Things to do in Nuwara Eliya
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Milano Restaurant
This restaurant has a reliable menu of Sri Lankan, Western and Chinese dishes and friendly service. Treat yourself to some sweet baked goodies and a coffee to set you up for the rest of the afternoon.
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Hill Club
Dinner at Hill Club is an event in itself. The five-course set menu focuses on hearty meals like roast beef, served, with all the trimmings, promptly at 8pm. The whole thing is carried off with faded colonial panache: gloved waiters, candles and linen tablecloths and serviettes. For the formal dining room, men must wear a tie and jacket – there are a few on hand, but they sometimes run out – or Sri Lankan national dress. Women must also be suitably attired in a dress or dress slacks. The dress code at the Hill Club’s à la carte, casual restaurant is not so strict. If you’re not staying the night here, you’ll have to pay a Rs 100 temporary joining fee. The food doesn’t liv…
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Nuwara Eliya Golf Club
Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, spreading north from Grand Hotel Rd, is beautifully kept and has a retinue of languid sleeping dogs guarding more than a few of the greens.
It didn’t take the tea planters long to lay out land for drives and putts in their holiday town, and the club was founded in 1889. The club has been through tough times but survives to this day. Water hazards – in the form of rivers and streams – come into play on six holes. Temporary members pay Rs 100 per day. Hire golf clubs for Rs 1080 per day and golf shoes for Rs 168 per day. The club expects a certain dress code: for men, shirt with collar and pants or shorts (of a decent length), socks and shoes; and fo…
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Hakgala Gardens
The Hakgala Gardens, 10km southeast of Nuwara Eliya (and about 200m lower), was originally a plantation of cinchona, the plant from which the antimalarial drug quinine is extracted. Later, the gardens were used for experiments in acclimatising temperate-zone plants to life in the tropics. The gardens were run by the same family for three generations until the 1940s. Today Hakgala sprawls across 27 hectares and is famed for its roses, ferns and medicinal plants.
Legend has it that Hanuman, the monkey god, was sent by Rama to the Himalayas to find a particular medicinal herb. He forgot which herb he was looking for and decided to bring a chunk of the Himalayas back in his j…
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Pedro Tea Estate
To see where your morning cuppa originates, head to the Pedro Tea Estate, about 3.5km east of Nuwara Eliya on the way to Kandapola. Guided tours of the factory, originally built in 1885 and still packed with 19th-century engineering, run for a half-hour. Overlooking the plantations there’s a pleasant tea house. A three-wheeler from Nuwara Eliya should cost Rs 700 to 800 return, including waiting time. The Single Tree Hotel runs trips for Rs 500 per person. Alternatively you could hop on a Ragalla-bound bus (bus 743) from the main bus station in Nuwara Eliya.
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Seetha Amman Temple
On the way to the Hakgala Gardens, near the 83km post, stop at the colourful Hindu Seetha Amman Temple at Sita Eliya. It’s said to mark the spot where Sita was held captive by the demon king Rawana, and where she prayed daily for Rama to come and rescue her. On the rock face across the stream are circular depressions said to be the footprints of Rawana’s elephant. Tamil wedding parties make it a point to stop here for pujas.
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4WD Tours
Most hotels and guesthouses in town can arrange day trips by car or 4WD to Horton Plains National Park and World's End. The standard price for up to five passengers is Rs 1700. One of the better-run 4WD tours is based at Single Tree Hotel. The road is better than it used to be and the trip takes about 1½ hours one way. It costs about the same from Haputale.
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Grand Hotel
Not the cheapest place to drink in town, but with a lovely period vibe enlivened by an open fire and vintage movie posters. The older waiters will most likely challenge you to a game of snooker in the adjoining billiard room. You’ll be expected to pay for the privilege (Rs 500 per hour), but it is a quintessential Nuwara Eliya experience.
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King Prawn Restaurant
Chinese is the overriding culinary influence here, all delivered in a dining room transplanted from 1930s England. Thai flavours also linger in some of the dishes, and there’s a good array of seafood on offer. You’re a few miles inland here, so expect to pay a hefty premium. Service is rather stiff and formal, but very prompt.
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Boathouse Restaurant
Open only during the July-August, December-January and April peak seasons, this is a popular local lakeside bar and restaurant with a nautical theme. There are carrom (a cross between snooker, marbles and air hockey - you flick disks into corner pockets) boards to pass the time.
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Single Tree Hill
A good place for walking is up Single Tree Hill (2100m), which takes about 90 minutes. Walk south on Queen Elizabeth Rd, go up Haddon Hill Rd as far as the communications tower and then take the left-hand path. Guest houses can supply you with a rudimentary map.
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Victoria Park
The lovely Victoria Park at the centre of town comes alive with flowers around March to May, and August and September. It’s also home to quite a number of Hill Country bird species, including the Kashmir flycatcher, Indian pitta and grey tit.
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St Andrew’s Hotel
There’s a couple of restaurants at this venerable hotel. The Old Course Restaurant channels the culinary heritage of the British Empire, while the new Taste of Asia (open from 6pm) has lighter oriental flavours.
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Lakeview Pub
At the time of research, the finishing touches were being added to this place at the Alpine Hotel. Lots of moody, dark timber, billiards, darts and a lake-view terrace promise to make it a popular spot.
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Lion Pub
Almost every town of size in Sri Lanka seems to have a 'Lion Pub', and this version sitting at the edge of the town centre is as good a spot as any for draught lager at local prices.
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Market
If you need clothing for cooler weather or trekking, head to the market on New Bazaar St for brand-name outdoor gear from Sri Lankan garment factories at bargain prices.
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Hill Club
There are four clay tennis courts at the Hill Club. The fee includes balls and racquet hire. Try not to lob a ball into the Sri Lankan President’s residence next door.
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De Silva Food Centre
This inexpensive eatery located along a busy main street serves Sri Lankan and Chinese fare. A few vegetarian rotti make a good lunchtime snack.
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Alpine Adventurers
Alpine Adventurers specialises in trekking, camping, mountaineering and rafting tours in the area.
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The Pub
The cheapest place to drink in town, but not recommended for solo female travellers.
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Tennis
There are tennis courts at the Hill Club. The fee includes balls and racquet hire.
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Mountain-Bike Rental
Mountain-bike rental can be arranged at most hotels and guesthouses.
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Hill’s
Self-caterers should head to Hill’s supermarket for canned goods.
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Grand Indian
In front of the Grand Hotel, the surroundings are a bit cafeteria-like, but the food and the service here are top-notch. Try the kadai (dry curry cooked in a wok) chicken teamed with kheema naan (bread stuffed with meat). Unlike a few other places around town, there’s normally an energetic buzz about the place. Make a night of it before or after brews and billiards at the bar at the Grand Hotel. From 3pm to 6pm the Grand Indian specialises in good-value samosas and tandoori sandwiches.
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