Three hours from Kandy, after an uphill climb along roads that snake around misty mountains, you reach Nuwara Eliya, the island’s highest town situated in a lush valley about 1890m above sea level.  The hot and humid climate of the coastal areas is replaced by a crisp dry air and a unique lifestyle that has made this a popular holiday retreat for generations.

Discovered by the British who developed it into a summer retreat in the early 1800s, Nuwara Eliya still maintains much of its colonial character (it’s still called Little England by some people). The town sprawls over the fertile valley with Victorian-style 19th century homes, bungalows, guesthouses and hotels complete with gabled roofs, large open fireplaces and hardwood floors.  The residents of Nuwara Eliya take great pride in their beautiful gardens too with their neatly-clipped lawns and colourful flower beds.

The town’s main attraction is the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club with its challenging
18-hole golf course and a clubhouse full of colonial character.  The St. Andrew’s hotel, situated just a stone’s throw from the golf course, is a refurbished old Tudor-style mansion and the best hotel within the town. There are other good accommodation options just outside the town.

Close to Nuwara Eliya is Horton's Plains, an undulating 2000m high plateau with grassy plains interspersed with small patches of forest which is home to leopards, sambur, deer, bear, monkeys and a rich array of birds, including some endemic species. The most dramatic feature of the national park is “World’s End” where the plateau comes to an abrupt end and drops nearly a 1000m straight. The panoramic views from here are unparalleled.

During the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year celebrations in April herald the “season” for Nuwara Eliya, another tradition that stretches back to the British colonial period. Colombo’s resident flock to the hills for the holiday to escape the enervating pre-monsoon heat. The 10-day holiday period includes horse races, motorcross rallies, golf competitions, flower exhibitions, concerts and revelry late into the night. Book early.

• Nuwara Eliya Golf Club - Set amid the tea plantations of the central highlands, Nuwara Eliya Golf Club is a great golf course set in a charming hill station. This testing course was built by a Scottish soldier of the Golan Highlanders for the British serviceman and officials stationed here in 1889.  The British influence is clear to see, although the course holds many features unique to Sri Lanka. The clubhouse and bar is an atmospheric place to enjoy a drink and meal after your round. It is full of character and colonial history.
  
• Train travel - The morning railway journey from Kandy to the highlands of Nuwara Eliya, Ella or Dickoya, climbing uphill up to 6,000 ft above sea level, is one of the greatest rail journeys in the world.  The dramatic landscape of the highlands stirs the senses as you wind past lush tea plantations, majestic peaks and rushing waterfalls.
  
• Tea Factory visit - Sri Lanka is the second largest exporter of tea in the world, outdone only by India, having started to grow only in 1850 because of the devastating coffee blight. Today Ceylon Tea is recognised as one of the finest blends. A guided tour around a Tea Factory – there are a variety of factories in the hills that offer tours – is a fascinating experience is an enlightening experience.
  
• Hakgala Botanical Gardens - Perched underneath the shadow of the Hakgala or Jaw Tooth rock, at an elevation of 1,670m, the beautifully landscaped Hakgala Botanical Gardens spreads over an area of 27 hectares. With magnificent views of the surrounding hills and the jungles of the Hakgala Nature Reserve, the gardens are filled with roses and orchids, eucalyptus, pine and camphor, fruit and scented herbs and rare ferns - an array of flowers and foliage from Sri Lanka and different parts of the world. An eminent British Botanist founded the Hakgala Botanical Gardens in 1860.
  
• Horton Plains National Park & World’s End - Horton's Plains an undulating 2000m high plateau 28km south of Nuwara Eliya. The grassy plains, which are interspersed with small patches of forest, are home to leopards, sambur, deer, bear, monkeys and a rich array of birds, including some endemic species. The most dramatic feature of the national park is “World’s End” where the plateau comes to an abrupt end and drops nearly a 1000m straight. The best way to explore the park is on foot.  The plains can also be explored by jeep, preferably from early morning as the mist often falls by lunchtime.