High up in Sri Lanka‘s hill country, the town of Nuwara Eliya feels like a world apart. Founded in the misty mountains by a British explorer as a mid-nineteenth century health retreat, the town quickly became known as Little England. Today, tourists flock here for its tea plantations, colonial-era buildings and gardens, and blissfully cool weather. You could happily spend a week or more here, but if you only have a day or two, don’t worry — you’ll easily be able to experience four major highlights without feeling rushed.

Nuwara Eliya’s Tea Plantations

Tea first came to Nuwara Eliya in the 1870s, and by the end of the century, the region had become one of the largest tea-growing areas in what was then Ceylon. Today, according to the Sri Lankan Tea Board, Nuwara Eliya has the highest, most mountainous, and rugged tea-growing terrain in the country. Tea grown here is “delicately fragrant” due to the region’s unique climate, and you can find tea plantations all over the place.

If you want to make the most of your tea experience in Nuwara Eliya, you’ll want to head for one of the large plantations that offers tours and tastings. I can happily recommend spending a morning at the Damro Labookellie Tea Centre, where you can choose one of the following:

• Take a quick tea factory tour (free!)
• Sit down for a tea tasting and cake (not free — unless it’s included in a package)
• Take a “safari” up into the tea fields (whatever the opposite of free might be)

We bit the bullet and shelled out the cash for the tea fields tour — and it was worth every penny.

In the Midst of the Tea

What made it worth opening our wallets? First of all, it was amazing to be up in the fields — just beautiful. And we got to see parts of the landscape that you can’t see from the parking lot.

Secondly, we had the chance to ask our tour guide all sorts of questions (What language do the tea pickers speak? Is there medical care on site? “How old is the oldest tea shrub here? How often are the tea plants pruned?”).

Third, we got to see real tea pickers in action.

And finally — and most amusingly — we learned how to pick tea. We were not great at it (there’s a reason they hire professionals), but we had a fabulous time.

The tea tasting was also well worth the journey, mostly because we’re tea lovers — and Ceylon tea is considered some of the best in the world.

As an added bonus, the journey to the Damro plantation gave us the chance to see the colorful, neatly-arranged vegetable displays by the side of the road — I just loved this.

The Nuwara Eliya Post Office

Nuwara Eliya boasts one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka! Built in 1894 in the Tudor style, it has hardly changed a bit.

Even more remarkable is that the mailboxes appear to be just as old as the building itself (that basket on the left is for international post).

You can buy a postcard and stamps here, and you’ll find a long table with pens set up for tourists to send mail to their nearest and dearest. I haven’t been a postcard writer in years, but this place was an inspiration!

Seetha Amman Temple

If you know your Ramayana, you’ll know that Sita was kidnapped and taken away from her husband, Rama, by the evil king Ravana. What you might not know is that, according to legend, Ravana held Sita for fourteen years at a site just south of modern-day Nuwara Eliya. That site is now marked by a temple, known alternatively as Seetha Amman Temple, Seetha Eliya, Seethai Amman Thirukkovil, or Ashok Vatika Sita Temple.

Sita herself is said to have bathed in the river here …

… and when Hanuman, the monkey king, came to give her Rama’s wedding ring as a sign of hope, he left this footprint behind (the slightly misspelled sign calls it “Lord Hunaman’s Holi Foot”)

Hakgala Botanic Gardens

This is a Nuwara Eliya hidden gem! I’m not sure why there aren’t more people here—it’s magnificent. Despite spending hours at the garden on a high-season weekend afternoon, we saw exactly zero non-local tourists—and as we continued uphill beyond the formal gardens, we had the place all to ourselves.

Hakgala is the second-largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka, and due to the local climate, roses thrive here.

Most botanical gardens I’ve visited have a single rose garden—but Hakgala has three.

We loved everything here — the hedge maze, the fernery, the wild and shady grounds of the arboretum …

… the more formal floral arrangements …

… and the Glass House, where an enthusiastic caretaker helped us to identify nearly every plant:

Other standout features here were the troops of purple langurs …

… and this sign — which seems to suggest that you were already touching the flowers to begin with.

More Fun Things to Do in Nuwara Eliya

Have extra time? Not a fan of postcards or plants? There are plenty of ways to spend time in Nuwara Eliya! You could:

• Enjoy the Lake: Close to the heart of Nuwara Eliya, Lake Gregory offers an array of activities: you can go for a boat ride (fast or slow, on a swan-shaped pedal boat or in a speedboat), have a picnic, or take a leisurely stroll around the water’s edge.
• Have Tea at the Grand Hotel: Excited about colonial architecture and longing for a relaxing afternoon? Look no further than the Grand Hotel, which began as a vacation residence in the early nineteenth century and was expanded into a hotel in the 1890s.
• Visit a Waterfall: When the rains whip up between June and September, water starts pouring down the mountains, and what was just a lush green landscape is suddenly cut by thin white rivulets.
• Ride the Rails: Head out on the train ride of your life, either to Kandy or to Ella.
• Walk the Back Roads: There are so many incredible scenes and vistas here — don’t be afraid to explore!

Key Tips To Know Before You Go to Nuwara Eliya

• The best times to visit are March to May and September to December — that’s when you’re most likely to stay dry. But do bring an umbrella or a raincoat; it’s verdant here for a reason.
• The Sri Lankan New Year takes place in mid-April, and Nuwara Eliya becomes an absolute zoo.
• You’re likely to experience sunny, warm mornings and misty, cool afternoons — so plan your activities and your wardrobe accordingly.
• If you’re headed to the hill country, don’t skip the journey — the train ride to Nuwara Eliya is half the fun. You can read more about it here.