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 really comes alive in April for the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year, and it is difficult to find accommodation as Sri Lankans holiday in the region during this period. Main attractions during this time include numerous motor racing and horse racing events.
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.
Nuwara Eliya is also a base for visits to Horton Plains National Park. This is a key wildlife area of open grassy woodland. The plains also has a well-visited tourist attraction at World's End, a sheer precipice with a 1050 m drop. The return walk passes the scenic Baker Falls. Early morning visits are best, both to see the wildlife, and to view World's End before mists close in during the later part of the morning. The slow-growing tea bushes of this highland region produce some of the world's finest Orange Pekoe tea, and several tea factories around Nuwara Eliya offer guided tours and the opportunity to sample or purchase their products.
