Joanna James
A charming city with emerald tea slopes, scenic lakes, graceful waterfalls and charming colonial bungalows, Little England is an apt description for Nuwara Eliya with cooler climes than in the rest of Sri Lanka, discover many fun-filled things you can try during your stay in this scenic region.
There are a number of tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya, and a fun way to explore one is to take a tour as done by guests from some of the best hotels in Nuwara Eliya. These tours invariably culminate with a tasting of freshly brewed tea on the house. Use this unique opportunity to explore lush tea bushes and watch the tea pluckers at work with their nimble feet and deft fingers filling up their baskets in no time. See how tea leaves are dried and processed into different grades and packed. The gift shop at these plantations has a wide array of tea to take back as gifts for your loved ones.
With a bevy of enchanting waterfalls in the Nuwara Eliya region such as Ramboda falls, St Clair's falls, Devon falls and Bakers fall to name just a few of them, pick on one where you can have fun. Hiking to the falls, seeing them from a viewpoint at distance, or watching the falls cascading from the foot of a rocky ledge are different experiences involving fun and excitement well enjoyed by guests at Heritance Tea Factory. The beauty of the waterfalls is enhanced by the background which can be a lush green setting like at St Clair's or a wide rocky one such as at Bakers falls etc.
This huge reservoir is a favourite place of locals and is popular with visitors too, providing tranquillity and beauty. Indulge in a leisurely stroll along the lake on paved walking paths, and cycle on well laid tracks. The scenic boat rides or swan paddle rides on the lake, pony rides, picnics by the lake and other leisure activities are well embraced by all visitors to Nuwara Eliya making Lake Gregory a well-loved spot by people of all ages.
Although you may not visit Nuwara Eliya for retail therapy, a visit to this market is a good experience to pick up an array of things and have a feel of the local vibes and a fun outing. Also called the bale bazaar the colourful market is full of stacks and stacks of winter wear in different textures and hues and the prices are reasonable. You can even pick branded items if you are lucky. Their handmade jewellery items will be good for gifts for your loved ones.
A short drive from Nuwara Eliya on the Badulla road, this well-manicured garden is a delight for nature lovers. With an array of intriguing sections such as the water garden, Japanese garden, the garden of ferns and the rock garden Hakgala caters to visitors with diverse interests whilst maintaining a sound mix of sophisticated up-country flowers with low-country blooms to present a diverse and colourful array of nature's bounty.
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