This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you are better prepared for what to expect, what not to expect and can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Nuwara Eliya. To help you make friends with Nuwara Eliya before you visit, we've included a few helpful and fun things you should know about the area. Enjoy!
Nuwara Eliya is a town in Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean. It is nestled high above the rest of the country, in the central region, at about two kilometers above sea level. It is called Little England, and it is not usually a tourist destination due to the popularity of the nearby towns of Kandy and Ella. Surrounded by tea estates with small hostels, bungalows, and residences in the hills around the city, this is a great place to relax.
If you stay at one of the affordable hostels in Nuwara Eliya, be sure to ask the hostel staff for a taste of Sri Lankan cuisine. Filled with spice and bursting with flavor, the food is bound to be a gastronomic experience worth talking about. After a hearty meal, walk down to Victoria Park, a large park in the middle of the town. It has many little gardens, a children’s play area, and many walkways too. One downside is that you will typically have to pay higher prices for entry if you are from outside the country.
While in Nuwara Eliya, you must visit one of the many tea plantations in the hills around town. There are estates and factories that harvest and make the tea leaves and bags. You can take a tour of the tea factory, see the machines in action, and have a cup of fresh tea on the terrace of the factory, which has a small café too.
Tea plantations aside, be sure to take a trip on the house boat on Lake Gregory, another of the many sights the town has to offer. The lake is a short walk past the old horse racing track, where British colonials used to gather to see the races prior to independence. When walking around, try out some local dishes at the small shops on the roadside.
Written by local enthusiast for Nuwara Eliya hostels
Jakob Lombardi
