Nuwara Eliya: Tea Estates and Waterfalls (2019 Travel Guide)
Nuwara Eliya, a land of tea estates and waterfalls! Residing in the hill country in eternal winter temperate, covered with blankets of mist, and charmingly called as “Little England of Sri Lanka”. No matter which direction you gaze, the rolling hills decked up with green tea leaves will be a sight to behold.
Nuwara Eliya has been the capital of Sri Lanka’s tea industry from the early 19th century. Its tea factories and tea estates are open to visitors to experience the history of British Ceylon. The colonial houses in Nuwara Eliya are a rare blend of Tudor and Georgian architecture with gable roofs and rosy lawns.
The city is surrounded by three of the highest mountains in Sri Lanka and if you love waterfalls, there would be no better place than Nuwara Eliya to explore the fascinating and beautiful free-falling waterfalls.
During the last leg of our journey in Sri Lanka, we had enjoyed exploring around Nuwara Eliya. Based on our personal experience, here is a detailed guide on the beautiful Sri Lankan city of tea estates and waterfalls, Nuwara Eliya. Hope it helps :)
You will need a minimum of 2 days to explore around Nuwara Eliya. In case you are short on time, you can plan for a day trip to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy or Ella. The one-day trip will be ideal to explore the tea factory, tea estates, and Ramboda waterfall.
Quick Navigation
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya & Ella to Nuwara Eliya
Amazing things to do in Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya Restaurants
Nuwara Eliya or Ella
Nuwara Eliya Weather – the Best time to visit Nuwara Eliya
Hotels in Nuwara Eliya
Getting around Nuwara Eliya
Is Nuwara Eliya safe for solo female travellers
Budget for Nuwara Eliya
Other tips
Kandy/ Ella to Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is around 80 km from Kandy and 60 km from Ella. The drive will take around 2-3 hours. To reach Nuwara Eliya from Kandy/ Ella, you can either hire a tuktuk or catch a local bus/ train. Nuwara Eliya’s railway station is called “Nanu Oya Railway station” and the train ride will be of around 3 hours from Kandy and 2 hours from Ella.
Trains/ buses are obviously much cheaper than tuktuks. You can find out the schedule for trains in Sri Lanka here.
Amazing things to do in Nuwara Eliya
1. Head to Tea Factory for a hot cup of tea in Nuwara Eliya -
The humidity, cool temperatures, and rainfall of central Sri Lanka provide the best climate for producing high-quality tea and Nuwara Eliya is a hub for the same. The tea factories in Nuwara Eliya are one of the must visit places. You can visit Bluefield Tea Factory, Damro ( earlier known as Macwood ) or Pedo Tea factory. Damro tea factory is a tourists’ hub so we had chosen the Bluefield tea factory which is more than 100 years’ old.
Good to know
For visiting the tea factories, there are no entry charges.You will also be accompanied by a guide who will explain the entire procedure from tea plantation to tea packaging. Don’t forget to enjoy a hot cup of tea after the trip (served complimentary).
If you take pictures of the people in the factory, will be good to give them a small tip :) Most of these tea factories have set up stores. We found that the tea from Nuwara Eliya market was much cheaper compared to the tea from factory stores. Hence if you plan to buy tea for people back home, I will recommend you to check out the local market stores!
Bluefield tea factory is around 28 km from Nuwara Eliya city center and is on the way to Kandy.
2. Explore the tea estates in Nuwara Eliya -
Nuwara Eliya is nestled amidst the lush green tea estates. No matter which part of the city you stay, you will wake up and smell the tea!
Local guides in Nuwara Eliya organize tea plucking tours. In case you are interested, check out these websites – Viator and Trodly
Good to know : There are no entry charges for exploring Nuwara Eliya tea estates. Though, if you wish to take pictures of/ with the tea pickers, they will expect some tip in return. So it will be good to carry some loose cash with you!
3. Walk around the Horton Plains -
Horton Plains National park is a house for lush green meadows, endangered species, waterfalls, and the famous World's End cliff. For exploring the park, you will need to walk around for 9 km (3 to 4 hours) as vehicles are not allowed inside the park. Also, you will need good 7-8 hours of the day for a trip to Horton Plains from Nuwara Eliya.
How to reach Horton Plains - Horton Plains is around 30 km from Nuwara Eliya and will take minimum one hour to reach. You will need to hire a tuktuk or a van. The tuktuk/van will cost around 5000 Sri Lankan rupees (USD 25) for a return journey. Try to share the tuktuk/van with others to save on the cost.
Entry fees for Horton Plains - The entry fees to Horton Plains is USD 25 for one person. If you are on a budget, consider skipping this as you will not be losing on much.Best time to visit Horton Plains –You should try to reach the park before 8:00 AM to escape the clouds and for enjoying a clearer view of the World’s end. Avoid visiting Horton Plains during rains as it gets too slippery.
4. Take a dip in Ramboda Waterfall -
Ramboda waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls in Sri Lanka (358 feet). To see the waterfalls, you need to hike up from the stairs starting from the ticket counter. The hike is of around 30 minutes and goes through massive bamboo trees and other old trees with giant roots! Don’t miss to carry swim clothes because Ramboda waterfall is perfect for swimming.
Good to know :
Ramboda waterfall is close to Bluefield tea factory (around 15 minutes’ drive and on the way to Kandy). The entrance fee is 50 Sri Lankan rupees (USD 0.25). The journey to waterfalls from Nuwara Eliya is breathtakingly serene, you will see tea estates and lakes covered with clouds.
5. Lovers leap waterfall -
Lover’s leap waterfall is another amazing waterfall in Nuwara Eliya which is surrounded by tea gardens. You will need to hike for 30 minutes for a splendid view of the waterfalls.
6. High Tea at the Grand Hotel -
Who said one cup of tea is enough? Not, when you are in Nuwara Eliya! Continuing the British tradition, Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya serves afternoon tea starting from 3:30 PM. A beautiful open lounge, varieties to tea to choose from and some delicious snacks – A perfect set up to import you to the British Ceylon. After coming back from our waterfall trip, we went to the Grand Hotel to enjoy the hot cuppa tea! Oh, what an evening that was!
Good to know :
The high tea will cost around 1,300 Sri Lankan rupees (USD 8). It comes with limited snacks and unlimited cups of tea which can be shared between people.
7. Visit the Oldest post office in Sri Lanka -
Nuwara Eliya post office is another beautiful colonial building built by the British and also one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka. Do give a visit to this Tudor style red post office and don't forget to send letters back home! Trust me, it feels awesome to get a letter from the country you just visited. The smell of the postcard will remind you of the good time spent. The cost for each postcard will be around 100 Sri Lankan rupees (USD 0.5). Btw, I did buy some stamps too :)
The post office is right in the middle of the city and walkable distance from Gregory Lake.
8. Go for a morning walk to Gregory Lake and Victoria Park -
Gregory Lake and Victoria Park are in the heart of the hill city, Nuwara Eliya. We chose to go for a morning walk around Gregory Lake and gorgeous Victoria Park and it was quiet, serene and peaceful during morning time. You can also do the boat ride, horse rides around the lake. Honestly, we always avoid rides around these commercial places due to exceptionally high prices and exploitation of animals.
Gregory Lake and Victoria Park have entry charges.
9. Climb the sacred Adam’s Peak -
Adam’s peak is 5th tallest and the most sacred mountain in Sri Lanka. It is also known as “Sri Pada, sacred footprint”. When in Sri Lanka, one of the must do things is to climb Adam’s Peak. The sunrise from Adam’s peak is said to be the most mesmerizing sunrise you would see in Sri Lanka.
The climb is not hard but you will need to climb around 5000 steps to reach the summit (3 hours of the continuous climb) and hence, a good knee is a must!
Good to know :
Nuwara Eliya is 70 km away from the starting point of the trek and you will take around 2 hours to reach. To reach the summit before sunrise, you will need to start from Nuwara Eliya around 11 in the night. Dalhousie in Sri Lanka (50 km from Nuwara Eliya) is the best place to base yourself if you are planning to climb Adam's peak. The map below will give you a somewhat better idea.
This detailed guide will help you plan the climb to Adam’s peak.
Adam’s peak in Sri Lanka. Picture credit - Sri Lanka Wide Tours
Nuwara Eliya Restaurants
Grand Indian – One of the most recommended places to eat in Nuwara Eliya
Grand Thai – Well, the name says it all. Known for Asian food
Sri Ambaal – Go only if you are craving for some Dosa and vadas. Don’t compare the taste with the Indian dosas and vadas, the food is just fine.
Coffee Bar – Good for coffee and sweet tooth cravings!
De Silva Food Centre – Don’t forget to try some amazing vegetable rotis.
Nuwara Eliya or Ella
Nuwara Eliya and Ella both are the Hill city of Sri Lanka.
Nuwara Eliya is more influenced by British style architecture and is a city in the middle of the tea estates and waterfalls. Ella is a lot more happening with pretty cafes, restaurants, and bars. In Nuwara Eliya, you will see local crowd while Ella gets many international travelers and tourists.
If you want to stay in a calm and peaceful place and away from the café culture, Nuwara Eliya will be a better choice. If you love to meet people from around the world, head to Ella!
Nuwara Eliya weather
January to April is the best time to visit Nuwara Eliya. The average temperature of Nuwara Eliya is around 15 C to 20 C during the entire year.
We had gone to Nuwara Eliya in December and the weather was warm during the day and colder in the night. Exactly what we were looking for after the sunny days at the southwest beaches.
Also read blog on Unawatuna in the southwest coast of Sri Lanka here: Places to visit in Unawatuna
Hotels in Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya was the most preferred location for British civil servants for the climate and hill country retreat. If you want to experience staying in a British style colonial house, there are many hotels amidst the tea estates of Nuwara Eliya. Grand Hotel, Backpacker’s Nest will be a good option. If you are looking for luxury, Heritance Tea factory is the best option.
We had stayed in a place called “ Comfort Inn & Hostel” which was right in the middle of the city (perfect from a location point of view). I had paid USD 15 per night for a room. The owner was sweet and had also invited us for dinner on New Year eve (one of the best home cooked meal we had in Sri Lanka).
Getting around Nuwara Eliya
You can hire a tuktuk or a moped/ bike in Nuwara Eliya.
We had rented a tuktuk for our 15 days’ trip to Sri Lanka for self-driving. Yes, we drove our tuktuk around Sri Lanka and the experience was amazing!!! If you are interested, read this blog to find out more on how we did it.
Is Nuwara Eliya safe for solo female travellers
I had traveled to Sri Lanka with Abishek and we found it safe and normal like any other city back home. Some of the fellow female travellers have told me about their experience on eve teasing in Sri Lanka. Well, I will say do not worry much, be cautious and trust your guts. Do not share all the details with any stranger and keep someone informed on your whereabouts.
Budget for Nuwara Eliya
Trips to waterfalls, tea estate, and tea factories are free/ nominal fees. All you need to plan is the budget for stay and commute and Horton Plains (if planning to visit). Staying in hostels will reduce the cost and you can also find travel buddies to share the commute cost with. The food in Nuwara Eliya is not much expensive. There are budget restaurants as well. You should keep a daily budget of minimum INR 1000 (USD 15), for the basic stay and food.
Other things you should know about Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya does not have many options for staying outdoor post 9 PM.
You will easily find ATMs and market places around the city.
Do carry some warm clothes as it gets slightly colder during the night, specially during the winters.
Hope you liked the blog on Nuwara Eliya. If you have any other question or you want to know something specific, hit me up!
Have a safe and fun trip to Sri Lanka.
Love,
TannedTravelGirl