Nature Attractions in Nuwara Eliya – Exploring the unspoiled "Little England"

One of the most dramatic sights in the region, Horton Plains, is almost hauntingly beautiful grassland complete with rolling plains and a delicate eco-system. Roughly around two thousand meters above sea level, the pristine park extends over an area of over three thousand hectares. It also houses the tallest accessible mountain in the country – the mountain stands at two thousand three hundred meters - which makes for a great trek for anyone interested. On the opposite side you will come across sites such as the famed Baker's Falls where if you are lucky, you get to see the elusive purple faced monkey. Trek a bit further and you will come to World's End, a steep escarpment that has an almost vertical drop of eight hundred and eighty meters! Being a major attraction, most hotels in Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka, the likes of Amaya Langdale are accustomed to organizing tours of the park.

An iconic attraction in the town, Gregory Lake regularly brings throngs of visitors to its banks. Built back in the nineteenth century, the lake is a beehive of activity. The lake is the stage for many water sports such as jet skiing while boat rides and paddle boats are easy to find too. Out of the water, the banks regularly host carnivals and bands play live music that adds to the festive atmosphere around. Pony rides and other fun activities are on the menu too.

The second largest botanical garden in the country, the Haggala Botanical Garden was once a tea plantation that was converted into a garden during the nineteenth century. Famous for their abundance of beautiful flowers, especially the roses and orchids, the gardens have more than ten thousand species of plants and flowers. The best time to visit the Haggala Botanical Garden is between April and August as this is when the flowers bloom. Perched at five thousand four hundred feet above sea level, the garden also holds another significant record. It is considered to be the botanical garden situated at the highest elevation in the world.

Named in honour of Queen Victoria, this park is another symbol of the British occupation during the nineteenth century. A unique factor about the park is that over ninety percent of the trees and plants present in the park are not endemic to the country and cannot be found elsewhere in Sri Lanka. Spread over twenty seven acres, the ample amount of trees present have helped create a habitat for birds, many of them rare and hard to find. Birds include Indian Blue Robins, Pled Thrushes and Kashmir Flycatchers. And if Queen Victoria Park didn't sound magical enough, a short walk into a park will reveal a river running through it!