Saturday, April 12, 2014

Srilanka: Nuwara Eliya.


It was the most amazing train journeys I ever had, owing to the fact that I detest train journeys otherwise. One really need to be there to experience this. The journey lasted for about 5 hours passing through tea estates, rivers, waterfalls, small villages from Colombo to Nanu Oya with Expo Rail (book tickets online). There is no train service to Nuwara Eliya as it does not have a station; the nearest is Nanu Oya, about 8 km and from there take a 45 minutes taxi ride to Nuwara Eliya aka little England.

After checking in the Park View hotel that we booked, we went out to explore the tiny town although it was sunset and everything was shutting down. We had dinner at one of the road side restaurant and went back to catch up with our lost sleep.

Next day we started very early as we have time only till 1130 am before we head back to the station to catch the train to Kandy. That means we only had 3 to 4 hours since sunrise. The weather here is just perfect to grow teas. I woke to a beautiful blue sky and sunshine which remained all morning till we left.

The town centre is small enough to walk around. If you still feel like seeing everything, hire a tuk-tuk. We started walking. The weather was very pleasant with day temperature as low as 15 degree! The town has a huge Golf court in the middle, along with the heading to the racecourses. These are sort of traditions left from the colonial era. The first mistake that many people make about this town is to assume it be to like England. It does has remarkable similarities but this is still Sri Lanka. Yes the mix of british and Sri Lanka makes for an unique and somewhat bizarre cultural experience thats cant be seen anywhere else.

But one of the main attractions is the Race Course ground. Here you will find many people riding horses as part of their ritual or training. Gosh it will be so much peaceful to just stop and look at those bright lush green lawns. As far as I came to know this is the only proper race course in Sri Lanka. I am not sure how often the course is used for horses but there are plenty of ponies hanging about, kids cricket matches going on and its used as a shortcut through the town.

Due to lack of timing we missed going to close to the Lake Gregory which is a kilometer outside the town centre. But we did see it from a distance the blue mass of water set against the surrounding hills. It is a man made lake and one of the more popular tourist destinations here. If you are fan of activities such as boating and walking around the lake then head here. Inshallah next time.

The other things we missed were the tea plantations and some botanical gardens. :(

overall Nuwara Eliya still has a very British feel, as can be seen in the appearance of many of the buildings, in various colonial styles.

REMEMBER:
  1. If you are going out in the evening I would strongly recommend you carry a torch as in the dark you wont be able to see the holes in the pavements leading to the sewers.
  2. Have delicious breakfast at Remarko.
  3. Look out for the famous PINK POST OFFICE
  4. The nights might get cold but the days are very hot. Also it rains a lot in the hills.

    Traffic cops still ride horses in Nuwara Eliya

    Colonial post office (also called The Pink Post Office)

    Thicket of trees lining Nuwara Eliya's lake.

    A walk through quaint streets of the town.

    A Pagoda

    The racecourse situated right in the centre of the town

    A trainer with his horse

    Inderjit trying his hands at riding a pony

    A colonial house

    Caretaker of the racecourse

    A pony relaxing off the racecourse tracks

    Beautiful landscape

    Colonial houses line the hills of Nuwara Eliya town. The town is also referred to as Little England.



    Soaking the early morning sun and fresh air of the valley.



    A sparrow peeps out from its nest.

    Townscape

    Our hotel was up on a hill

    Farm-fresh flowers

Next, we travelled to Kandy by a train called Podi Menike. The journey was of 4 hours.

Next: Kandy.

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