Kigelia Ruaha
SinhaGiri is a restored 19th century bungalow in the heart of Nuwara Eliya, overlooking the racecourse and Gregory lake. This magnificently designed bungalow with only two suites stands testament to passionately collected art, treasures and memorabilia. The theme of SinhaGiri is immersion and relaxation, the willingness to explore the five rooms that make up the living spaces to enjoy art, to read a book, take time to converse with one another or just be in the cool crisp air of the hills. The cuisine at SinhaGiri is mainly Sri Lankan and represents the fare of the hills and a nod to the colonial past. Afternoon tea, scrumptious puddings and tantalizing curries are served in stylish dining areas. Honored guests at SinhaGiri are invited to experience the sumptuous living spaces, to be left undisturbed to eat, drink and sleep according their wishes; Discreet service and privacy being the keywords here.
Only a few hours from Colombo, Nuwara Eliya sits in the hill country in eternal temperate winter and is charmingly called “Little England”, due to it being where British settlers built their holiday bungalows and spent their down time.
The Peony and Parrot suites are two spacious bedrooms with king size beds and fireplaces to keep cozy on cool evenings. There are ensuite bathrooms with all the modern conveniences and amenities. Featuring hand painted wall paper and stylish touches the suites also supply electric blankets to keep you toasty on Nuwara Eliya nights.
Take a boat ride on Gregory Lake
Gregory Lake is a huge lake in the middle of the Nuwara Eliya. There is a calm park next to it with walkways and benches to rest on. There are horses roaming which are offered for rides, plus for a few hundred rupees, tourists can take a 20-minute speedboat ride on the lake. The cool air is lovely on the water and the sights are unbeatable. Gregory Lake was created by Governor William Gregory between 1872 and 1877. It was used for watersports during the British colonial period.
Stroll Victoria Park
The main park in Nuwara Eliya is called Victoria Park, in honor of Queen Victoria’s 60th Jubilee coronation in 1897. The park spreads out on 27 acres of land and is full of foreign trees and flowers. It’s the perfect place for a fresh natural walk. There is a little train for kids to enjoy with a playground too. At quiet times, plenty of native birds flock the trees and brid watchers come to see them.
Bale Bazaar
The Bale Bazaar in Nuwara Eliya is aptly nicknamed the Winter Market because they sell winter clothes for the cold Nuwara Eliya weather. Locals who live abroad shop for inexpensive winter fare here before going back. If you forgot a sweatshirt or want to have a fun stroll, head to the market.
The Post Office
The Nuwara Eliya Post Office is housed in an antique Tudor Manor built in 1894. It’s one of the oldest post offices in the country and was featured on a stamp in 1990. Definitely worth a visit.
Tea Country
Nuwara Eliya is hill country, meaning that it’s also tea country. There are hundreds of acres of tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya and plenty of tea factories to visit in the area. A little further away from town is St. Clair’s Falls, one of the widest falls in Sri Lanka and definitely worth a visit.
Moon Plains
The Moon Plains of Nuwara Eliya is a rather new area for visiting. Moon Plains are an open area full of fields, forests, walking paths and surrounding mountains. This is the kind of place for visitors who love taking walks in nature or spending the day out in the open.
Botanical Gardens
The Hakgala Botanical Gardens are believed to be the highest altitude botanical gardens in the world. On the road to Badulla, stop at the green gates and visit the beautifully manicured gardens full of roses and orchids and other plant species.
Hiking
Further down south after Ambewela and higher up the mountains is Horton Plains National Park, which includes World’s End. The hiking trails in Horton Plains are top-notch and a must if you like hiking. World’s End is a drop-off at the edge of a huge cliff at the end of the Horton Plains plateau.
