Nuwara Eliya Tea Country

Nuwara Eliya situated 2000m above sea level, is a small town set amongst hills, developed by the British colonial rulers, resembling an English country village complete with many English style bungalows and buildings, post office and small shops. It is rightly called “Little England”. Earlier the tourist season was restricted from March to May when fruits and well kept spectacular gardens full of flowers abound. Yet in present times people visit Nuwara Eliya at any time of the year. Due to its cool salubrious climate ranging from 16 0C down to even 3 0C, the British grew expansive tea plantations in this area making it the heart or the capital of the tea industry. On one’s way up to Nuwara Eliya, one finds only tea plantations on either side of the road stretching for miles whatever route you may take. The lush tea plantations with various shades of green that roll over from hill to hill with large and white tea factories scattered in between, make a marvellous feast to the eye. A visit to a tea plantation and a tea factory is a must for any tourist. In addition, Nuwara Eliya offers golfing, horse riding, boating in Gregory’s Lake and hiking, not forgetting a visit to Hakgala Botanical Gardens coming down from 1861, just beyond 10km from the town. Hakgala is considered to be at the highest elevation at which a botanical garden is found in the world.