Highland towns and villages - in central Sri Lanka
view from Moon Plains to suburbs of Nuwara Eliya
The two most significant destinations in Sri Lanka’s hillcountry are Kandy, the highland capital, and Nuwara Eliya, the highest situated town of the island nation. These two towns also offer the largest choice of accommodations in the central highlands.
Three other hillcountry towns are larger than Nuwara Eliya, but not as relevant for the tourism sector, namely Badulla in the southeast of the upcountry and Gampola in the center and Matale in the north.
Some smaller highland towns, however, are favourite destinations of travelers, first and foremost Ella, which can truly be called a tourist hub, and the neighbouring cities of Haputale and Bandarawela.
Though located deep in a river valley and characterized more by lowland vegetation, also Kitulgala, Sri Lanka’s adventure and whitewater destination number one, can be considered to be a hillcountry city.
Three other hillcountry towns are larger than Nuwara Eliya, but not as relevant for the tourism sector, namely Badulla in the southeast of the upcountry and Gampola in the center and Matale in the north.
Some smaller highland towns, however, are favourite destinations of travelers, first and foremost Ella, which can truly be called a tourist hub, and the neighbouring cities of Haputale and Bandarawela.
Though located deep in a river valley and characterized more by lowland vegetation, also Kitulgala, Sri Lanka’s adventure and whitewater destination number one, can be considered to be a hillcountry city.
Kandy
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Lake Gregory of Nuwara Eliya
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For those travelers planning a first visit to Sri Lanka, it might be helpful to know that there are two or three classical versions of crossing the hillcountry.
(1a) The shortest one has only two hillcountry locations as overnight stays, namely Kandy, often branded as Sri Lanka’s cultural capital beautifully located in the hills, and Kitulgala, where river rafting is the main attraction. The route from Kandy to Kitulgala crosses the towns of Gampola and Nawalaoitiya and the Ginigathenna Pass. It’s possible to see tea plantations in this area and to visit a tea factory near Kandy. But this shortest route does not cross the major tea regions, which are around Hatton and Nuwara Eliya and Ella. And it’s not the most scenic hillcountry experience. Nevertheless, this route is popular for the combination of cultural attractions in Kandy and nature activities in Kitulgala and for another, very simple reason: This is also one of the shortest routes from the center of the Cultural Triangle, viz. Dambulla and Sigiriya, to southwest coast beach resorts, such as Bentota or Hikkaduwa.
(1b) Those travelers who want to take this route from the most famous heritage sites to the most popular beach holiday destinations, but who do not want to miss to see large tea growing areas, can extand this shortest route by a loop to Nuwara Eliya. Actually, it’s possible to drive from Kandy to Kitulgala via Nuwara Eliya within one day, but it requires driving 90 km and 3.5 hours more than on the direct route via Nawalapitiya. Planning a visit of a tea factory, break in Nuwara Eliya, and several stops at viewpoints, it’s almost impossible to have enough time left for river rafting in Kitulgala on the same day, when traveling via Nuwara Eliya.
(2) The other classical route crossing the hillcountry also starts in Kandy and has Nuwara Eliya en route anyway. It proceeds from there to Haputale or Ella, possibly with an overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya to visit the rewarding hiking destination Horton Plains the next morning. Otherwise, it’s possible to reach Ella or Haputale from Kandy via Nuwara Eliya on a single day. This longer route from Kandy to Ella afterwards runs to the south coast, particularly to the famous national parks of Yala and Udawalawe. This is one reason why the small town of Ella is so popular with tourists and abundant in guesthouses and restaurant and bars: Ella is on the way anyway. The other reasons why so may travelers choose to stay in Ella, of course, are the beauty of the scenery and the large choice of short but wonderful hikes and the adventure activities such as ziplining and caving.
However, for those who have more time or want to see other places on a second visit or simply tend to prefer lonesome places in the highlands, there are several other options of holiday destinations. Let’s again focus on the two most noteworthy. Even if you do not intend to climb the 4800 steps to Siri Pada (Adam’s Peak), the highland area at the foot of Sri Lanka’s most prominent mountain is simply breathtaking, due to the lakes and waterfalls in this area around Maskeliya. Actually, you could spend an entire week in this region and discover something completely new every day.
In our opinion, the most recommendable destination for lovers of mountainous regions is Meemure in the far northeast of the highlands. Meemure can be reached within half a day from Kandy. But it’s not a good idea to visit it on a one-day excursion, quickly up and down. You should spend at least one night in or near Meemure, because you should not miss evening and morning hours in this little paradise and at least do one of the shorter hikes, for example to Diyakeralla waterfalls or to the sliding and jumping rocks near the river of Heen Ganga. On the way to Meemure, you pass Hunnasgiriya and Deanston and Corbett’s Gap anyway, all of which are scenic locations, too.
(1a) The shortest one has only two hillcountry locations as overnight stays, namely Kandy, often branded as Sri Lanka’s cultural capital beautifully located in the hills, and Kitulgala, where river rafting is the main attraction. The route from Kandy to Kitulgala crosses the towns of Gampola and Nawalaoitiya and the Ginigathenna Pass. It’s possible to see tea plantations in this area and to visit a tea factory near Kandy. But this shortest route does not cross the major tea regions, which are around Hatton and Nuwara Eliya and Ella. And it’s not the most scenic hillcountry experience. Nevertheless, this route is popular for the combination of cultural attractions in Kandy and nature activities in Kitulgala and for another, very simple reason: This is also one of the shortest routes from the center of the Cultural Triangle, viz. Dambulla and Sigiriya, to southwest coast beach resorts, such as Bentota or Hikkaduwa.
(1b) Those travelers who want to take this route from the most famous heritage sites to the most popular beach holiday destinations, but who do not want to miss to see large tea growing areas, can extand this shortest route by a loop to Nuwara Eliya. Actually, it’s possible to drive from Kandy to Kitulgala via Nuwara Eliya within one day, but it requires driving 90 km and 3.5 hours more than on the direct route via Nawalapitiya. Planning a visit of a tea factory, break in Nuwara Eliya, and several stops at viewpoints, it’s almost impossible to have enough time left for river rafting in Kitulgala on the same day, when traveling via Nuwara Eliya.
(2) The other classical route crossing the hillcountry also starts in Kandy and has Nuwara Eliya en route anyway. It proceeds from there to Haputale or Ella, possibly with an overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya to visit the rewarding hiking destination Horton Plains the next morning. Otherwise, it’s possible to reach Ella or Haputale from Kandy via Nuwara Eliya on a single day. This longer route from Kandy to Ella afterwards runs to the south coast, particularly to the famous national parks of Yala and Udawalawe. This is one reason why the small town of Ella is so popular with tourists and abundant in guesthouses and restaurant and bars: Ella is on the way anyway. The other reasons why so may travelers choose to stay in Ella, of course, are the beauty of the scenery and the large choice of short but wonderful hikes and the adventure activities such as ziplining and caving.
However, for those who have more time or want to see other places on a second visit or simply tend to prefer lonesome places in the highlands, there are several other options of holiday destinations. Let’s again focus on the two most noteworthy. Even if you do not intend to climb the 4800 steps to Siri Pada (Adam’s Peak), the highland area at the foot of Sri Lanka’s most prominent mountain is simply breathtaking, due to the lakes and waterfalls in this area around Maskeliya. Actually, you could spend an entire week in this region and discover something completely new every day.
In our opinion, the most recommendable destination for lovers of mountainous regions is Meemure in the far northeast of the highlands. Meemure can be reached within half a day from Kandy. But it’s not a good idea to visit it on a one-day excursion, quickly up and down. You should spend at least one night in or near Meemure, because you should not miss evening and morning hours in this little paradise and at least do one of the shorter hikes, for example to Diyakeralla waterfalls or to the sliding and jumping rocks near the river of Heen Ganga. On the way to Meemure, you pass Hunnasgiriya and Deanston and Corbett’s Gap anyway, all of which are scenic locations, too.
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