Often referred to as ‘Little England’, this genteel highland community does have a
rose-tinted, vaguely British-country-village feel to it, with its colonial-era
bungalows, Tudor-style hotels, well-tended hedgerows and pretty gardens. Indeed, Nuwara Eliya was once was the favored cool-climate escape for the hard- working and hard-drinking English and Scottish pioneers of Sri Lanka’s tea
industry. A recent construction boom has blighted the scene to a degree, and the dusty and
bustling centre is a thoroughly Sri Lankan urban tangle, but Nuwara Eliya still
makes a fine base for a few days’ relaxation. The verdant surrounding
countryside of tea plantations, carefully tended vegetable plots and craggy hills is
highly scenic. Treat yourself to a night in one of Nuwara Eliya’s colonial hotels, play a round of golf or a few frames of billiards, and soak up the town’s unique
bygone heritage.

•  Hakgala Gardens

These attractive gardens, 10km southeast of Nuwara Eliya, are a peaceful retreat. Highlights include a fine rose garden, a Japanese garden, an orchid collection, cedars and giant cypresses. However, the entrance fee is very steep for
foreigners. Planting season is between January and late March and at these times
the gardens don’t really look their best. To get here, take a Welimada-bound bus (Rs 22, 20 minutes). Legend has it that Hanuman, the monkey god, was sent by Rama to the
Himalayas to find a particular medicinal herb. He forgot which herb he was
looking for and decided to bring a chunk of the Himalayas back in his jaw, hoping
the herb was growing on it. The gardens grow on a rock called Hakgala, which
means ‘jaw-rock’

• Lovers Leap

From the Pedro Tea Estate, take a very enjoyable 5km (round-trip) walk to
Lovers Leap, an impressive waterfall. From the tea factory, cross the main road and follow the signs to the tea
manager’s bungalow along the dirt road. At the first crossroads go left and at the
three-way junction take the middle path until, after about 15 minutes, you hit a
dirt parking area. A foot-only track heads left through the tea gardens towards
the forest and a rock face. Follow this trail and, just beyond the small Shiva
shrine, you’ll see the spluttering waterfalls.

• Seetha Amman Temple

This colourful Hindu temple, 7km southeast of Nuwara Eliya, is said to mark the
spot where Sita was held captive by the demon king Rawana, and where she
prayed daily for Rama to come and rescue her. On the rock face across the
stream are circular depressions said to be the footprints of Rawana’s elephant.
Tamil wedding parties make it a point to stop here for puja (8am, 1pm, 2pm and
6pm). It’s located near the 83km post on the A5 Hwy. Galway’s Land National Park
One of Sri Lanka’s newest (2006) and smallest (29 sq hectares) national parks, Galway’s Land is a dense patch of montane forest a couple of kilometres east of
town. It is renowned for its birdlife, including 10 Sri Lankan endemics, as well as
buffalo, wild boar, barking deer and other mammals. There’s very little on-site
information, but guides are available (by donation) from the park office and a
2km-long walking trail also leaves from here.

• Lake Gregory

This lake is popular with domestic tourists who enjoy strolling the footpaths, taking out a swan-shaped pedal boat (30 minutes Rs 500) or trotting around on
a pony (15 minutes Rs 300). However be warned that jet skis and speedboats
disturb the peace on weekends, and during holiday times expect big crowds and
funfairs. There are picnic tables, a small restaurant and a snack bar. Boat hire is
from the smaller adjoining lake on the opposite side of the road from the main
lake.