Trish Kelson
Nuwara Eliya the Garden City is located at an altitude of 6,128ft. Also known as Little England the town is home to cosy English cottages and beautiful gardens. It is close to many attractions.
Worlds End is located within the Horton Plains National Park; a trek to Worlds End lookout point is a must and will prove to be quite a rewarding endeavour. The trek generally takes about 2 hours. Along the way you will surely run into majestic Sambar, jungle fowl and a variety of other little jungle creatures. The Horton Plains is one of the protected parks of Sri Lanka. It is located at an altitude of 6,900 to 7,500 feet. The area is the headwater for the country's 3 major rivers. The parkland is loved for its Cloud Forests and grasslands. The plains are just an hour's drive from Nuwara Eliya and are a must visit when in the region. Start your journey early, for Worlds End located within the park takes about 2 hours to reach. Worlds end is a 4,000 foot sheer drop and on cloudless days you will be able to glimpse the Indian Ocean; which is 81kms away.
The Bluefield's Tea Garden is situated in Ramboda; a sleepy town sitting on the Kandy Nuwara Eliya Road. Take the opportunity to enjoy a pleasant break from your drive to or from Nuwara Eliya. Tour guides at the factory will take you on a comprehensive tour of the sweet smelling factory; where you can learn how each machine chops, dries and sorts the tea leaves for packing. You can decide to break for lunch at the in-house restaurant or enjoy a cup of tea and delicious butter cake at the café. There is a lovely designer tea kiosk where visitors may purchase varied types and flavours of tea.
If you are visiting the chilly town consider Nuwara Eliya hotels that are run by reputed chains. That way you can rest assured of impeccable service, excellent food and verdant surroundings in which to relax. Enjoy the cosy comforts of these hotels such as Jetwing St Andrews.
Brewing of beer for the first time was initiated by Sir Samuel Baker at Ceylon Breweries situated in Nuwara Eliya. Operating since 1884 the brewery located at Lovers Leap is the oldest and finest in the country. Enjoy a comprehensive tour of the brewery and see just how the ancient brew is made and bottled.
Enjoy loads of fun family activities around the salubrious climes of Lake Gregory. Relish the serene environs and quiet nooks and corners. Consider renting out a paddle boat for excursions around the lake or let the kids have fun with a pony ride. Tour the delicious food kiosks; try a strawberry shake and bring out the dare devil in you by zip lining across the greens.
The mountainous outback of Nuwara Eliya is highly conducive for the outdoorsy holiday maker. Sri Lanka's highest peak Mount Piduruthalagala 2550m is located to the north of the town. You cannot hike to the summit but may take on the hiking path that runs up to 700 feet. A truly rewarding trek the path is resplendent with water falls and stunning scenery.
