Nuwara Eliya Post Office

Nuwara Eliya Post Office

The Nuwara Eliya Post Office is a popular tourist attraction in Nuwara Eliya. It is situated in the center of the city, where you can reach it easily. The post office is considered one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka. It was inaugurated in 1894 by the British.

The Tudor Revival architecture has been used in the development of this building. It looks very beautiful when you are seeing it from a distance. The red bricks were used in the construction. Its clock tower, which you can see in the corner of the building, also attracts visitors.

Sri Lanka Post issued a Rs 10 stamp on December 20, 1990, to commemorate World Post Day. On that stamp, a photograph of this building was included. In 2012, the upper floor of this building was converted into accommodation for tourists. Before that, it was used by former postmasters as quarters.

If you are a traveler who explores the hill country of Sri Lanka, then we request that you visit the Nuwara Eliya Post Office during your Nuwara Eliya tour.

Seetha Amman Kovil in Nuwara Eliya

Seetha Amman Kovil

Seetha Amman Kovil, or someone called “Seetha Amman Temple,” is a famous tourist attraction in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. It is 5 kilometers from Nuwara Eliya and 1 kilometer from the famous Hakgala Botanical Garden. Therefore, you can visit Seetha Amman Kovil during your Nuwara Eliya tour or Hakgala Botanical Garden visit. The village is called “Seetha Eliya,” and it is near the Hakgala Mountain.

It is the only Hindu temple in Sri Lanka that was dedicated to Princess Seetha. People believe the place is special where it combines with the epic tale of Ramayanaya.

 

History of Seetha Amman Kovil

King Ravana has captured Indian Princess Seetha, according to the Indian epic Ramayana. He took the princess to Sri Lanka and kept her as his prisoner. This happened almost 5000 years ago. The Hakgala region is thought to be one of the locations in Sri Lanka where King Ravana held captive Princess Seetha.

The nearby stream to the Kovil, according to the story, catered to Princess Seetha’s needs when she spent her days here. Later, Lord Hanuman found the princess. But King Ravana captured Hunaman and burned his tail. He was then burned alive with his tail. Now, the people believe the dark color of the soil comes from when the Hunuman burned the area. They also think the circular depressions on some rocks in the stream are because of Hanuman’s footprints.

There were no Kovils at first. But later, people made the Kovil by respecting Princess Seetha. There, you can see South Indian architecture on the Seetha Amman Kovil.

 

More facts about the Temple

Seetha Amman Kovil is open every day, and visitors can participate in pujas. There are two main puja times. The morning session continues from 8 a.m. to 1pm. The evening session runs from 2 to 6 p.m. You are no need to buy tickets to enter. It is fully free. In any case, you can donate to the Kovil. You can also find this place easily when you are traveling on the Badulla-Nuwara Eliya road.

If you are a traveler who loves to explore Ramayanaya locations in Sri Lanka, then you should definitely not miss this place. It is 10 minutes from Nuwara Eliya. Therefore, you can come here very easily. As well, don’t forget to visit Seetha Amman Kovil with your full devotion.

 

Some Photos of the Seetha Amman Temple

Seetha Amman Kovil  

 

(Image Source; Facebook.com and Credit should go to the original owners)

 

 

Galway’s Land National Park in Nuwara Eliya

Galway’s Land National Park

Galway’s Land National Park is another newly established national park in Sri Lanka. It is situated near Nuwara Eliya City, 2 km away from the city centre. Therefore, this is a nice place to visit during your Nuwara Eliya tour. It is also a fabulous place for those who love wildlife and nature.

Galway’s Land National Park is a small sanctuary with an area of 27 ha. Consisting of montane dense forest, it was first declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938, then became a national park in 2006. Visitors can access this site from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m.

It is a place that you can’t explore with your vehicle and where you need to walk on your own two feet. There is a nice foot path that continues for almost 2km. Together with Victoria Park, the area is considered the perfect place for bird watching in Sri Lanka. It has found 10–30 endemic birds and many migratory birds here. The North East monsoon season is considered the best time to see migratory birds, which is the ideal time to visit Galway’s Land.

Apart from those birds, Galway’s Land National Park is home to other animals, including waterhogs, mouse deer, barking deer, and wild boar. You can also see many flowering plants, large trees, local plant species and a few foreign plant species. The cool and calmness are ideal for those who love to relax within an urban environment. So, we recommend not missing this place during your next Nuwara Eliya visit.

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(Cover Image Credit: Kompasuwa – කොම්පාසුව )

Bomburu Ella Waterfall in Welimada

Bomburu Ella Waterfall in Welimada

Bomburu Ella Waterfall is a superb destination to visit in Nuwara Eliya. It is a beautiful and cascading waterfall that is situated inside a forest canopy. The place is very popular among local travelers. But it is also a great site to visit as a tourist. Bomburu Ella is 50m in height and 20m in width. It is considered that it is one of the widest waterfalls in the country.

Location

Bomburu Ella is situated in the Uva Paranagama Divisional Secretariat area of the Badulla district. The location is also considered the boundary of both Badulla and Nuwara Eliya districts. The distance to the place from Welimada city is around 21km and from Nuwara Eliya city is around 19km.

If you are starting from Colombo, then you can come to Welimada Town via Bandarawela. Then the public transport buses are available from there. Perawella is the closest village to the Bomburu Ella Waterfall.

There are no good facilities to park your public vehicles. You can park them near the entrance. From there, you need to walk around 2km towards the inside of the forest. But it is a nice trek or walk for anyone. You will definitely feel relaxed after you reach the waterfall.

More facts about Bomburu Ella Waterfall

It is a waterfall with four cascades. Anyone can go to the top of the waterfall with a hard effort. Furthermore, it belongs to the Kotakithul Kanda Mountain (1842m). Bomburu Ella Waterfall is situated inside the Seetha Eliya-Kandapola Forest Reserve. Therefore, you are not allowed to camp there.

The spraying water drops always generate a scenic view. It is a fantastic place for photographers. Most people never forget to take photos near the front grass area. Anyhow, you can reach the bottom of the waterfall. The place is always cool and wet.

Final Word

Bomburu Ella Waterfall is a nice place to visit in the Nuwara Eliya region. This is not a good place for bathing or camping. It is better if you can go there on the weekdays. You aren’t allowed to disturb wildlife and harm the plants of the forest reserve. Entrance is free and please bring leech protection for the trek. It is a cool, calm, and clean place. So, don’t pollute the place and please bring back everything that you are carrying.

There are also so many nice places to visit around Bomburu Ella Waterfall. Hakgala Botanical Garden is one of those places that you should not miss in that region.

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(Cover Image Source: Thilan Wijegunaratne from Twitter)

Peacock Hills in Pussellawa

Peacock Hills Mountain In Pussellawa

Peacock Hills is a nice place to go for a hike in central Sri Lanka. The mountain is situated in the Pussellawa area of the Nuwara Eliya District. It is a fantastic view point with a panoramic view. The height of the Peacock Hills is 1518m above sea level. Locals call this mountain “Monara Kanda”.

How to reach Peacock Hills

You first need to come to Pussellawa town to start the journey. The distance to Pussellawa from Kandy is 35km and from Nuwara Eliya it is about 45km. It is a town on the border of the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. After the pussellawa, you must travel another 5 kilometers to the starting point. The road is small with poor conditions. You will see many beautiful tea plantations along that route. It is not difficult to find the starting point of the trail.

This is not a hard hike and you can come to the top within 30 minutes. You will see communication towers along the road. But you don’t need to get permission to cross them. The narrow footpath through pine trees will generate a nice feeling for anyone.

What you can observe from the Monara Kanda

As we mentioned earlier, the view from the peacock hills is amazing. The panoramic view is superb for photographers. Just sit on the large rock there and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. You can see many cities, villages, and the nearest mountains from there.

Gampola Town, Nawalapitiya Town, Pussellawa Town, Nuwara Eliya Town, Ambuluwawa, Dolosbage Mountain Range, Piduruthalagala Range, Bible Rock, Ramboda Falls, Poona Ella, Kothmale Reservior, and Mahaweli River are some of the clearly visible things that you can observe.

More Facts About the Mountain

The mountain got its name because of its shape. From a distance, it looks like the front neck of a peacock. That caused them to adopt the name ‘Peacock Hill’.

Kothmale is the nearest village to the mountain. It is a historical village in Sri Lanka. The king, Dutugemunu, lived in this village in his youth. He was a heroic king in Sri Lankan history and ruled his kingdom with great prosperity.

Peacock Hill is a superb place for campers. You can camp on the top of the mountain. But you need to bring enough water. Early morning sunrise and evening sunset are the perfect times to take some amazing photographs. You are not allowed to take drone shots. The place is normally crowded during the holidays.

So, visit Peacock Hills if you are love hiking, trekking, camping and photography. It is a nice place to visit in both Kandy and Nuwara Eliya areas. But keep in mind to don’t destroy the place with rubbish.

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(Cover Image Credit: Dhani_sparkly from Instagram)

Gregory Lake in Nuwara Eliya

Gregory Lake in Nuwara Eliya

Gregory Lake is an attractive place to visit in Nuwara Eliya. It was built by Sir William Gregory in 1873. The place is very popular among local and international travelers. There are many activities to do based on this reservoir. It covers 90.2 ha and the surface elevation is 1874 m.

Gregory Reservoir: History

Britain controlled Sri Lanka during the period of 1796–1948. In 1872, Sir William Gregory was appointed as the new governor of Ceylon. His ruling time was from 1872 to 1877. After seeing wet land there, Sir Gregory went to Nuwara Eliya and decided to build this reservoir. The dam was constructed after damming the Thalagala Stream.

During the British era, the lake was used for recreational and water activities. The water in the lake decided to direct itself into a tunnel for hydropower generation. That happened in 1913. The major aim of that hydro station was to generate essential electricity for the town.

Activities in Lake Gregory

The lake has been very popular for water activities in the past. You can do speed boat riding, swan boat riding, dinky boat riding, normal boat riding, and windsurfing. As well, there is a nice park around the lake. It is very beautiful because of the flowers on it. Furthermore, you can do pony rides, cycling, and leisure walks.

The seaplane can take you to Gregory Lake. You can book your seaplane tour from Colombo and it will take around 30 minutes to get to Nuwara Eliya. There are many hotels, restaurants, and other facilities out there for visitors.

More facts about the Area

Nuwara Eliya is beautiful city that is situated on the central highlands. The cool and wet climate attract many visitors to the location. April month considered as the best time to visit the Nuwara Eliya and Gregory Lake.

If you are planning Nuwara Eliya City Tour, then you can arrange it with Mahaweli Tours and Holidays. We are a leading tour agency in Sri Lanka. Call: 0777 111553 or email: info@mahaweli.lk for more details.

(Gregory Reservoir Cover Image Credit: OviCourt)

Lovers Leap Waterfall in Nuwara Eliya

Lovers Leap Waterfall in Nuwara Eliya

Lovers Leap Waterfall is not a widely popular waterfall in Sri Lanka. It is situated in the Hawa Eliya area near Nuwara Eliya. The height of this beautiful waterfall is 30m. There are some myths and beliefs around this fall. This is an awesome place to visit in the Nuwara Eliya region.

How to reach

Lovers leap waterfall is situated 4 km away from the Nuwara Eliya bus stand. You should follow the Ragala-Udupussellawa route from there. Public transport is available along the road. But the Tuk Tuk is the perfect vehicle for this trip. After 3.5km, you should drop out of your vehicle. Now you need to walk on an uphill road for about 400m to reach the location. Don’t forget to get help from the locals. They will guide you to find the destination.

Facts about Lovers’ Leap Fall

This is certainly a scenic waterfall. You can stay on the large rock that is in front of the fall and watch its beauty. The spraying water drops will cool you. Someone can visit the upper part of the cascade. The surrounding picture of the city is fantastic and mind-blowing. You can see many vegetable growing fields and tea estates. Most of the local people are Tamil.

Piduruthalagala is the highest mountain in Sri Lanka, with a height of 2524m. The mountain and the surrounded forest area are the major water sources for the Lovers Leap Waterfall. Because of a myth, nobody will come to this place after 6 p.m. But you can come here at any time before 6 p.m. and it’s free to enter.

Lovers’ Leap Story

As we mentioned earlier, there is a story behind this. That has given the name to this waterfall. There was a royal prince who came to hunt in this area and got lost. Then, the local girl helped him in this trouble. The prince falls in love with that girl. But his parents were unsatisfied with the affair. That has made the couple take the decision to commit suicide. Finally, they all jumped from this waterfall and died. Today, people believe the ghost will come to the area in the night.

Lovers Leap Tea Factory and Pedro Tea Estate

Nuwara Eliya is a place which is rich in tea cultivation. The Pedro Tea Estate is situated near the Lovers Leap Waterfall and it has covered many hectares in the area. It was established in the 1880’s by the British and is considered as one of the oldest tea estates in the country. The estate is currently managing by Kelani Valley Plantations PLC.

Pedro Tea Estate is very popular around the world for its unique taste in tea. The seasonal tea is sold under the name of ‘Lovers Leap’. You can go to the Lovers Leap Tea Factory and learn about how Ceylon tea is processed. There is a nice tea shop in front of the tea factory. You can go there and enjoy the taste of a tea cup.

About Nuwara Eliya:

Nuwara Eliya is a major city in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It’s situated in a hilly area with an elevation of 1864m. The cool and breezy environment has made the area known as the “Little England of Sri Lanka”. The average annual temperature is around 15 °C and the average annual rainfall is about 2500 mm. There you experience a sudden changing climate. Rainy seasons bring more water to the Lovers Leap Waterfall and that will increase its beauty.

March to April is the spring season of Nuwara Eliya. Many travelers come in that season. Flowers are blossoming and the environment looks amazing. There are many hotels, restaurants, and villas available for visitors.

Here are some of the places to visit in Nuwara Eliya:

  • Single Tree Hills
  • Ambewela Farm
  • Hakgala Botanical Garden
  • Horton Plains National Park.
  • Victoria Park

Along with those places, don’t forget to visit Lovers Leap Waterfall during your Nuwara Eliya tour. You can plan your Nuwara Eliya City Tour with us. Just call: 0777 111 553 or drop a mail to: info@mahaweli.lk

(Lover’s Leap Falls Cover Image Credit: Ruwan Anandagoda)

Nuwara Eliya City Tour – A Trip to Little England

Nuwara Eliya City Tour

Do you love to experience a cool and gloomy atmosphere? Then Nuwara Eliya city tour becomes your first option to explore. 

Sri Lanka, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean is a versatile tourist destination which is surrounded by attractive coastal line and hill country in the middle. Therefore, you can enjoy typical tropical weather as well as non-tropical climate. 

 

Nuwara Eliya- Once a colonized city

Nuwara Eliya is located in Central Province and there is approximately 170 Km of distance from Colombo. There is a subtropical highland climate due to its highland geographical features. The average temperature is 16 °C. As one of the centers for tea plantation in ancient Ceylon, environment and culture of the city are better indication of an ancient British colony.

The city was founded by Samuel Baker who was an English explorer. During the period between 18th to early 19th century, it was under the British rule. Due to its similar atmosphere to England, the city was highly favored by the English civil servants as well as the planters. It is well known as ‘ Little England” in nowadays also. 

If you can reach the city accompanied by a professional guide, it will save your time and you can gain the utmost historical information about the Nuwara Eliya City.  

 

Places to enjoy during your city tour

Since this is an ancient English colony, you are absolutely amused by its traditional British constructions and architecture. There are several remarkable buildings in the city like the Grand Hotel, the colonial-style post office, the Hill club, Queen’s Cottage, St. Xavier’s Church.  The emerald green gardens with full of roses drag your imagination to a fairly tale. 

Are you looking for a place to relax with natural beauty? Victoria Park is the ideal to spend your time as one of the main attractions of the city. There is a variety of flora and even you can enjoy bird watching. Nanu Oya River flows through the park creating small lakes and it brings more eye-catching sceneries. 

If you need more adventure, you should visit the Lake Gregory surrounded by the lush countryside. It was constructed during the period of the British Governor William Gregory. You can have a boat ride or enjoy fishing. Even bicycle riders are allowed around the lake.

Make your time to visit Nuwara Eliya Golf club, one of the oldest Golf club and Nuwara Eliya Racecourse, the one and only horse racing venue in the island. 

Having pleasant weather there are many fruits and vegetable farms around the city. Not only that but also the picturesque tea plantations in all over the highland also offers you serenity. 

The friendly and multicultural community always encourages you to roam around the city. You can taste delicious food visiting to a luxury hotel or restaurant. If you love to taste street foods, there are plenty of cost-effective food stores. Finally, do not forget to visit Bale Bazaar and buy something to remember.

It’s time to ready your Nuwara Eliya City Tour with us!

 

Nuwara Eliya City Tour with Mahaweli

Possible Starting / Pick-up Locations:
Nuwaraeliya,Hatton,Kandy,Ella, (You can let us know your exact location for us to check and confirm the possibility)

Duration: Our Nuwara Eliya city tour will take around 04 on average.

Tour Type: A private tour. Vehicle and the Guide / Chauffer guide are dedicated to you / your group. Safari tour will be done by an off-road vehicle and traveling to the starting point and back will be done by Comfortable Car / Van / Mini coach

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(Cover Image Credit: Basilis Corcino)

Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya

Victoria Park Nuwara Eliya

Victoria Park is a popular place to visit in Nuwara Eliya. It is a public park that is situated near the Nuwara Eliya post office. The park is open all year and is managed by the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council.

Queen Victoria Park got this name in 1897 to commemorate the 60th jubilee of Queen Victoria. Initially, this was a research field for Hakgala Botanical Garden. Oak was the first plant established here. The entire park covers 27 ha (27 acres). Annually, more than 100,000 visitors come to Victoria Park. This also includes 4,000–5,000 foreign visitors.

Victoria Park is a beautiful place with many plants, flowers, and birds. The ever-green atmosphere is superb for anyone to free their minds. This is considered a rich place for birds, which includes the Kashmir Flycatcher and Indian Pitta. There you can see different types of flowers that multiply the beauty of the park. The months of March, April, August, and September are the flower-booming seasons in Nuwara Eliya.

There is a kids’ play area and train tours for adults. It is open from 7 am to 7 pm every day. Visitors should buy tickets to enter. Ideal place for a family trip. Nanu Oya flows through the park, which has generated a few small lakes.

Nuwara Eliya is a fabulous place for tourists. The cold climate attracts tourists, and that has given the name of ‘Little England in Sri Lanka” to Nuwara Eliya. The annual rainfall is around 2500mm and the annual temperature is around 15’C. Tea is the major crop in this area, and the majority of the people are Tamil.

Other than Victoria Park, Single Tree Hills, Lovers Leap Waterfall, Horton Plains, Gregory Park, and Hakgala Botanical Garden are some of the other places to visit in the Nuwara Eliya region.

You can plan your Nuwara Eliya City Tour with Mahaweli Tours & Holidays. Just call: 0777 111 553 or drop a mail to: info@mahaweli.lk

Hakgala Botanical Garden

Hakgala Botanical Garden in Sri Lanka

Hakgala Botanical Garden is a nice place to visit in the Nuwara Eliya region of Sri Lanka. It is considered one of the five botanical gardens in the country. The other four botanical gardens are as follows:

  • Peradeniya Botanical Garden.
  • Mirijjawila Botanical Garden
  • Henarathgoda Botanical Garden.
  • Seethawaka Botanical Garden.

Hakgala Botanical is the second largest of those five gardens. This was established in the British Era in 1861.

You need to turn your vehicle into the Badulla–Nuwara Eliya route in the Nuwara-Eliya main town. Driving 6km along that road will take you to the garden. It is really easy to find the location. You can use Google Maps. Buying a ticket is essential to enter the garden.

Annually, 500,000 visitors come to the Hakgala Garden to enjoy its beauty. It contains a variety of plants and species, over 10,000. You can also see a lot of floral verities. The orchid garden and rose gardens always attract visitors. Nobody forgot to take some nice photographs from there. All around, the entire garden is comprised of beautiful landscapes. The place is managed and operated by the Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka.

Hakgala Botanical Garden is situated near the Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve. But you can’t go to the nature reserve. The elevation of the place is 5400 ft. from sea level. It has spread over 28 hectares. You can experience a cool climate all around the year. But the December through February season is the coolest time period. The average temperature is between 16C and 30C.

April is considered the best month to visit here. The period is the spring season in Nuwara Eliya. So, a lot of travelers never forget to come here. March is the off-season for many floral plants, so you will not see many flowers. Hakgala Botanical Garden is open all year round and the opening times are 8am to 6pm. It is a very relaxing and ideal place to visit with your family and friends.

(Cover Image Source: Ceylon Footprint Holidays Facebook Page)