Nuwara Eliya sits at about 1,900 metres in the central highlands, so the air is cool and the landscape is green. It is the centre of Sri Lanka’s tea country and a welcome break from the heat of the coast.
A short history
Nuwara Eliya grew in the 19th century as a hill station for the British, who came for the climate and the tea. That history is visible in its colonial-style hotels, gardens and post office, which is why it is often called Little England. The surrounding hills produce some of the island’s best-known Ceylon tea.
Getting there
Nuwara Eliya is roughly three hours by road from Kandy and about two to two and a half hours from Ella. Many visitors arrive by train to Nanu Oya and continue by road.
