Beautiful tea plantations and beautiful waterfalls in a town with many English influences
As soon as you get off the train from Kandy (or Hatton), you will quickly notice the English influences in Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is also known as the City of Lights with all kinds of rural British houses and gardens. The temperature in Nuwara Eliya is considerably lower than in the rest of Sri Lanka. I have to quickly look for an extra warm sweater! This colder climate is ideal for the tea plantations and during the colonial rule of England in Sri Lanka, many British settled here. Nuwara Eliya is a special place to walk through, but its surroundings with many tea plantations and waterfalls are especially beautiful.
Visit the Ramboda waterfalls
Our visit to the Ramboda waterfalls did not go entirely smoothly. From the bus station in Nuwara Eliya we took the bus to Ramboda. This village is located half an hour's drive from Nuwara Eliya and is known for its beautiful waterfalls and beautiful tea plantations. We got off at a tea factory, after which we started the hike to the waterfall (or so we thought). After an hour of wandering through the tea fields we discovered that we were walking at the top of the waterfall instead of at the bottom. Despite that, it was a beautiful walk! Be aware that the women in the tea plantations ask for a small contribution if you decide to take photos of them. We walked back and took a tuk tuk to the village. After a quick search we quickly found the waterfall. Beautiful!
Other sights in Nuwara Eliya
Because we did not like the cold (10 degrees at night), we only spent one full day in Nuwara Eliya. However, it is also possible to visit all kinds of other sights. Below is a list of highlights in and around Nuwara Eliya:
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Spend a day with a tuktuk that will take you past tea plantations, viewpoints and waterfalls. Count on around €8 for an entire tour
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Chill around Gregory Lake with many locals
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Take a tour of a tea factory, such as Bluefield Factory or Blue Tea Gardens
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Visit other beautiful waterfalls: Lovers Leap and Devon Falls
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Enjoy breathtaking views at the Wold's ends viewpoint in Horton Plains National Park. Count on one extra day if you decide to visit this park
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Taste the delicious tea during a high tea in the very chic Grand Hotel
How to get to Nuwara Eliya?
FromKandy you take the train towardsElla. After 4 hours you will arrive in Nuwara Eliya. A perfect stopover on the world famous train journey between Kandy and Ella. If you decide to use the Adam's Peak to climb, you will arrive in Nuwara Eliya by train within 2 hours.
Stay overnight
Basic: King's Lodge
Standard: Luxury Wilderness
Luxury: Chimneys Nuwara Elyia
Continue your journey
Continue your journey through Sri Lanka by train to the beautiful backpacker villageElla.
