The beautiful city is nestled in the heart of the tea country hills of Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is often referred to as ‘Mini London’. There are many places to visit in Nuwara Eliya. The city is quiet and peaceful and offers a perfect getaway from city life. Nuwara Eliya is surrounded by tea hills and mountains with greenery over large acres.
Nuwara Eliya is one of the most exuberant cities in Sri Lanka. You can enjoy various types of tea, chase waterfalls which are hidden across the city or visit popular temples around the region.
The city is a beautiful countryside place for people who would love a quiet weekend amidst nature. The town side still gives a feel of the British era in the country.
You can check out my complete Sri Lanka Travel Guide.
Here’s a list of my favorite places to visit in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.
Things I take on my Travels
Places to Visit in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.
1 – Ramboda Falls
Luckily for me, I planned to stay at the Ramboda falls hotel. The hotel is just beside the cascading Ramboda falls. If you are visiting places in Nuwara Eliya you should definitely visit the beautiful waterfalls around the city.
One such waterfall is the Ramboda waterfalls. The beautiful views around the falls will surely charm your mood up. There are several treks to the tea plantations to the nearby hills.
The Ramboda falls is located on the road between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. Other popular falls near the city are St. Claire’s Falls, Laxapana Falls, Aberdeen Falls, Bomburu Ella Falls, Devon Falls, Lover’s Leap, Glenn Falls, and more.
Entry Fee: None
Highlights: The beauty of the falls accentuates in the monsoon season.
Location: A5, Ramboda, Sri Lanka
Timings: Open 24 hours
2- Visit the Tea Plantations of Nuwara Eliya
One of the many reasons travelers come to Sri Lanka is to visit the Tea plantations and try the variety of tea. Nuwara Eliya has endless hills of Tea Plantations. There are many tea plantations and factories in Nuwara Eliya that it is actually difficult to choose to visit the particular one.
Most of the Tea plantations offer free tours of the factory or even free tea for the tourists. Visiting a tea plantation is one of the most amazing things to do in Nuwara Eliya.
Try some Ceylon tea, even though you aren’t a tea person. It’s a perfect place to try out fresh tea and its different flavors.
Entry Fees – Depends on the place you visit. It’s usually around 100 LKR.
Highlights: You can take a 20-minute guided tour of the plantation factories, originally built during the British Era.
Timings – Opening from 9 AM – 6 PM
3 – Visit Lake Gregory
Lake Gregory is the most famous place to visit in Nuwara Eliya. The lake is a little far away from the center of the city. There are many games and parks for children. People come here to relax and take some time off.
You can just relax nearby the lake or enjoy the houseboat and other facilities at Gregory Lake. The scenic beauty around the lake amazing.
Entry Fees: INR 90/- adult
Highlights: This lake is famous for tourists who enjoy spending time with nature.
Location: Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
4- Trek around the hills in Nuwara Eliya
There are some of the most scenic treks you can do in Nuwara Eliya. Some of the most famous treks are Moon Plains, Kudahagala (4th Tallest Mountain), Thotupola Kanda (3rd Highest Mountain), Pidurutalagala (The tallest Mountain).
Some of the treks require guides and are physically challenging. The views from the summit will surely not be disappointing. Trekking is one of the amazing things you can do in Nuwara Eliya.
Entry Fee: None
Location: Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
Timings: 8 AM to 4 PM
5 – Take the Train Ride from Ella to Nuwara Eliya
I would definitely recommend you to take this scenic train ride. It is one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. If you are traveling from Ella, you can take this short train ride to Nuwara Eliya.
If you are traveling from Kandy, you can take the train ride up to Nanu Oya railway station. You can then take a cab to the city.
You can read my complete blog here – World’s Most Scenic Train Ride
Other Important Places to visit in Nuwara Eliya
1 – Nuwara Eliya Golf Club
2- Galway’s Land National Park
3- Victoria Park
4 – Hakgala Botanical Garden
5 – Horton Plain National Park
Places to Stay in Nuwara Eliya
The city has hotels and dorms for all types of travelers. You can choose from luxurious hotels overlooking the hillside tea plantations or Hostels/ dorms if you are backpacking in Sri Lanka.
You can read my full blog on Places to Stay in Sri Lanka.
How to Reach Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is situated around 175 km away from Colombo. Travelers can likewise utilize Local transport such as Buses or trains, either through Hatton or Kandy. There are a few intercity means of transport operating from Colombo to Hatton and Kandy consistently and there are local buses from Hatton and Kandy that will take you to Nuwara Eliya.
Read my full blog on 18 must-do things in Sri Lanka in one week.
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