Nuwaraliya is considered as one of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka and a favored destination for tourists from all over the world. With rolling mountain ranges, verdant tea estates and cool climate, it is one of the best places to relax and enjoy yourself.

The town was initially founded by Englishman Samuel Baker in the 19th century as a hill retreat for the British. Eventually, as time progressed, it became a premier resort town for locals as well. Majority of the buildings still retain features from the colonial period, and even new hotels are sometimes built and furnished in colonial style.



April is the season time for the town, mainly because of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. A lot of local tourists vacation in the region during this time. The festive season usually starts on the 1st of February with a ceremony consisting of band shows by the schools in the area.

There are many other attractions during this time in Nuwara Eliya, including horse racing and motor racing. For the motor racing enthusiast, not to be missed races are, Mahagastotta Hill Climb, Radella Hill Climb, Nuwara Eliya Road Race and the 4X4 Lake Cross. The season reaches its climax with the Governor's Cup and the Flower Show at the end of the month.

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Attractions

Victoria Park - A beautiful park right in the middle of town with a wonderful array of flora. It is an ideal place to spend some idyllic times with your loved ones surrounded by an exotic range of flowers and trees. This park also offers good opportunities to see various types of bird species, like the Indian Blue Robin, Pied Thrush or the Scaly Thrush. Hence it is a popular destination for birdwatchers as well.

The Golf Course - This 18 hole golf course, spread over 90 acres and older than a hundred years is one of Nuwara Eliya's biggest attractions, is situated right in the middle of town. It is reputed to be the only Golf Course where all the holes are visible from the Club House or accessible by car.


Hakgala Gardens

About 10km from Nuwara Eliya and just 2 km from the Chesterfield Hotel, along the Badulla road, the Hakgala gardens is the second largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka.

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Horton Plains National Park

This is one of the most scenic national parks of Sri Lanka, lying at a height of more the 2000m in the central highlands. It is much cooler and windy with an annual temperature of around 16 C. The park covers about 32 sq.km and is a mixture of highland forests and wet grassland. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including Leopard, Sambar, Purple faced Langur, Dull-blue Flycatcher, Sri Lanka White-eye, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, and Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Yellow-eared Bulbul and Black-throated Munia are widespread throughout the highlands.


Seetha Kovil
This is a place related to folklore of Sri Lanka is this Hindu Temple called "Seetha Kovil" (Hanuman Kovil). It is on the Nuwara Eliya-Badulla road about 6.5 km from Nuwara Eliya, before the Hakgala Botanical Gardens, in a village known as 'Seetha Eliya'

The folklore about the area is related to the Ramayanaya in Hinduism. It is believed that the temple is built on the place where the mighty King Ravana hid the Princess Seetha, after he kidnapped her from King Rama.


Water Falls around Nuwaraeliya

There are several beautiful waterfalls around the Nuwara Eliya, and many of these can easily be visited as a part of trekking and/or hiking expeditions.

Ramboda Falls - 329 ft. is also an attraction in this area, about 10 km along the Nuwara Eliya - Kandy road.

Devon Falls -drops 97 metres and is named after Devon, a pioneer coffee planter. It is 6 Km west of Thalawakelle and there is a special parking and view

Laksapana Falls - off the Nuwara Eliya - Kandapola Road.

Saint Claire Waterfall - is the broadest waterfall in the country with an unusual compilation of two waterfalls and is about 265 feet in height. It can be seen on the Hatton-Nuwara Eliya route, 3km from Talawakelle.



Attractions close to the hotel