Land marks of Misty Nuwara Eliya-Part-1

Nuwara Eliya is one of main tourist’s attractions of Sri Lanka among foreigners as well as locals. Though people visit at Nuwara Eliya, they know about few places there. This is my attempt to list most of the tourist’s attractions at Nuwara Eliya with a small description which would be help full for someone in future.
Rest of the places would be appeared in part-2.

Invention of Nuwara Eliya

Click image to enlarge

1. Holy Trinity Church
Directions: Nuwara Eliya->Udupussallawa road (උඩුපුස්සැල්ලාව පාර) ->Church road->1km->Trinity church

This was built in 1833 (5years after beginning of Nuwara Eliya town) and belongs to Anglican tradition. Though it was built in 1833, official religious activities were started in 1852. The church and surrounding cemetery have archeological value.
Ancient pipe organ, paintings were done at 100th anniversary and for queens visit are important things to see inside the church.
Baker’s family tomb is an important place situated at cemetery.

Holy Trinity Church

Church roof is made of Oak wood

Altar

Umbrella holders were attached to seats

Ancient pipe organ which was out of service for a long time and repaired by catholic fathers came from England. It is now playing for Sunday pray.

This painting was done to commemorate 100th anniversary of church.

To commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s visit in 1954

To commemorate Thomas Farr-Nature lover

Baker’s family tomb at cemetery

2. Sir Samuel Baker and Nuwara Eliya
Samuel Baker has participated in developing Nuwara Eliya a lot. He has arrived to Sri Lanka at the age of 24 and planned to start a farm at Nuwara Eliya. Then he bought a thousand acres from British rulers and built his house at Magasthota-Nuwara Eliya. The republican international school is situated at the land where his house was situated. Even today also we can see a tree planted by Samuel Baker.

Directions: Nuwara Eliya->Magasthota (මාගස්තොට) in Badulla road->Republican school

The land where Sir Samuel Baker’s house is situated

The tree planted by Sir Samuel Baker

The stone marker placed to commemorate Sir Samuel Baker by his family members. I couldn’t get a clear photograph as school was closed on that day.

3. Sandathanna Agro Environment Tourism Zone-සදතැන්න ලෝකාන්තය
This is classically called as Sandathanna World’s end as we can watch nine out of ten highest peaks of Sri Lanka (Not Sri Pada) from here in a clear day. It is situated at upper part of Sandathanna-Bomburu Ella forest reserve of potato seed farm.
This farm was started in 1958 and world’s end and tourist zone was declared in 2014.

Directions: Nuwara Eliya->Magasthota in Badulla road-> Seetha Eliya potato seed farm (සීතා එළිය බීජ අර්තාපල් ගොවිපල) ->Sandathanna World’s end

We have reached there early morning at 7.30am and waited for a while as jeep drivers have not attended yet. We five were loaded to a safari jeep. It was crystal clear when we started the journey but it became gloomy when we reached the view point.
We waited at view point for an hour for expecting clear weather and at the end half luck was there.
It was able to see surrounding view except Hakgala and Hortain Plains side.
There were no wild buffaloes in our visit.

Bad conditions of tiers

Made for their anniversary

Moon Plains-සදතැන්න

Moon Plains-සදතැන්න

Plots for Potato seeds

Moon plains

Moon plains

Observation point

Our team

Bomburu Ella side and Uva province is getting clear. But Namunukula was not seen.

Kikiliyamana, Great Western and part of Piduruthalagala

Kikiliyamana mountain (left) and Great western mountain (right)

The crowd enjoying the gloomy weather

Rabbit Poo

Adaption for wind

Another view

Not wild buffaloes

4. Gallways Land National Park
This is the smallest National Park of Sri Lanka (27hectaer) and the National Park situated inside a city. It is surrounded by Nuweraeliya town.
The British called Gallways has handed over his land to the government as a forest reserve when he left the country. It was declared as sanctuary in 1938 and a National Park in 2006.
Galway land has considerable number of forest population which belongs to mountainous forest and tropical forest groups. It is a good place for bird watching and you can observe 35 birds’ species and out of 7 are endemic to the country.

Directions: Nuweraeliya->Udupussallawa road->take the byroad next to economic center-> Gallwaysland NP

At entrance

Information…sorry for the bad quality of the picture

Well paved nature trails

Macro

Well paved nature trails

For drinking purpose of animals during dry season

Kind of an endemic bird

Roof of the forest

Three idiots

Directions to nature trails

Horn lizard….another endemic of Sri Lanka

It rarely gets sun rays into the forest

Fallen

Gals way Land NP

Small museum next to ticket counter

5. Old Engineer Office-Nuwaraeliya
Old Engineer office is an important place in planning and development of Nuwaraeliya town during colonial period. Nowadays District office of House Development Authority is situated at Old Engineer Office. Still you can see old gun powder stores at this premise. Old safe with British mark is also can be seen at this office.

Directions: Nuweraeliya->Udupussallawa road-> Nuwara Eliya Hospital->The road in front of Hospital in right hand side will bring you to House Development Authority Office

Gun powder stores

Old gun powder stores

Name of places were engraved in wood at the entrance. This is the place of Motor shed.

6. Gayathri Kovil and Hermitage
This is the World’s first Kovil built for God Gayathri. It was built by Dr.Murugesu Swami in 1974. Currently it is an important place for Hindu religious activities and mediation.

Directions: Nuwara Eliya->Udupussallawa road->Lady McCollum Road->Gayathri Kovil

Gayathri Kovil

Entrance of Gayathri Kovil

Vishnu Dewalaya at Gayathri Kovil premises

7. Nuwara Eliya Old police building
Nuwara Eliya old police building is still can be seen at the police premise. Around 1835 there was a rest house attached to this police building. Chief justice at that period-Sir William Rock and four other people have died suddenly due to food poisoning happened at this rest house.
It can be seen behind the new police and need permission to get photographs of the building. (Just ask form the police officers)

Old police building

Old police building

Elevation mark

8. Cemetery of Major. William Rogers
Major. William Roger is an important person during colonial period. He was a clever ruler and appointed as the sub government agent in Badulla area. Roger was popular among villagers due to the service he has done.
He was a good shooter and killed about 1500 Elephants as a hobby. At the age of 41 he died by hitting a thunder when he was at Haputhale Rest House. Rogers’s body was placed at Nuwara Eliya cemetery and his tomb frequently gets thunders during rainy season.
This tomb can be seen behind the sport club of Nuwara Eliya Golf club.
Badulla St.Marks Church was built to commemorate Major. William Roger.

Direction board at Nuwara Eliya post office to show the cemetery

Tomb is broken into two pieces due to thunders

Cemetery of Major. William Rogers

9. Highest Village of Sri Lanka with observation point-Shanthipura-ශාන්තිපුර
Highest village of Sri Lanka situated at western edge of Nuweraeliya. This village was established by late mayor of Nuwaraeliya town Mr. T.William Fernando at 1960. There is an observation point to view Nuweraeliya town, Gregory Lake, Hakgala Mountain, Piduruthalagala range and Kikiliyamana.
Highest temple and highest house also situated at this village.

Directions: Nuwaraeliya town->Along A5 road->Towards Colombo->Shanthipura

Distance from A5 road to observation point is 4.5km

Nuwaraeliya Shanthipura observation point

View of Gregory Lake and Hakgala Mountain

Nuwaraeliya town

Piduruthalagala range

Kikiliyamana with towers

The highest temple of Sri Lanka. This is situated bit far from the observation point.

The highest house of Sri Lanka.

10. Nuwaraeliya Post Office
Nuwaraeliya post office was built in 1894. British have used imported teak wood and roof tile made in Bangalore to build this post office. The clock was made in Sainsbury Watchamsto in England. There is a small museum inside the post office.
Post office is situated in front of main bus stand.

Nuwaraeliya post office

The clock was made in England. This was out of service for 10 years and renovated by Sri Lankans.

Small museum inside the post office

Stamp collection inside the post office

11. Baker Memorial Ward at Nuwaraeliya Hospital
The farm started by Sir Samuel Baker, was ruled by John Garland Baker. He died from an infectious disease. His wife-Mrs. Elisa Baker has built a complete ward for patients at Nuwaraeliya Hospital in 1985 to commemorate her husband. This ward is named as Baker ward and still can be seen at Nuwaraeliya hospital. Currently it is used as nursing quartos.
Baker family cemetery still can be seen in Trinity cemetery.

Baker Memorial Ward

Baker Memorial Ward

At the entrance

Memorial statue

12. Pedro Tea Factory and Museum
Pedro tea estate and factory is one of an oldest tea estate of Sri Lanka. You can have a visit there to get an idea of tea making process. They will provide a guide to describe the process.

Directions: Nuwara Eliya-> Udupussallawa Road->Boralanda->Pedro Tea Factory

Lover’s leap waterfall is also situated 1-1.5km from Pedro tea factory.

Pedro tea factory and museum

Outside the museum

Have to be dressed properly before go in

Appearance of Pedro tea factory in 19th century

Tea weighing scale

Tea drying process-Photograph taken without permission

Inside the factory- Photograph taken without permission

Tea selling center

Our large team+ two foreigners

The tea plant, planted to commemorate the visit of His Royal prince Phillips. This can be seen on the way to Lover’s leap falls.

Landscaping

13. Nuwaraeliya Golf ground
Nuweraeliya Golf ground will provide nice landscapes for photographs. There is a foot pathway crossing the ground and you can have a walk along that. No need permission. Old British cemetery is also situated behind the golf ground where we can see cemetery of Major. William Roger.

Nuwaraeliya Golf Club

Nuwaraeliya Golf ground

At Nuwaraeliya Golf ground

The foot pathway crossing the Golf ground

The view at Nuwaraeliya Golf ground

The view at Nuwaraeliya Golf ground

Thanks for reading