7.2906° N, 80.6337° E
Kandy
The hill capital and home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Explore Destination →6.9497° N, 80.7891° E
Nuwara Eliya
Central Province — Sri Lanka's tea country
Best Time to Visit
January to April, or August to September
Suggested Stay
1–2 nights
Distance
2–3 hours from Kandy or Ella
Coordinates
6.9497° N, 80.7891° E
Overview
About Nuwara Eliya
Nicknamed 'Little England' for its colonial architecture and startlingly cool climate, Nuwara Eliya sits at 1,868 metres in the heart of Ceylon's tea country. This is where the postcard image of Sri Lanka's rolling green tea terraces actually comes from — and a factory tour with a tasting at the end is the reason most people stop here. It fits naturally as a one- or two-night break between Kandy and Ella on the hill-country train line.
Don't Miss
Highlights in Nuwara Eliya
Tea estate & factory tour
Damro Labookellie and Pedro Tea Estate are the two most visited, both with free or low-cost tours.
Gregory Lake
A pleasant walk or pedal-boat ride in the centre of town.
Horton Plains day trip
Misty highland plateau, ending at the sheer drop of World's End viewpoint.
Colonial-era architecture
Tudor-style cottages and the Grand Hotel — a genuinely odd contrast with the rest of the island.
Getting There
How to Reach Nuwara Eliya
The Kandy–Ella train stops at Nanu Oya station, a short tuk-tuk ride from town — one of the most scenic legs of the journey. A private car from Kandy or Ella takes 2–3 hours.
Pair It With
Nearby Destinations
6.8667° N, 81.0466° E
Ella
Mountain village famous for Nine Arches Bridge and the Kandy–Ella train.
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