Staying & Sight-Seeing in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya is a tiny hill station in Sri Lanka’s central province. At an altitude of close to 2000 meters, the little town oscillates from being cool to cold. We reached when it was raining in Nuwara Eliya (Read: Drive from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya). There was a little wind too, thereby making it quite cold. We pulled out the little warm clothes we had brought along.

Sight-Seeing in Nuwara Eliya

We told you it’s a hill station. So expect the usuals of a hill station here in Nuwara Eliya.

There’s Lake Gregory, a rather big lake with a very well maintained promenade fit for strolls and walks. It also offers water sports of various types. We decided against them since it was raining by fits and starts.

Close to the lake is the Racecourse. Since we had turned down her request to go for boating on the Lake Gregory, our daughter convinced us for a horse-ride at the gate of the racecourse. Negotiate well with the horse owners, for they can charge a bomb for a short ride.

Suggest you take a walk through the Nuwara Eliya town. We did just that and found some charming buildings that had been turned into the post office, bank, police station. Small that the town is, the walk doesn’t take more than 30 minutes.

There is also the Victoria Park and the Golf Course. We peeked at both of them from the outside. The Golk Course, in all likelihood, doesn’t allow visitors/passer-bys inside. While the Victoria Park looked to us like any other regular park and was slightly crowded. We decided to stroll in the main street instead.

Where to stay in Nuwara Eliya – Review of Araliya Green Hills Hotel

We stayed at the Araliya Green Hills hotel in Nuwara Eliya and found it to be big but unremarkable. Was extremely crowded the evening we checked in. Worse, they had allotted us a room in a noisy wing, which was changed upon request after a while.

The restaurant was overflowing, both during dinnertime and breakfast time the next morning. Food spread was very average. Plus, it appeared to me to be short on staff what with water and other requests being served at considerable delays.

Check out took forever. They clearly are not used to handling rush season.

Not a very pleasant stay, but considering we stayed there for just a few hours, we didn’t mind it greatly.