Nuwara Eliya Things to Do

Lake Gregory, about a kilometre outside the town centre, is a lovely blue mass of water set against the surrounding hills. It's usually fairly quiet, and pedaloes and boats can be hired on an hourly basis from the boat club. It also makes for a pleasant walk round but it's too dirty to swim in.

A colonial legacy, this is as far as I know the only proper race course in Sri Lanka. Horse racing is big business in Sri Lanka - bookmakers make a fortune from people betting on races held in England, and names such as Ascot and the Grand National are well known. I'm not sure how often the course is used for horses but there are plenty of ponies hanging about, cricket matches going on, a rubbish dump in the middle, and it's used as a shortcut through the town!

The entrance fees are a little steep at Rs300 but definitely worth it if you're into landscaped gardens.

Be wowed by the array of colourful flowers and garden.

There's public bus there but we went there in a chartered van amongst 2 other places. Because of the afternoon rain, we had to leave around 230pm, so maybe it's better to go in the morning if you're visiting in late September.

There're many tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya, and we chose Pedro Tea Estate because we wanted to visit Lover's Leap along the way.

You'll get introduced to the procedure of making tea and finally get to taste a cup of tea. Walk around the plantation and maybe witness the tea pluckers.

The best part of the visit must be the strong scent of tea that hits you (really strong) when you enter the processing room.

Be warned that the sun may be searing if you intend to walk around the plantation so go well equipped.

In the Nuwara Eliya area you can visit one of the tea factories, where the picked tea leaves are dried and processed into the form that we all know (but not in the bags!)
A lot of the machinery used is still very old and is still labour intensive,

The Hill Club is a members only club and a remnant of the British Empire.
Visitor's can apply for temporary membership for use of the facilities. A dress code applies for dining where you could borrow appropriate clothes. No jeans allowed.

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The gardens are situated 10km southeast of Nuwara Eliya at the foot of Hakgala Rock. They were originally established in 1860 as an experimental plantation of cinchona trees. This is the tree from which quinine is derived.

Today the gardens cover 27 hectares. They are devided in to various sections, rose gardens, ferns, orchids etc. These sections are separated by pathways & lawns. I spent an enjoyable 90 minutes exploring them.

The price for a foreign tourist was Rs 600.00.

We stopped at Nanu Oya a tiny railway station just before Nuwara Eliya and walked around the place. It was evening and there was hardly anyone around. I love old small towns & villages and this place is one that I will remember for a long time..