Nuwara Eliya, Mountain city in Central Province, Sri Lanka
Nuwara Eliya is a mountain town in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, sitting at 1868 meters elevation and surrounded by tea estates. Streets wind through hilly terrain with timber houses, Anglican churches, and the centrally located Victoria Park lined with old trees.
Samuel Baker founded the town in 1846 as a retreat for British officials escaping coastal heat. Tea factories and European-style bungalows appeared in the following decades, shaping the face of the region through today.
The name means "city of light" in Sinhala and reflects in the carefully tended gardens residents maintain throughout the year. Vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and cabbage grow here, crops rarely found elsewhere in tropical regions.
The elevation causes temperatures to drop sharply at night, so bring warm clothes. Most guesthouses and hotels sit within walking distance of the center, where the market and bus station are located.
Horse races take place at the racecourse in April, while Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations unfold simultaneously in the streets. Residents wear traditional dress on these days and share homemade sweets with visitors.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
