Nuwara Eliya Travel Tips – Stay Safe in the Central Hills

Taking care of your valuables when travelling is a universal tip; not limited to just Nuwara Eliya. This is, in essence, a part of any tour. If you are staying at one of the luxurious Nuwara Eliya hotels, there most likely will be a safety deposit locker in the room or at the reception; leave unwanted valuables in the safety locker when travelling about. Do not carry around large wads of money when setting off on sightseeing trips as this could attract unwanted attention.

Nuwara Eliya is inherent to crisp chilly weather; more often mornings are infused with brilliant sunshine and cool climes. By evening the weather has a habit of changing with the mist rolling in quite unannounced. The mist is one factor to look out for; you may need to carry a powerful torch especially when heading out on all day hikes to any nearby sights. Places like the highest peak in the country – Piduruthalagala is quite close; just 90 minutes from Heritance Tea Factory for example. The roads are not always well lit up and are generally winding paths with steep precipices on the sides. So make sure to have plenty of light on your travel path. The weather in Nuwara Eliya is quite unlike that of a tropical country; the nights can be exceedingly chilly requiring proper warm clothing.

Travelling to Nuwara Eliya during the rainy season is risky only when the threat of landslides is present. Sudden landfalls result in roads being covered and some casualties. Roads heading up to town wind their way across the mountain sides making the threat of landslides quite a danger; this, however, is during the rainy season and with proper precautions and being alert to news updates will save loads of trouble. With roads skirting around the mountain ranges, there are many hairpin bends on the way to Nuwara Eliya. It is wise to slow down to about 30kmph in order to avoid any fatalities on the narrow stretches and blind corners. Drive carefully at a safe speed especially during rainy weather.

Sinhala and Tamil New Year is celebrated in the month of April; this is a time that weather in tropical Sri Lanka soars to unbearable heats. Leaving out of course salubrious Nuwara Eliya and since the New Year season heralds in national holidays you find many folks travelling out to the hill country in search of cooler climes. Nuwara Eliya is a favourite spot and the town a riot of colour at that time owing to the many blossoming flowers, becomes a party central. The hills are virtually 'alive with the sound of music'. Do not rely on last minute bookings at this time; there is actually no accommodation available in town come the April holiday season. Book in advance and avoid spending your first night in Nuwara Eliya hunting for a room.

There are many attractions in and around town to explore. Many warrant hikes across verdant hills and lush waterfalls while others are to tea factories and national parks. It is wise to book tours with your Nuwara Eliya hotel or a reputed tour guide for a safe journey and one that will cover the main attractions at any site.