Situated in the hill country of the Central Province in Sri Lanka, its name means "city on the plain " or "city of light" and is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya District. Nuwara Eliya is blessed with picturesque landscapes and a temperate climate and is located at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft). It is also considered to be the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka.
Founded by Samuel Baker, the discoverer of Lake Albert and the explorer of the Nile in 1846, Nuwara Eliya's climate lent itself to becoming the prime sanctuary of the British civil servants and planters in Ceylon. Nuwara Eliya, called Little England then, was also a hill country retreat where the British colonialists could immerse in their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket. Many of the buildings retain features from the colonial period such as the Queen's Cottage, General's House, Grand Hotel, Town Post Office and even new hotels are often built and furnished in the colonial style. Anyone who visits the city can wallow in its nostalgia of bygone days by visiting these landmark buildings. Many private homes still maintain their old English-style lawns and gardens. The town's attractions include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on Lake Gregory. Victoria Park is an attractive and well-used oasis. It is popular with birdwatchers at quieter times because of the good bird watching opportunities there.
