Nuwara Eliya, better known as Little England of Sri Lanka. The climate in Nuwara Eliya is different from other places in Sri Lanka. One or two-day visit should be enough.
How to get in Nuwara Eliya?
Get to the nearest train station. A ticket from Kandy will cost you around $2,50 / 400 LKR. The ride to Nuwara Eliya takes 4 hours from Kandy. The train ride has been mentioned as one of the most beautiful train routes in the world!
Not only tourists but also the locals use the train in Sri Lanka. The route Kandy to Ella is very popular. Nuwara Eliya is in between those two. Visiting Sri Lanka in high season? Then try to buy your tickets in advance since there are limited tourist seats available. Ticket officers will often tell you that they are sold out. You always can try to buy a 2nd or 3rd class ticket.
Tip: Try to get the early train as they don’t really stick to their schedule. Taking the train at 3PM? Then keep in mind you don’t see anything of this beautiful route because it’s already dark.
Things to do in Nuwara Eliya
Visit the tea plantations and factories in Sri Lanka
Nuwara Eliya is known for her impressive tea plantations and it is best to visit via tuk-tuk. For only $8 (or even cheaper) you can arrange a day trip to the tea plantations, tea factories, viewpoints and a waterfall. It will take 45 minutes to reach the Ramboda Falls which is at the end of the route. On your way back you can visit the tea plantations, stop at several viewpoints and drink tea for free at the tea factories.
We can recommend the Bluefield Factory and Bluefield Tea Gardens. You will get a small tour through the factory to see how the tea process works. Oh and maybe you should buy tea later, the prices at the factory shops are 300% of what it should be.
Tip: Make sure you have a small amount of money with you like multiple 20 or 50LKR. Each employee that you’ll caught on a photo will ask you for money. ?
All hotels and guesthouses in Nuwara Eliya under $50
Visit the Ramboda Falls in Nuwara Eliya
On the same route, you will pass multiple waterfalls and one of them is next to the road. Get in the water or climb up to various levels. Be careful, some parts can be slippery.
Hike up to World’s End in Horton Plains National Park, Nuwara Eliya
The walk to World’s End is 4 km and you have to get up really early in the morning. It will give you the best chance to have a view without fog. The 9.5 km round trip takes around three hours. The entrance isn’t cheap for Sri Lankan standards. We can’t tell you the exact price because we couldn’t do the hike because of bad weather conditions. In Nuwara Eliya rainy season lasts from April to September.
Must read: Things to do in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka
Chill around Gregory Lake
Take some time to relax a bit around Gregory Lake. People with boats and jet skis are cruising on the lake. There are some restaurants, you can do horse riding or play in the kindergarten.
When is the best time to visit Nuwara Eliya
It’s better to say what’s the worst time to visit. From June till the end of August, it will be the monsoon. Keep in mind that it can get very cold in Nuwara Eliya compared to other places in Sri Lanka. Our nights were 10 degrees in September. Brrrr ?
You can get to Nuwara Eliya by flying to Colombo International Airport and take a train or bus from there.
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