Nuwara Eliya is simply called the "Little England." It is one of the most beautiful towns located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Its cool climate, lovely landscapes, colonial architecture, and tea plantations make this place have a character that is highly sought after and cannot be found elsewhere on the island. Nuwara Eliya is located at an elevation of 1,868 meters or 6,128 feet above sea level. The climate here is temperate and pretty good for respite from the tropical heat found in the rest of Sri Lanka.
This descriptive analysis will consider the history, natural beauty, culture, and other significant attractions of Nuwara Eliya to demonstrate why it usually makes the bucket lists of many local and international tourists.
1. Historical Background of Nuwara Eliya
The history of Nuwara Eliya is very closely related to the colonial era of Sri Lanka as well as to the island's tea plantations. It was once inhabited by the indigenous Vedda people living in the central highland regions of Sri Lanka. However, it was only during the British colonial regime that Nuwara Eliya was more extensively used as a retreat by British civil servants and other officials. The climate here is so cool that it reminded them of England, and hence the name colloquially "Little England".
The British founded Nuwara Eliya in the 19th century as a hill station from which to escape the heat of the lowlands. Tea became the hub and the British introduced tea planting which altered the face of Nuwara Eliya, along with its economy forever. Of special historical interest, along with aesthetic worth are the golf course (one of the oldest golf courses in Asia), many of the colonial-type structures erected which stand to this date.
British Influence
Nuwara Eliya later merged into the British empire of tea. The development of the plantations and estates had begun in an environment which would later dominate the economy of the area of today.
2. Climate and Natural Beauty
Another source of attraction of this town is the temperate climate in Nuwara Eliya, for it provides a refreshing contrast to the warm and tropical climate throughout the rest of Sri Lanka. The average temperature in this place ranges between 15°C to 22°C (59°F to 72°F). Therefore, the climate in this city is cool and cozy for all seasons. The variety of crops grows quite well in highlands, especially tea, with this climate.
Nuwara Eliya is surrounded with magnificent lands, which include those of lush hills and waterfalls coupled with tea plantations. The town proper is found in the heart of the central highland, which lies within the Sri Lanka Highlands mountain ranges. These mountains create an excellent environment for hosting many plant and animal species that make Nuwara Eliya the prime destination among nature lovers.
Key characteristic of the region that involves natural features includes;
• Gregory Lake: This is perhaps the most highly sought after tourist spot in Nuwara Eliya and which lies just outside of town. The lake during British colonial times was originally designed to supply water mainly for the town, though to this day it still serves as a strong characteristic within the area. Visitation can be made in a boat ride, picnics, and even on foot when doing some scenic walks along the shoreline.
• Hakgala Botanical Garden: About 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Nuwara Eliya, the Hakgala Botanical Garden is one of the largest in Sri Lanka. This garden is famous for the variety of roses, orchids, and other varieties that grow well in this climate.
•There are some very beautiful waterfalls around Nuwara Eliya and around this region, Lover's Leap, Ramboda Falls, St. Clair's Falls are few examples; the central hill cascading waterfalls in to lowlands is another interesting tourism activity photography, hiking and sightseeing.
3. Tea Industry and Plantations
The heart of Nuwara Eliya's economy is the tea industry and the chief tourism driver in the region. Tea farming in Nuwara Eliya started during the British colonial period, when the British introduced the crop as part of their colonial exploitation of the island's agricultural resources. Presently, Nuwara Eliya is one of the most popular regions in Sri Lanka for tea farming and producing some of the world's finest high-grown teas.
The primary attractions to visit the place are the teas produced in different tea estates scattered over the hills above Nuwara Eliya.
Most of them provide guided tours that range from a watch on tea picking to seeing the whole tea chain, and sampling grades of tea from the estate. For the above-mentioned reason, the Pedro Tea Estate, Labookellie Tea Estate, and Hewaheta Tea Estate stand out in the region.
The scenic beauty of the tea plantations can be seen in the very neat rows of trimmed tea bushes running across the hills, which will make a wonderful backdrop for the travel freaks who want to be drenched within the culture of Sri Lankan tea. Freshness in the air, green-rolling hills, and that aroma of freshly brewed tea do create an unforgettable atmosphere for the visitors.
4. Colonial Architecture and Attractions
Nuwara Eliya is perhaps better known for the colonial architecture that this town features and which makes unmistakably 'English.' Its architectural influences are more particularly visible in building designs scattered all over this town-most of which can be considered as preserved from early past, still useful up to this day-and most iconically:
• Grand Hotel This is the flagship hotel built in 1891. Grand Hotel is one of the strongest symbols of the colonial heritage of Nuwara Eliya. Grand architecture, huge gardens, and luxurious rooms in Grand Hotel make it the prime attraction in town. Still it is the prime place of accommodation for tourists visiting this town and is filled with old-world charm.
• Nuwara Eliya Golf Club: This is the oldest golf club in Asia. It was instituted in 1889. This British colonial-style clubhouse and its beautiful grounds speak of the erstwhile status of Nuwara Eliya as the retreat of the British elite. The golf course itself has been one of the most scenic ones in Sri Lanka.
• Victoria Park: That is the beautiful public park in the center of Nuwara Eliya, making for an excellent spot to have picnics, a leisurely walk, or sitting down. The Victoria Park is adorned with beautifully landscaped gardens with varieties of flowers and local wildlife, birds, and butterflies.
•The Hill Club: One of the other colonial-type structures, it is one among early 20th century build structures. The classy interior of this Hill Club presents elegant classic British club environment with many social events that throws nice ambiance about the colonial past in Nuwara Eliya.
5. Cultural Heritage and Festivals
Although Nuwara Eliya is the most celebrated city for its natural beauty and colonial architecture, it's the richness of cultural heritage that attracts this. Town people are comprised of ethnic and religious communities of Sri Lankan people Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslims. Thus, the culture diversity reflects in its rituals and festivals.
This one is also popular as the festival of the season in Nuwara Eliya is, Nuwara Eliya Season or Sri Lanka New Year Festival which is held on the month of April. There is a place for the traditional Sinhalese and Tamil New Year's festival here, comprising many cultural programs, games, folk songs and fests, attracted thousands of tourists; also among the most spectacular activities found in the calendar of Nuwara Eliya.
Apart from that, annual flower festival in town showcase the rich floral culture through showing various flowers like roses, orchids, and lilies. It shows great horticultural heritage there.
6. Accessibility and Modern Nuwara Eliya
Nuweria Eliya is accessible by road from Kandy, Colombo, and other parts of Sri Lanka. The A5 highway connects the town with a scenic drive through the lush landscapes of the central highlands. Travelers can take in the breathtaking views of hills, valleys, and tea plantations as they make their way to Nuwara Eliya.
The closest airport to Nuwara Eliya is the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, which is 170 kilometers (106 miles) away. From there, tourists can take a bus or hire a private vehicle to get to the town.
Nu-wara Eliya has flourished in infrastructural development over the last few years. Luxury hotels, budget guesthouses, and other forms of accommodations are available for every traveler. Restaurants, shopping centers, and medical facilities can also be found within the town, thus making a stay here quite comfortable for tourists.