Not many travelers know about this gem in Sri Lanka called Nuwara Eliya, a quaint little town in the Sri Lankan hill country described by the locals as ‘Little England’. It’s surrounded by tea plantations and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the tropical island. It’s the perfect hill-station-like destination and has some of the more rustic and peaceful places to visit. With lush green valleys and wild animals traversing the lands, Nuwara Eliya is a great place for a romantic getaway and a field trip to nature.
Here are some of the best places to visit in Nuwara Eliya –
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Gregory Lake:
If you love scenic destinations and serene environments, you can’t go wrong with Gregory Lake. There are plenty of natural gardens, water bodies and a leisurely stroll area for all your nature-watching needs. You can easily book a great Nuwara Eliya guest house via reliable and budget-friendly hotel chain, Yoho Bed and take a cab to reach Gregory Lake within minutes. It’s one of the main attractions in the region and has a reputation for being an inspirational place.
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Hakgala Gardens :
The moment you lay eyes on Hakgala Gardens you will come to know why it is so famous. It’s a 10-km scenic drive southeast of the popular bungalows in Nuwara Eliya and has some of the finest flowers that Sri Lanka has to offer. With a beautiful collection of roses, Japanese flowers, orchids, cedars and giant cypresses, the gardens have something for everybody. The best time to visit would be between January and mid-late March.
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St. Clairs Falls:
This is the “Little Niagara” of Sri Lanka and has one of the most beautiful natural life in the country. If you want to get away from the hustle of the city, then St. Clairs Falls is where you want to be. It’s one of the wilder waterfalls, with more than 250ft. of gushing waters. The view here is absolutely breath-taking and it is only a 20-30 minute drive from the nearest Nuwara Eliya guest house.
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Galway’s Land National Park:
Continuing on the theme of natural beauty, Nuwara Eliya’s charm and pride is Galway’s Land National Park. It is one of the newer and tourist-friendly national parks, having a dense forest and a wildlife sanctuary. Apart from the avifauna, the national park hosts a wide variety of flowers, bedrocks and traditional Sri Lankan wild vegetation.