Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Things to do, weather & itineraries

Time slows to a halt in the evergreen tea plantations, colonial bungalows, and cascading waterfalls of the central highlands, where the winding roads of the hillside lead to the sleepy town of Nuwara Eliya or “Little England.” Touted as the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea industry, this quaint getaway boasts a unique brew of colonial history and mythology in a haven of greenery.

As a tourist destination, Nuwara Eliya’s popularity is credited to the British, who transformed it into a holiday retreat from the heat. Its main attractions include centuries-old tea factories that provide insight into the island’s colonial heritage, and the famed Seetha Amman Kovil of the Hindu legends, as well as Horton Plains and the Hakgala Botanical Garden which reflect the beauty of the English countryside.

Unlike the other, hotter parts of the isle, the daytime temperatures in Nuwara Eliya range from 12°C (53.6°F) to 20.2°C (68.4°F), giving the region its cool, minty atmosphere. Travellers generally tour Nuwara Eliya in the period between mid-December and mid-April to experience the best weather without heavy rainfall.

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Things to do, weather & itineraries

Time slows to a halt in the evergreen tea plantations, colonial bungalows, and cascading waterfalls of the central highlands, where the winding roads of the hillside lead to the sleepy town of Nuwara Eliya or “Little England.” Touted as the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea industry, this quaint getaway boasts a unique brew of colonial history and mythology in a haven of greenery.

As a tourist destination, Nuwara Eliya’s popularity is credited to the British, who transformed it into a holiday retreat from the heat. Its main attractions include centuries-old tea factories that provide insight into the island’s colonial heritage, and the famed Seetha Amman Kovil of the Hindu legends, as well as Horton Plains and the Hakgala Botanical Garden which reflect the beauty of the English countryside.

Unlike the other, hotter parts of the isle, the daytime temperatures in Nuwara Eliya range from 12°C (53.6°F) to 20.2°C (68.4°F), giving the region its cool, minty atmosphere. Travellers generally tour Nuwara Eliya in the period between mid-December and mid-April to experience the best weather without heavy rainfall.

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Things to do, weather & itineraries

Time slows to a halt in the evergreen tea plantations, colonial bungalows, and cascading waterfalls of the central highlands, where the winding roads of the hillside lead to the sleepy town of Nuwara Eliya or “Little England.” Touted as the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea industry, this quaint getaway boasts a unique brew of colonial history and mythology in a haven of greenery.

As a tourist destination, Nuwara Eliya’s popularity is credited to the British, who transformed it into a holiday retreat from the heat. Its main attractions include centuries-old tea factories that provide insight into the island’s colonial heritage, and the famed Seetha Amman Kovil of the Hindu legends, as well as Horton Plains and the Hakgala Botanical Garden which reflect the beauty of the English countryside.

Unlike the other, hotter parts of the isle, the daytime temperatures in Nuwara Eliya range from 12°C (53.6°F) to 20.2°C (68.4°F), giving the region its cool, minty atmosphere. Travellers generally tour Nuwara Eliya in the period between mid-December and mid-April to experience the best weather without heavy rainfall.

Tour itineraries featuring Nuwara Eliya

As mentioned before, the main excursions that you can enjoy in Nuwara Eliya are its tea factories, the Seetha Amman Kovil, Horton Plains, and the Hakgala Botanical Garden. You may refer to the sample itineraries below for more information on how these excursions fit into a typical Sri Lanka itinerary.

Tour itineraries featuring Nuwara Eliya

As mentioned before, the main excursions that you can enjoy in Nuwara Eliya are its tea factories, the Seetha Amman Kovil, Horton Plains, and the Hakgala Botanical Garden. You may refer to the sample itineraries below for more information on how these excursions fit into a typical Sri Lanka itinerary.

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Things to do in Nuwara Eliya

Tea Factory

Tea Factory

Lush tea estates form an oasis of greenery at every turn in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea industry, and the quaint factories in the vicinity stand as proof of the island’s colonial heritage, effectively making Nuwara Eliya the perfect place to visit a tea factory. Each live demonstration is combined with a retelling of the factory’s history that provides travellers with glimpses into the origins of the famed Ceylon tea.

The average tour lasts around 20 to 30 minutes, and it begins with a leisurely walk through the emerald plantations to observe the tea pickers at work. Travellers are then guided through the factory to watch as the plucked leaves are withered, rolled, fermented and ground using traditional methods and centuries-old equipment.

Most of these tours conclude with a visit to the showroom, where tourists are encouraged to sample and purchase varieties of Ceylon tea at discounted prices. However, they may also be taken to the in-house cafe to savour the aroma of a hot cuppa over slices of a buttery tea cake and splendid views of the surroundings.

While there are plenty of tea factories that are well worth a visit, Travellers Isle recommends the Pedro Tea Estate and the Heritance Tea Factory Hotel for their unique, hands-on approach to tea processing.

The Pedro Tea Estate is steeped in a history of experimentation under Scotsman James Taylor, who perfected the growth of Ceylon tea on its grounds. Although it lacks the magnificence of the other factories that are in and around the area, its closeness to Nuwara Eliya is its biggest selling point, making it a convenient addition to most tour itineraries.

This factory also provides travellers with an opportunity to become tea pickers and pluck tea leaves from its verdant plantations. However, since processing is a nighttime activity, you will only be guided through the tea manufacturing process without a live demonstration. You must also keep in mind that photography is not permitted inside, and that the factory is closed from 12PM to 3PM on a daily basis.

Similarly, the Heritance Tea Factory Hotel’s origins can be traced back to the British colonial period, and it was originally a tea factory before it was converted into a hotel. Apart from its luxurious interior, the hotel is best known for its organic, miniature tea factory, which supplies 25 kilograms of tea to its guests each day.

The hotel’s miniature factory turns the process of manufacturing tea into a fun, hands-on experience, allowing travellers to pluck leaves from the hotel’s plantation and borrow its machinery to produce their own tea. That being said, you must be a guest at the hotel in order to participate in this interactive tour and reservations must be made in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is Nuwara Eliya famous?

At a glance, Nuwara Eliya’s fame comes from its cool climate and rustic beauty—a fact that has earned its reputation as both an introvert’s paradise and a hideaway in the hills. However, this scenic town is also touted as the birthplace of Ceylon tea, making it the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea industry.

Among travellers, the region is best known for its cold weather, and it is widely regarded as one of the coolest parts of the country. The town itself is enshrouded in layers of mist, and it stands at an elevation of 1868 metres above sea level with temperatures that fluctuate between 12°C (53.6°F) and 20.2°C. Due to this, plenty of locals and tourists venture into Nuwara Eliya to stave off the heat during the hotter months of the year.

The town also boasts an outstanding beauty that is unique to the central highlands of Sri Lanka. With emerald valleys, verdant tea plantations, mist-shrouded mountains, and cascading waterfalls at nearly every turn, Nuwara Eliya’s beauty is unmatched, and it reflects the beauty of the English countryside.

On the other hand, Nuwara Eliya’s reputation as the birthplace of Ceylon tea began under the supervision of Sir James Taylor, a Scotsman who revolutionized the island’s tea industry. Through countless experiments, Taylor was able to extract the best flavour from tea leaves, and the growth of tea was proven to be a far more profitable venture than coffee. And so, the coffee plantations in the vicinity were replaced with tea seeds from India.

As time passed, more factories were set up to meet the increasing demand for Ceylon tea, and machinery was brought over from England to speed up the production process. Thus, Nuwara Eliya was able to establish itself as one of the key players in the tea industry, and today, it has become famous for producing some of the finest tea varieties in the world.

 

2. Is Nuwara Eliya worth visiting?

Definitely. Despite its sleepy ambience, Nuwara Eliya is home to a wealth of attractions that appeal to travellers of all ages, thus cementing its status as one of the must-sees of Sri Lanka. Not only is it the perfect place to learn about the British colonial period, but its activities are also a favourite among those who wish to de-stress and connect with nature.

In fact, Nuwara Eliya’s origins are interwoven with the island’s colonial past, as it was merely an uninhabited wilderness of jungles prior to its discovery by the British in 1818. At that time, the former Governor of Ceylon, Sir Edward Barnes, concluded that the region’s cool weather and rustic beauty would make it the perfect holiday retreat for the hottest months of the year. This led him to clear the land.

As Barnes built roads and rest areas on this land, it soon became an annual routine for the capital of the country to be shifted to Nuwara Eliya in March and April until the heat subsided. To keep themselves entertained, the British went on to establish recreational clubs and construct bungalows in the style of medieval architecture. The town thus began to develop a unique British identity that would eventually set it apart from other destinations on the isle.

However, what really makes Nuwara Eliya so well worth a visit are its attractions. A stroll through the leafy plantations can set your mind at ease, and simply watching the local community of tea pickers will clue you in on how hard they work to support their families. Meanwhile, a visit to the nearby tea factories is considered a rite of passage when touring Sri Lanka, and you may marvel at how the centuries-old equipment honours the region’s colonial roots through its continued use.

On the other hand, the Seetha Amman Kovil combines spirituality with mythology to showcase an ancient crossover between Sri Lankan and Indian legends. As a popular pilgrimage site among Hindus, this temple is especially revered for its blackened soil and the etched footprints of Hanuman, and it thoroughly emphasizes the devotion of the Hindu community.

Horton Plains and the Hakgala Botanical Garden are also frequented sites among nature enthusiasts, as they both offer different approaches to experiencing the region’s flora and fauna. While Horton Plains is home to natural landmarks that can be toured on foot, the botanical garden teems with a mixture of blooms that are unique to Sri Lanka and that have been brought over from different parts of the world. This has led many to roam these lands and wind down from their travels with a much-needed digital detox.

 

3. What is the best month to visit Nuwara Eliya?

The best months to visit Nuwara Eliya lie in the period between mid-December and mid-April, which is coincidentally the ideal time to tour the whole of Sri Lanka. This will guarantee decent weather and minimal rainfall during your travels. However, it is also possible to pay a visit to the hill country in the months that fall between July and September.

Travellers generally steer clear of the region in June, October, and November, as the possibility of experiencing heavy rainfall during this time is very high.

 

4. How long do you need in Nuwara Eliya?

At most, you will need 2 days for a slow-paced tour of Nuwara Eliya’s main attractions. However, if you wish to experience everything that this quaint town has to offer and you have enough time to spare, you may complete your tour in 3 or 4 days. This will give you ample time to experience its scenic hikes while learning everything there is to know about the town’s history.

 

5. What to wear in Nuwara Eliya?

What you ought to wear in Nuwara Eliya depends on your ability to withstand the cold. Since its temperatures fluctuate between 12°C (53.6°F) and 20.2°C (68.4°F), you may opt for a wardrobe of cottons, silks and linen, as these fabrics will regulate your body temperature.

However, if you are not accustomed to cold weather, it is best that you pack thick outer garments, such as jackets, woollen cardigans and scarves that can keep you warm while you are out and about. You should also consider adding some warm nightwear to your suitcase as the nights in Nuwara Eliya are rather chilly.

Moreover, your tour of the region will involve quite a lot of outdoor experiences, so it is best to wear sports shoes or comfortable sneakers that provide proper support for your heels. It is also recommended to carry a raincoat with you at all times as you may experience mild rainfall during your travels.

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Guest review

"We have had our amazing driver taking us around Sri Lanka with our 15 month old daughter for the last two weeks. Everything has been organized for us and everything has been perfect.
Anyone thinking about going to Sri Lanka with their little ones should book with Travellers Isle. Nothing has been too much trouble for them. All hotels have been fabulous and our driver has been so helpful, amazing with our daughter, professional and knowledgeable." 
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