Worth a DetourMountainsTea countryMountain towns

Nuwara Eliya

A cool hill-station town of colonial bungalows and tea estates, with Horton Plains nearby.

Photo: Abdul malik77 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Best Time to Go
Jan–Apr, Aug–Sep
Our full guide to Nuwara Eliya is being written. It's on the Sri Lanka list as Worth a Detour.

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1–3 of 18
Must-See
Mountains · Mountain towns

Ella

About 20 miles away

A hill village of tea plantations and waterfalls, with the Nine Arch Bridge and the famous train ride.

Guide Coming Soon
Must-See
Cities · UNESCO

Kandy

About 24 miles away

The Temple of the Tooth beside a lake, in the green hills of the old royal capital.

Guide Coming Soon
Must-See
Heritage · UNESCO

Sigiriya

About 68 miles away

A palace on top of a giant rock, with frescoes on its walls and water gardens below.

1 Sight

The Full Short List

Sri Lanka

Ancient rock fortresses, tea hills and leopards.

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