are witnessing one of the most scenic views.
Pedro Tea Center and Factory
Sri Lanka is famous for its tea and coffee plantations. No visit to Nuwara Eliya is complete without trying the famous Ceylon-tea. Pedro Tea Center and Factory allows its visitors to see how tea is processed. You get firsthand tea-making experience.
From plucking leaves to finally packing them, you can witness it all. You can also taste the tea, which has authentic Ceylon flavor and a strong aroma. The best time to visit her would be from 8 am to 12.30 pm or after 2 pm.
You can walk around the tea plantations and take part in plucking tea. If not, you can simply sit amidst the aroma of tea. You need to pay LKR 250 as the entry fee to Pedro Tea Center and Factory.
Strawberry garden
Just 10 km away from Nuwara Eliya lie strawberry gardens. The best time to visit here is 8 am to 6 pm. You need to pay entry fee, which is under LKR 100. You can pluck strawberries or buy the already plucked ones.
The fresh strawberries taste definitely better, especially if you yourself pluck them. It is the cool climate of Nuwara Eliya that provides perfect conditions for cultivating strawberries.
You can get your photoshoot done in the strawberry garden. You can also just visit, walk, and explore the strawberry plantations. There are many strawberry farms around Nuwara Eliya. You can go to either of them. Most of them have similar pieces, and they allow visitors to pluck strawberries.
New Zealand Farm
Want to experience New Zealand’s charm in Nuwara Eliya? Visit the New Zealand Farm. This estate is home to lush pastures, grazing cattle, and horse riding. The New Zealand Farm is just a little drive from Nuwara Eliya.
The farm rears a pure breed of Friesian cows. The best time to visit here is between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. Once you enter, you will feel like you are really in New Zealand. Buy a ticket for LKR 250 to enter the farm.
Conclusion
This was it about 10 places to visit in Nuwara Eliya. When you visit the Little England of Sri Lanka, don’t forget to explore these 10 places. Nuwara Eliya has a cool climate, so you can visit here anytime.
From strawberries to horseback riding and religious places, Nuwara Eliya has it all. This is why you will see that it is often filled with tourists. There are various sites near Nuwara that you can explore if you have enough time.
