Joanna James
Dubbed “Little England’ and that too for good reason, Nuwara Eliya is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka that resembles a traditional English-style village where enriching adventures await.
Bask in the glory of a colonial masterpiece, right in the heart of Nuwara Eliya called Victoria Park. Perfect for picnics with the family or a leisurely stroll with only your thoughts for a companion, Victoria Park is home to well-manicured gardens, eye-catching fountains and a museum where you can spend time exploring old photographs of the town as it was during the British era.
Replete with verdant environs which can be best put to use by going horse riding, walking or opening up a goodie basket with those closest to your heart, Gregory Lake is one of the area’s most talked about sites that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to leisure and holidaying. The brainchild of former Governor William Gregory, visitors can take turns going on swan boat rides and trying their hand at jet skiing.
There’s nothing more ‘English’ in Nuwara Eliya than the charming Nuwara Eliya Post Office. Functioning out of a Tudor mansion of the late 19th century, the Nuwara Eliya Post Office is a sight for sore eyes given its red brick exterior and clock tower that can make for stunning backdrops for a host of holiday poses.
Although submerged in folklore, the beautifully positioned Lover’s Leap Waterfall will most certainly take your breath away in an instant. Located on the outskirts of Nuwara Eliya, this cascade presents one of the better vantage points in the entire Nuwa Eliya District from where awe-inspiring panoramas of the city can be captured.
Sri Lankans are a nation of passionate tea drinkers and Nuwara Eliya is a region overflowing with many a tea estate where you will be well served by opportunities to learn the nuances of tea production. The famed Pedro Tea Estate offers guided tours where you can put yourself in the shoes of a local tea plucker, learn how important each and every stage is to brewing that perfect cuppa and cap it all off by tasting a cuppa yourself.
As the 2nd largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka after the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens in Kandy, the peace, tranquillity and beauty of Hakgala Botanical Gardens will be hard to ignore when in Nuwara Eliya. Found in close proximity to Araliya Green City which is among the hotels near Nuwara Eliya, these Gardens which saw the light of day in 1894 are well known for their collection of rare roses and orchids.
Best combined with an outing to the Hakgala Botanical Gardens is to call by the Seetha Amman Temple. Adorned in colourful statuettes of Hindu gods which cover the length and breadth of the Temple, travellers must be mindful of the fact that they could encounter mischievous monkeys who reside in and around the premises.
Nature lovers are sure to fall in love with the Moon Plains which has certainly come a long way from the time when its lands were used as a garbage dump. Currently, visitors can opt to walk, hike, drive and even cycle at their own pace along the Moon Plains where sightings of leopards and wild elk have been noted.
Strawberries and cream anyone? Well then head straight for Adma Agro Farm for one memorable experience at one of the town’s most famous strawberry farms. Once here, you can eat the fruits off the trees or have them doused in cream or condensed milk before polishing them off together with freshly squeezed juice back at the café.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
