Hill Of Nuwara Eliya

 

Situated at around 2000m above sea level and surrounded by lush tea plantations Nuwara Eliya is the main hill resort of Sri Lanka and the heart of the tea industry. Once a pleasure retreat of the European planters the town is still very much an English town with many English style bungalows and buildings. Nuwara Eliya is a good escape for those who miss cool breeze in tropical Sri Lanka at any time of the year. Local tourists flock to this town in their 'season' from March to May when it is the hottest duration for the town, April being the busiest. Nuwara Eliya offers many activities for tourists including visits to tea plantations golfing, horse riding, boating, hiking and of course exploring the beauty of the landscaped gardens, waterfalls and plateaus.

The Tea Country Sri Lanka is one of the world's largest exporters of tea. Since the introduction of tea to Sri Lanka in mid 19the century Nuwara Eliya has been the capital of the tea industry. For many miles prior to reaching Nuwara Eliya from either direction you will find acres and acres of tea plantations, infact nothing but tea estates. There are many factories open for visitor's which also have tea sales outlets.
Labookelle Tea Centre The Labookelle tea center on Kandy road offers guided tours of the factory free of charge and also runs a sales outlet and a restaurant on site.	The Tea Cup Enroute to Colombo via Hatton, about 10km from Hatton town towards Colombo The Tea Cup is easily recognizable by the large teacup in the front. Maintained by the Watawala Plantations Limited The Tea Cup offers brewed tea and snacks in addition to being a tea sales center. Toilets here were superbly clean.
The Tea Factory An old tea factory turned into a fine hotel is about 30-45 minutes away at Kandapola. Managed by one of the largest hotel chains it offers good food and excellent accommodation.	St. Clair's Tea Centre Another sales outlet and a restaurant which also offers open seating, on the Hatton Road at Talawakale. Just above the St Clairs falls. There is a good viewing platform from the location
Sports and Adventure Victoria Park in the town itself is good for strolls. Boating at Gregory Lake is available at the boat house on the Badulla Road. Pony and Horse riding is available at the turf club of Nuwara Eliya also situated within the city. Regular monthly races are scheduled from August 2002.
Nuwara Eliya Golf Club Walking distance from the town center, built in 1891 the club offers 18 hole course for a green fee of about Rs 1500. Could rent clubs, shoes and buy old balls.   Water Falls There are many popular water falls around the town. Many could be visited as a part of trekking and/or hiking expeditions. Ramboda Falls - 329 ft. is also an attraction in this area Devon Falls drops 97 metres and is named after Devon, a pioneer coffee planter. It is 6 Km west of Thalawakelle and there is a special parking and view Laksapana Falls - off the Nuwara Eliya - Kandapola Road. The Nuwara Eliya beer is brewed from the water of the stream. Hortain Plains Hortain Plains A national park, Sri Lanka's highest plateau is an excellent excursion and a paradise for nature lovers, hikers and bird watching. The grassy plains still host many other wild lives. Also within the park are the World's End, a shear drop of 1000m offers a breathtaking view of the land below on clear days, Bakers Falls and and trails for hikers.   To and From About 76 km from Kandy or 180km form Colombo. For those who are traveling from Colombo there are two main routes, one via Kandy and the other via Hatton. Most public buses go via Kandy. But the road via Hatton is less busy. Both roads are narrow and winding with sharp bend and beautiful sceneries. Train is not the quickest way but will be more comfortable because of the gradual ascendancy. Train travelers must get off at Nanu Oya (about 20Km from Nuwara Eliya) and could take a private van (Rs 125 - 150) to the town. Observation trains offers a chance to view the beautiful scenery. Road Distances to Other Major Towns in . km Colombo 180 Kandy 76 Badulla 56 Ratnapura 148	Golf Course   Hill Club A member's only club, however visitor's could apply for temporary membership for use of the facilities. A dress code applies for dining where you could borrow appropriate clothes. No jeans allowed. There is also a golf course and tennis courts   Tracking and Hiking Nuwara Eliya offers good adventure sport locations because of it's landscape. Pidurutalagala (2550m) Highest mountain peak of Sri Lanka is just north of the town. Though the summit is not open to the public, hiking is possible up to 7000ft. There are several water falls along the track. Hakgala. Botanical Gardens is about 10Km from the town   Sri Pada Hill climb of a different type to witness a spectacular sun rise or just for the thrill of the panoramic views of Sri Lanka or for pleasure . Not just a trail but a pilgrimage to a summit sacred to all of the world's major religions. The most popular hill trail in Sri Lanka to 2200m above sea level. The season is between December and April when the summit is not misty and relatively dry. The base of the climb on the Hatton side is about 2 hours from Nuwara Eliya. >>>>>   Accommodation Accommodation in Nuwara Eliya are in plenty. However some may not be operating during the non peak period. Despite many new hotels accommodation between March to May could be very difficult and must be booked in advance especially on the weekends. Prices may also go up during this time.>>>>>