Things to Do in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Nuwara Eliya is a hill town in Central Province. Here are places to see in and around Nuwara Eliya, with distances measured in a straight line from the town centre. Road journeys are longer, so check current travel times before you go.

Places to visit near Nuwara Eliya

• Horton Plains National ParkAbout 16 km away · A high-elevation protected area of montane grassland and forest in central Sri Lanka,…
• Nuwara EliyaIn town · A highland city surrounded by tea country, cool-climate landscapes and colonial-era…
• Gregory LakeAbout 2 km away · A reservoir and recreation area within Nuwara Eliya, surrounded by the city’s highland…
• Moon PlainsAbout 2 km away · An open highland landscape near Nuwara Eliya with broad mountain views.
• Seetha Amman TempleAbout 3 km away
• Devon FallsAbout 15 km away · A prominent waterfall on the Kotmale Oya near the Dimbula tea-growing area of central…
• Ramboda FallsAbout 16 km away · A prominent waterfall in the Ramboda area on the route between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya.
• World's End, Horton PlainsAbout 19 km away · A dramatic escarpment viewpoint inside Horton Plains National Park, reached by a walking…
• Bambarakanda FallsAbout 20 km away · A major waterfall in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, dropping through a forested mountain…

Best time to visit

• Horton Plains National Park: Early morning, both for wildlife activity and to beat the cloud cover that typically rolls in by mid-morning.
• Nuwara Eliya: April, when the town hosts its most active social season, or any time outside that for a quieter visit with cooler weather.
• Gregory Lake: Morning to early afternoon, when boating is open and the hill-country air is at its coolest and clearest.
• Moon Plains: Early morning, both for the clearest views before mist rolls in and better chances of spotting wildlife.
• Seetha Amman Temple: Morning, when the temple is open (roughly 8am-1pm) and the surrounding valley is at its coolest.

Plan it your way

Add these places to your own trip and arrange them into days with the Ceylon Loop travel planner. See also the best time to visit Sri Lanka and how many days you need.

Opening hours and fees can change, so please verify them before you travel.