Roger Gary
Nuwara Eliya is nothing short of beautiful scenery and fascinating history to learn about. Be sure to try out these 5 must-visit places to complete your visit to this lovely city.
Located just 10km down the Badulla Road, the beautiful Haggala Botanical Gardens was established in the 1800's. at 5000-6000 feet in elevation, the Haggala Botanical Gardens is the highest set botanical gardens in the whole world. Boasting a spectacular 100 year old Menetary Cypress trees impoerted from California, English Oak, Japanese Cedars and Himalayan Pines, the beautiful gardens see thousands of visitors all throughout the year. Quite a few of the Nuwara Eliya hotels provide easy access to the stunning Haggala Gardens. However, if you are after a unique experience, be sure to stay at the Heritance Tea Factory to enjoy the comforts of a transformed tea factory.
Lake Gregory was built by William Gregory, the Governor from 1872 – 1877. The lake was build using the water from the Nanu Oya that runs across the beautiful town. Spanning across about 91 hectares, Lake Gregory is a popular destination for a wide range of recreational activities that take place in the water during the British reign. As of today, visitors can enjoy a spot of rowing and boating from the boat yard and to revel in the stunning scenery in the lake and surrounding areas.
Nuwara Eliya has quite a lot of remnants from the British reign. One such fascinating remnant is the British Tomb, located on the town's bus stand. Erected in memory of Ebenisher Golder Manro, a young man who was killed by a wild buffalo attack in 1841, the tomb is a fascinating attraction that arouses the curiosity of many travellers. Another tomb in the town is erected in honor of Major Thomas Roger, a judge who met his demise at the age of 64 in 1838. This particular tomb is also the subject of an interesting legend in the area. It is said that the Englishman was fond of hunting white elephants and had died in the jungle from an elephant attack. According to legend, his tomb has seen some continuous damage that occurred once every 4 years as a result of a mysterious curse. Nowadays, the tomb is reduced to only a few pieces of cracked stone.
Located on the Kandy Road, the Labookelle Tea Center is the ideal destination to learn more about Sri Lanka's fascinating tea industry. The establishment offers guided tours completely free of charge, allowing just about anyone to enjoy the fantastic production cycle and illustrious history of the world famous Ceylon Tea. The Tea Center also features a store where visitors can buy some delicious tea to take back home and a restaurant to enjoy a snack.
Horton Plains is definitely one of the must-visit destinations in the beautiful town of Nuwara Eliya. Located on the highest plateau in Sri Lanka, Horton Plains consists of patches of lush forest and grass land along with some interesting vegetation only found in high altitudes. The destination is a fantastic opportunity for nature lovers to enjoy stunning scenery, for hikers to enjoy an adrenaline pumping hike and for bird enthusiasts to catch a glimpse of the beautiful avian life.
