Have a jolly time in the hills

With verdant valleys and a salubrious climate, the town creates an enchanting setting for a relaxing getaway. The Nuwara Eliya town was fashioned as a hub for leisure by the British. This quaint ambience continues to linger, enhanced by charming Tudor and Victorian style cottages and rose gardens.

Amidst December’s chilly mornings and evenings, the hotels, cottages and colonial bungalows (See Hill Country) light up with colourful Christmas decorations filling the town with yuletide joy. For those in the quaint town, exciting activities such as boat rides and jet skis at the beautiful Lake Gregory is also an ideal option. A tour of the Nuwara Eliya tea estates will leave you enthralled by centuries-old history that dawdles amidst the bushes, factory walls and also make sure to visit the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse.

A trip to the hill country is never complete without savouring the juicy fruits from the area’s orchards. While pears are seasonal, the strawberry fields will nearly always have a bunch of pretty red fruits to offer.

Vegetables in Nuwara Eliya are known to be the freshest and crunchiest on the island, and farmers sell these freshly harvested veggies at makeshift stalls along the road near their cultivations. Nearly everywhere you look, pretty flowers are in bloom in Nuwara Eliya, and the most captivating blossoms can be witnessed at the Hakgala Botanical Gardens. Filled with native and foreign species of flora, it is an ideal destination to enjoy a leisurely walk. The beauty of the gardens has led many to believe that this is the mystical Ashok Vatika, a garden where Princess Sita – the wife of Prince Rama was held captive by King Ravana.

To further immerse in nature, head to the Horton Plains National Park, a montane and cloud forest, rich in biodiversity and overlooking stunning views. Hidden with a low-hanging fog, the plains offer glimpses of majestic sambur deer among other wildlife. The scenery from World’s End at the border of Horton Plains provides thrilling views of the landscape.

For an idyllic and relaxed getaway in Sri Lanka, chill amidst the beautiful hills in Nuwara Eliya. It is a wonderland with charming mountain scenery and thriving wildlife.