With its incredibly captivating landscape and temperate climate, perched atop the chilly, mist splashed mountains is Nuwara Eliya, described as ‘Little England’ in resplendent Sri Lanka. Sitting at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft), the colonial-era bungalows with their sloping roofs, Tudor-style hotels, well-kept hedgerows and beautiful gardens give visitors the British country-village ‘feel’. The surrounding green canopy of lush tea plantations add to the magical scenic beauty of the awesome hill country destination. During British domination, Nuwara Eliya was the favored cool-climate escape for the hard-working, booze-guzzling English Scottish pioneers of Sri Lanka’s tea industry. Popular among holiday-makers eager to paint the town red, the salubrious climes of the mountainous rendezvous invariably offer the ideal location for a well-deserved vacation away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Nuwara Eliya, which means “City of Light” in the native Sinhala language, is overshadowed by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka. Visitors to this amazing destination up in the misty hills can enjoy a boat ride on the British-built Lake Gregory, take a stroll on Victoria Park, visit the naturally landscaped, sprawling Hakgala Botanical Gardens or the nearby Seetha Amman Temple, a colorful Hindu shrine decorated with deities. Another viable option is the densely forested Galway’s Land National Park, a sanctuary for endemic and migratory bird species. Seasonal events, which unfold in Nuwara Eliya during February to April, attract thousands of foreign and local tourists as golf tournaments, horse racing, motor cross, clay pigeon shooting and a mega carnival form part of the major festivities.
Nuwara Eliya
