The short answer
- How long
- 1 night
- Altitude
- About 1,890 m: bring a jacket
- Nearby
- Horton Plains, tea factories, Nanu Oya station
- From Kandy
- About 3 hours by road
The British built Nuwara Eliya as a cool retreat in the 1800s, and it still has a racecourse, a golf course, Tudor style hotels and a post office in red brick. Around it, tea bushes cover every slope, and some of the country's best known estates welcome visitors.
What to do
- Tea factories: Pedro, Mackwoods and Bluefield are among the estates near town and on the road from Kandy, with tastings and short tours.
- Gregory Lake: Pedal boats and lakeside walks in the centre of town.
- Horton Plains: Dawn walks to World's End, about an hour's drive. See our Horton Plains guide.
- The train to Ella: Nanu Oya, 15 minutes from town, is where the scenic train to Ella now starts.
Weather
Nuwara Eliya is the coolest town in Sri Lanka. Days are mild, around 20°C, but nights can drop below 10°C, especially from December to March. Mist and showers are common at any time, and it is wettest from May to August and in October and November.
Average daily high / low and monthly rainfall
| Month | Nuwara Eliya1,890 m, Ella is warmer | Kandy500 m |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20° / 9°140 mm | 28° / 18°120 mm |
| Feb | 21° / 9°70 mm | 30° / 18°70 mm |
| Mar | 22° / 10°90 mm | 31° / 19°100 mm |
| Apr | 22° / 12°170 mm | 31° / 21°190 mm |
| May | 21° / 13°200 mm | 30° / 22°150 mm |
| Jun | 18° / 14°290 mm | 28° / 22°130 mm |
| Jul | 18° / 14°250 mm | 28° / 21°130 mm |
| Aug | 18° / 13°200 mm | 28° / 21°120 mm |
| Sep | 19° / 12°180 mm | 28° / 21°150 mm |
| Oct | 20° / 12°250 mm | 28° / 20°280 mm |
| Nov | 20° / 11°240 mm | 28° / 20°260 mm |
| Dec | 20° / 10°200 mm | 28° / 19°200 mm |
Rounded long term averages. Blue shading marks the wetter months. Individual years can be hotter, colder or wetter.
Getting around the tea country
Most trips drive from Kandy past Ramboda Falls and the tea estates, sleep in Nuwara Eliya, visit Horton Plains at dawn, then take the train from Nanu Oya (or Pattipola, near Horton Plains) to Ella.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Nuwara Eliya worth visiting?
Yes, for a night: for the tea estates, the cool air and as a base for Horton Plains and the Nanu Oya to Ella train.
How cold is Nuwara Eliya?
Days are about 18 to 22°C; nights often 9 to 14°C, sometimes colder from December to February.
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