Nuwara Eliya, the little England of Sri Lanka
Nestled within the Tea Kingdom almost at the crest of Sri Lanka is Nuwara Eliya (City Light or even the Table Land). This is a tourist haunt as well as locals’ holiday hub due to the coolest clime and the lusty green environment and is better known as the ‘Little England’ for the British Plantation Community has left its foot print in many aspects; the buildings, recreation, education and religious cum culture and even sports.
Tea being the flagship crop of Sri Lanka and the highest income earner for the nation is grown and blended mostly in the Nuwara Eliya district although there is the low grown variety as well. Do visit Tea factories, especially at Labookelle where you will be given a guided tour for a thorough knowledge of the process of Tea, blending, grading and packing.. Also there is the Kandapola Tea factory supposed to be the first, established by James Taylor who pioneered Tea in Sri Lanka.
The plantation consist mostly South Indian Labourers who wake up by dawn to harvest the tender leaves and they could be spotted with cloth over the heads and the baskets hung on the shoulders. The population therefore has a good mix of ethnic fusion that gives a different political landscape in comparison. With a diverse climate other agricultural crops too thrive in and around. Vegetable farming could be seen in vast extents with short, medium term crops doting all over in the lower town areas. And they are marketed to major cities while providing the freshest for all star hotels in the Nuwara Eliya domain. Even apples, pears and peaches are grow here which is not possible in any other part.
Golf patches that hold annual local and international tournaments are an attraction especially during the April Season. Besides, boat rides, fishing, jockey and also motor races add glamour to the season in which the flowers are in full bloom. In fact there are green house produced flowers and plants for export from Nuwara Eliya. Shopping could be exciting as well. Warm clothes, bed linen and jackets are in plenty with the vendors as this frosty cold location warrants so, to keep the visitors from warmer climes comfortable. The hotels and lodges offer varied cuisine and the range includes from orient to western to Indian and Chinese.
The lofty mountains that surround the city are all richly carpeted with beautifully pruned tea shrubs and studded with tea factories exuding that strong aromatic air distinguishable from other vegetations. The climate could between 80C to 120C according to the seasons. So, when the rest of the Island is humid and hot during the summer type of the year, Nuwara Eliya entices the foreigners and the locals with her cool but sunny weather, hence being the peak holiday season. Travelling up from any direction is accompanied by waterfalls as well on the way not to mention the heavy dew and fog as you approach nearer.
A few kilometers from the city is the famous Horton Plains National Park where you’d view the ‘World’s End’ and the 1050m steep drop. The park is a haven for exotic and endemic species of flora and fauna. Also the Hakgala Botanical Gardens on another direction on route to Baddulla, could be worth a visit for a horticulturist and even others who need to relax with nature.
As for the religiously inclined there is this spout and temple erected beside attributed to both Seetha and Hanuman the Monkey god who are main characters in the Tamil legend and lore Ramayana. It is believed that Hanuman hid Seetha, Rama’s wife, from the Kidnapper King in this place. Churches could be located by the British style spires and grave stones with the British names besides many other denominations. As in any other area in Sri Lanka Nuwara Eliya is not devoid of Buddhist temples.
Nuwara Eliya could be easily accessed by Busses and Vans apart from cars. And also by trains up to a nearby station that is 8km from the town. Air Taxi too is a sensation today. It takes only a few hours to Colombo and the flight takes off from Lake Gregory. As for further details do ask your tour/ travel agent who will custom make the itinerary for your maximum pleasure.
