SRI LANKA - Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya District is a famous hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. With an altitude of approximately 1,800m, the weather is cool making it suitable for tea plantation. In fact, Nuwara Eliya is the main hill resort of Sri Lanka and the heart of the tea industry, renowned for its Ceylon Tea production.


Blessed with salubrious climate, breathtaking views of valleys, meadows, mountains, waterfalls and greenery, Nuwara Eliya provides an escape from the hot and humid weather of Sri Lanka.


Breath of fresh air.


Thanking God for the cool breeze. Just so happened that our tour guide took this photo.


Being the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka, a visit to one the many tea factory is a must.


I’m here at the Glen Tea Factory.


One of Glenloch’s personnel gave me a tour of their factory explaining the processes of tea making and is now explaining the various types of tea being produced in Sri Lanka.


Various types of tea leaves produced by Glenloch on display.


According to Glenloch’s website, Glen Loch commenced its commercial operation more than a century ago and has been able to maintain its distinctive name among the best award winning tea institute in the world.
  

Browsing through the food menu.


You can enjoy a meal or snack amid a beautiful surrounding.
 

Or you can just opt for a complimentary cup of Ceylon Tea.


Ceylon Tea might taste a bit rich/strong for some.


Don’t leave Sri Lanka without buying some Ceylon Tea.


My beau looking at the White Tea sold at Glenloch. Ceylon white tea is also known as silver tips. I have always wanted to try the famed white tea from China but wasn’t able to find it back in Malaysia. I was excited that white tea is also being produced in Sri Lanka.

White tea is highly prized and the price is significantly higher than other teas. White tea leaves derives from the fine silvery white hairs in the unopened buds of a tea plant. The beverage itself is pale yellow and has a light taste. White teas has many health benefits and is known to contain the most antioxidant of all types of tea.
    

You can be assured of high quality tea by purchasing a Pure Ceylon Tea together with the Lion Logo on its packaging. Tea producer using The Lion Logo and the wording “Pure Ceylon Tea’ goes through a strict inspection procedure by the Sri Lanka Tea Board before using it on their tea packaging. Bought a box of White Tea and some Ceylon Tea before leaving the factory.
  

Walked around Glenloch Tea Factory while enjoying the beautiful scenery.




A nearby tea estate plantation belonging to Hellbodde.




A ‘V’ shaped waterfall. Poona Oya Ella Falls is a twin waterfall about 100m high and 4m apart.


Some of the beautiful scenery you might expect at Nuwara Eliya.


Hmmm…Sri Lanka sure has small durians.


The fog getting thicker as we proceeded higher up the mountains.




Heading up the narrow, winding road up the mountains.


Workers wrapping up some of the vegetables.


Gosh! The fog was so thick, I wonder if I can manage to take any nice photographs.


Lucky for me the fog begun to clear up!


We are right now at the Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Plantation.


We got out of the car for some photographs of this beautiful plantation.


Mackwoods was established since 1841 by British Ship’s Captain William Mackwood which now manages 27,000 acres of tea and rubber estates in Sri Lanka.


Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Royal Botanical Gardens by the British who brought or should I say smuggled a tea plant from China. It was not until 1867 when James Taylor marked the birth of the tea industry in Ceylon by starting a tea plantation.


Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water and is one of Sri Lanka’s most important economy. The country is the world’s fourth largest producer of tea after China, India and Kenya.


How about Malaysia? The tea industry of Malaysia is very small and mostly for own local consumption only. The total production of tea in Malaysia is only about 3% of Sri Lanka and just about 0.6% of China, the largest producer of tea.


Really had a good time admiring the beautiful scenery of tea plantation on the surrounding mountains.


Some of the buildings were constructed in the architectural style of the Tudor houses in England. There is even a clock tower. I don’t know if they forgot to wind the clock or it is no longer working as it was definitely not 12 noon.


A remnant of the colonial era, the pink building is actually the Post Office of Nuwara Eliya.


Nuwara Eliya, also known as the ‘City on the Plain’ is located in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka.


The area was planned to be an English village by Sir Samuel Baker in the 19th century. However, it was Sir Edward Barnes who has made Nuwara Eliya a place to live to the people and he is known as ‘Father of the Pioneer Nuwara Eliya’.


The town centre of Nuwara Eliya is small enough to walk around.


The famous Grand Hotel of Nuwara Eliya. 


Used to be called Barnes Hall, the hotel used to be a holiday home of Sir Edward Barnes, Governor of Sri Lanka from 1824 – 1831. Sir Edward used it as his private residence from 1830 – 1850.


The Grand Hotel was established more than one hundred years ago in 1891. 


This British Colonial style luxury hotel is the hotel to stay while in Nuwara Eliya. As quoted by National Geographic Traveller Magazine, “Pristine grounds surround Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya. The hotel is an example of an Elizabethan era Manor House”. 


Hmmm…lets look around ‘pristine grounds’ surrounding the hotel.


The garden sure is well kept and beautiful.











The beautiful laid out gardens as well as the beautiful surroundings of the hotel


Time to check in the hotel. No…not the Grand Hotel. Costing about USD 200 per night, the price is way off my budget.


Just like Cameron Highlands, Nuwara Eliya was developed as a retreat for the British and was a haven for the home sick. The whole district is today a stopover for those who want to escape from the lowland heat.


The hotel which I stayed for the night is The Rock Hotel. A cosy hotel located up above a hill.


With an average temperature of 16 degree Celsius, it surely will be a cold night especially since the fireplace isn't operational.


Other than tea, the cool climate enables Nuwara Eliya to be a major centre for growing vegetables……


…….. and flowers.

Terraces growing vegetables and flowers while tea bushes are grown on steeper slopes covers Nuwara Eliya’s countryside.


The temperate climate along with its colonial architecture has earned Nuwara Eliya the name ‘Little England’.


Smiling for the camera.


Brrr…I was just putting on a brave front. The weather was actually really cold.


Architecture mimics of an English country house.


There are bungalows and other hotels built around the hill.


Time to head back to town for my dinner.


Spotted a restaurant by the roadside. Would like to highlight here that the Sri Lanka ‘Kik’ cola is actually very good. Worth a try whenever you’re in Sri Lanka.


Had some local food for dinner.


The food was okay but might be too spicy for some. You can opt instead for hotel meals if you’re not too adventurous.


A huge door bolt keeps you safe during the night. Without a heater in the room, I covered myself with layers of blanket during the night. I’d like to advice those who plan to book a hotel at Nuwara Eliya to make sure there’s a heater in your room.


Had some breakfast early in the morning at the hotel and we’re on our way.


Saw a herd of cows grazing on a pasture.


These are dairy cows which are bred for their milk.


Moo!


Seeing our interest in cows, the tour guide purchased some fresh yogurt for us to try out their local dairy product. Simply delicious! 


Tea plantation estates dominates the landscape of Nuwara Eliya.




St. Clair’s Falls amidst St Clair’s tea plantation. In fact the waterfall’s name is derived from St Clair’s Tea estate.


St. Clair’s Falls is dubbed as the ‘Little Niagara of Sri Lanka’


St. Clair’s falls comprises two falls called Maha Ella and Kuda Ella meaning the Greater Fall and Lesser Fall respectively.


Just few kilometres away from St. Clair’s Fall is Devon Falls.


Devon Falls is named after a pioneer English coffee planter called Devon.


Nothing spectacular, but both waterfalls sure does compliments the natural beauty of the surroundings.


The picturesque landscape and temperate climate of Nuwara Eliya surely did rejuvenate me for my onward adventure in Sri Lanka.


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