LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS PERADENIYA BOTANICAL GARDENS Sri Lanka ’ s largest and finest gardens , covering almost 150 acres , established as a pleasure garden for Kandyan nobility , and then transformed into botanical gardens by the British in 1821 . Highlights are the huge Javan Fig , the orchid house , venerable palms , sal ( cannon ball ) trees , bamboo , troupes of macaque monkeys and fruit bats .
PINNAWELA 60 km from Colombo near the road to Kandy , there is a government-run elephant orphanage , where abandoned or injured elephants are reared . They live in a large enclosed area , and twice a day , morning and afternoon , they are fed and herded to the river for bathing . There may be an element of a zoo about Pinnawela , but it does offer the best chance to get close to these magnificent animals .
BUDDHIST TEMPLES Embekke Devale , Lankatilake , and Gadaladeniya are three 14th century temples close to each other about 10km west of Kandy . Gadaladeniya stone temple , with its lacquered doors and wall murals is a must see . Embekke temple has intricate carvings . The Gangarama Viharaya monastery and Degaldoruwa rock temple , with beautiful murals , lie to the east of Kandy .
VICTORIA GOLF COURSE An 18-hole par-73 championship course in a truly stunning setting about 1 hour drive east of Kandy .
KNUCKLES MOUNTAIN RANGE A contrasting world of steep hills , hidden valleys , dense forest , dry plains and dramatic drops . Highlights are Corbet ’ s Gap and Little World ’ s End .
HANTANA TEA MUSEUM Housing memorabilia and machinery in a renovated tea factory outside Kandy . Nature lovers can enjoy a trek through jungle and tea plantations here .
KITULGALA AND THE KELANI RIVER White water rafting is popular along the Kelani river . You can also enjoy walking / birdwatching in the Kelani Forest Reserve . Most visit Kitulgala ( where Bridge over the River Kwai was filmed ) as a day trip , but it can be a fascinating overnight stay for the more adventurous . For this , we recommend the Plantation Hotel .
THE TEA EXPERIENCE The road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is lined with tea-clad hills . A visit to a tea factory will explain the production process and you can watch the tea-pluckers deftly plucking the tips . Many estates open their doors to visitors , giving tours and a chance to sample and purchase the various teas .
THE BOGANANTALAWA VALLEY In the 1870s , Scottish planters discovered the hidden Boganantalawa Valley . 80 % of the tea in Boganantalawa is of Chinese origin ( from an area called Tientsin ), the rest is Indian .
SRI PADA ( ADAM ’ S PEAK ) This rugged summit , 2,243m above sea level , is claimed to bear the imprint of Buddha ’ s footprint . It is clouded over for most of the year , although clear weather is more likely between December and March . Pilgrims ascend on foot . Start walking in the middle of the night to arrive at the peak for sunrise . This is a strenuous 3 hour ( plus ) climb on a well marked path , mostly steps . Ceylon Tea Trails is our nearest accommodation , roughly 1 hour ’ s drive .
NUWARA ELIYA This ‘ Little England ’ sits against mountains , valleys , waterfalls and tea plantations . All around , you will see British influences . Have lunch or dinner at The Hill Club to step back in time to British colonial days . There is a scenic 18-hole golf course . The town is famous for its trotting races , held throughout the year but the big event is in April .
AROUND AMBEWELA South of Nuwara Eliya is the road up to Ambewela . The scenery is one of market gardens , tiny villages , waterfalls , majestic mountains and , of course , tea plantations . Ambewela district is known as ‘ milk country ’; the area is littered with back-garden cattle sheds and dairy farms . Hakgala Botanical Gardens was founded in 1860 and its special attractions are the mountain orchids and the Fernery .
HORTON PLAINS NATIONAL PARK Horton Plains is Sri Lanka ’ s highest plateau . Two of the country ’ s highest mountains border the park and it is the source of the Kelani and Mahaweli rivers . At World ’ s End , you stand at the top of an escarpment looking down 1000m to breathtaking views of the whole region . You can also walk down to the scenic Bakers Falls . More than 70 % of Sri Lanka ’ s endemic birds can be found here .
AROUND BANDARAWELA Surrounded by hills and tea plantations , stands the hill-station of Bandarawela , a favourite retreat of the British during colonial times . Now a busy market town , it is dotted with English country-style houses and sprawling gardens . Some of the best and most ‘ flavoured ’ tea is said to come from this area . Bandarawela is a good base for walking .
THE HIGHLAND RAILWAY The railway that runs from Kandy to Badulla is a significant engineering feat , traversing steep valleys and hugging the mountain edge , resulting in stunningly beautiful journeys through the heart of the high tea country . Travelling on just a part of the journey is an amazing experience , such as from Kandy via Hatton to Nanu Oya , the station nearest to the town of Nuwara Eliya .
ACCOMMODATION IN A NUTSHELL
LUXURY BOUTIQUE The Kandy House is a historic Walauwa mansion set amidst mature tropical gardens near Kandy . Romantic Theva is perched on the Hantana mountainside just outside Kandy . Taylor ’ s Hill is a boutique country house in a stunning secluded location with excellent family accommodation , while the Bougainvillea Retreat captures sensational views .
COLONIAL HERITAGE Hotel Suisse by the lake in Kandy , the Hill Club in Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela Hotel are full of colonial charm and a little old-fashioned . Mahaweli Reach and Earl ’ s Regency in Kandy and Jetwing St Andrews in Nuwara Eliya retain the charm but with more modern comforts .
MID-RANGE MOUNTAIN RESORT HOTEL The comfortable Hunas Falls , the luxurious 98 Acres , and Living Heritage enjoy a beautiful location surrounded by nature and wildlife and are a great base for walkers and trekking .
HOME FROM HOME Ellerton is a converted tea estate manager ’ s bungalow 45 minutes from Kandy , and the Rosyth Estate House offers unrivalled privacy .
SPA Whilst all the properties offer either in-room massage or more comprehensive Ayurveda and spa treatments , Amaya Hills offers a particularly full range of therapies in its Ayurveda spa .
TEA ESTATES Ceylon Tea Trails offers luxurious living in a choice of four planters bungalows in amongst tea plantations with stunning mountain and / or lake views . All meals and a visit to a tea factory are included . Jetwing Warwick Gardens is a grand tea planter ’ s ‘ bungalow ’ with two floors , colonial furniture and four-poster beds . It has its own tea estate . Kirchhayn Bungalow near Bandarawela is a little simpler , and further south . This 1920s planter ’ s bungalow gives you first-hand experience of tea plantation life on the Aislaby farm and tea estate .
CLIMATE IN KANDY AND TEA COUNTRY Daytime temperatures in Kandy range from around 22 to 31C . It is cooler but fairly humid and misty in the evenings with short outbursts of rain . Heavier rainfalls occur from May to August . At an elevation of above 4,000 feet , Tea Country is cooler and less
humid , with cool mornings , warm days and cool evenings . Daytime temperatures are low to mid 20sC and nights can drop to around 10C . The rainy season is May to July and October to November . Micro-climates exist from valley to valley .
DRIVING DISTANCES Colombo International Airport ( 100km ) or Colombo ( 115km ) to Kandy 3.5 to 4 hours . Kandy to Nuwara Eliya 2.5 hours ( 77km ). Kandy to Sigiriya 3 hours ( 90km ). Kandy to Galle 6 hours ( 230km ). Kandy to Wadduwa 4 hours ( 150km ). Colombo International Airport ( 170km ) or Colombo ( 180km ) to Nuwara Eliya 5 to 6 hours . Colombo International Airport to Dickoya 4.5 hours ( 160km ). Nuwara Eliya to Tangalle 6 hours ( 210km ). Nuwara Eliya to Galle 8 hours ( 290km ). Nuwara Eliya to Bentota 7 hours ( 240km ). Nuwara Eliya to Bandarawela 1.5 to 2 hours ( 47km ).
Tea plantations
Kandyan dancer
Kandy Esala Perahera festival
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