Nuwara Eliya
★ 4.7🇱🇰 Nuwara EliyaSuggested visit 1 dayBest season January to April, dry and vivid in the plantations
NatureTeaRailway
The heart of Ceylon tea country, with rolling plantations and the blue train winding through them.
Overview
At about 1,900 metres in the central highlands, Nuwara Eliya is cool enough to be nicknamed Little England. Tea terraces cover the surrounding hills, and factories welcome visitors to see withering, rolling, fermenting and drying before tasting. The rail line from Kandy through Nuwara Eliya to Ella is widely considered one of the most scenic train journeys in the world.
History
British planters found the climate suited to tea in the 19th century, introduced Assam varieties and established estates, making it the heart of Ceylon tea.
Highlights
- •The terraced plantations and pickers
- •A tea factory tour
- •The blue train from Kandy to Ella
- •Gregory Lake and Victoria Park
Practical tips
- •Highland mornings and evenings are cold — bring a jacket
- •Train tickets sell out; book ahead or take second class
Practical information
- Best time
- January-April
- Tickets
- Factory tours are usually free; tea sold separately
- Opening hours
- Factories roughly 8:00-17:00
- Local food
- Ceylon tea, Sri Lankan curry, roti
- Getting around
- About four hours by train from Kandy, or 2.5 hours by road.
- Visa
- A visa is required; an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is available.
Traveller reviews
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