The Golf Course: Spread over 90 acres, over a hundred years old the 18 hole golf course is one of Nuwara Eliyas biggest attractions. It is reputed to be the only Golf Course where all the holes are visible from the Club House or accessible by car. In the old British cemetery at the rear of the Club House is the memorial to Major Rogers, the elephant hunter credited with killing around 1500 elephants.
The Hotels: Many of Nuwara Eliyas hotels have a long history and a unique character distinct from other modern hotels of the country. Barnes Hall, now The Grand Hotel, a 19th century Edwardian mansion was originally the Governors house. The Glendower is a new hotel but is built on land owned by the Governor and appeared separately in title deeds over 90 years ago. The billiard table here is also a relic of colonial days. St Andrews, again built on the lines of a Tudor style mansion contains antique furniture along with another old billiard table. The Hill Club, also a century old building was the exclusive domain of the British till as recently as 1967. Its walls are adorned with trophies of deer and trout and there are still original editions in its bookshelves.
Lake Gregory: An artificial lake in the southern part of the town.
Other Buildings: The Race Course on Badulla Road with its strawberry and carnation plantation (visiting permit to be obtained from Colombo), The Old Post Office with its clock spire and the War Memorial.
Hakgala Gardens: 10 km on the Badulla Road. An ornamental garden associated with the Hindu epic Ramayana it is a scenic place with paths, shrubbery, ferneries, shady groves, lush foliage and flowers. The rose garden with over 100 varieties is of special note. Entrance fee Rs. 50 per person and Rs 30 per car.
Sita Temple: One and a half km before Hakgala is another place connected to the Ramayana. A temple now stands at the spot where Sita, wife of the Hindu epic hero Rama is said to have been imprisoned by the demon king Ravana.
Bambaragama Falls: Along the Ella Wellawaya Road south of Nuwara Eliya. Ravana bathed here and imprisoned Sita in the gigantic cave nearby which is said to be one of his 23 homes.
Pidurutalagala: 2524 meters tall and the islands highest peak. North of the town on the Gampola road it can be climbed in two hours but the state owned television tower at its summit is guarded by soldiers, who will not give permission.
Adam's Peak: South east of Nuwara Eliya it is also known as Sri Pada and is one of the holiest mountains in the world. Its 2244 meter pinnacle is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians.
Horton Plains: Sri Lanka's highest and most isolated plateau is a nature lovers delight. This wide pat-na-grass covered plain is teeming with wildlife. Bridle paths through the plains lead to the precipice known as World's End. From the edge of this cliff is a sheer dropped of 1050 meters. To experience the amazing view it is wise to lie on ones stomach and peep over.
Bandarawela: An hours drive south it is a smaller hill station with a warmer and milder climate than Nuwara Eliya, said to be the most bracing in Sri Lanka. The Bandarawela Hotel was built as the first British mountain resort hotel in Sri Lanka.
Haputale: 42 kms south is the beautiful Haputale Gap and the Haputale Forest Reserve ideal for camping, with its abundance of little rills and a superb view. Thomas Lipton the English tea millionaire is believed to have laid claim to the entire expanse from a rocky outcrop on his huge plantation, now known as Lipton's Seat.
Diyatalawa:6 km from Banadarawela. Surrounded by hills and grasslands it has a climate akin to the English spring. A military cantonment since the second World War.
Tea Factories: Any visit to Nuwara Eliya is incomplete without an excursion to any one of the numerous tea factories that dot its pretty landscape. Here a guide will show you the various processes which tea leaves go through before finding their way into a steaming pot of fragrant high grown tea.
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