And its little wonder why the wealthy tea pioneers chose Nuwara Eliya as their base. Situated nearly two kilometres above sea level, Nuwara Eliya is the highest city in Sri Lanka and experiences a far cooler climate than the rest of the island.

Its elevated position nestled among the lush rolling hills provides breath-taking scenery of the countryside with emerald green hills carpeted with Sri Lanka’s iconic tea plantations.

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Located next to the road between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, standing at over one hundred meters tall, and is undoubtedly one of Sri Lanka’s most picturesque.

It is most definitely worth a stop off during your tour of the area given the stunning surroundings and countless photo opportunities that arise.

The waterfall itself is made up of three sections, the middle of which can be partially seen from the road. The other larger sections can only be fully seen by walking along the paths which take you down to the Ramboda basis, where there are a number of hotels, and you’ll see the full lower section of the falls.

The walk to view the top of Ramboda falls is somewhat more challenging but shouldn’t pose a problem for most people. Anyone who makes the walk up is well rewarded with the impressive views of the surrounding lush hills and the sight of the upper section of the falls which is clearly the most impressive of the three sections of Ramboda Falls.

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As you may have guessed, Little Adam’s Peak is named after the larger Adam’s Peak Mountain found in the centre of Sri Lanka, west of Little Adam’s Peak. The larger mountain was named after the footprint shaped depression in the mountain, the origin of which is said to be from Adam’s first footstep on earth, hence giving the name to the mountain. Little Adam’s Peak has a similar shape.

Adam’s Peak stands at over 2,200 meters tall whereas Little Adam’s Peak is a little over 1,100 meters high and has a much gentler climb up to the top.

The post Watch the sunrise at Little Adam’s Peak, Ella first appeared on Unique Travel.

While the Sigiriya Rock Fortress is overall more impressive and deserves its reputation as a ‘must see’ during any Sri Lankan tour, Pidurangala provides a great additional climb for those visiting the region for a couple of days or even an alternative for travellers looking for a less busy and cheaper climb with equally rewarding views from the top.

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Named after the Scottish tea baron Sir Thomas Lipton, the spot was Sir Thomas’s favourite place to peacefully meditate and look over his scenic tea estate. Today the wide reaching views over the emerald hills are enjoyed by travellers who hike or drive up the scenic route past the beautiful tea plantations. On a clear day the views rival those at Worlds End at the Horton Plains.

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The breath-taking scenery of misty mountain peaks, lush green forest and impressive animal and plant life make the Knuckles Mountain Range the perfect place to hike in central Sri Lanka.

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You will find some four thousand different species of plant at the Royal Botanic Gardens, as well as around ten thousand mature, towering trees. A particular attraction of the garden is the collection of Burmese Giant Bamboo which can grow to a whopping one hundred and thirty feet tall and have stems that are close to a foot thick!

Another highlight is the enormous Javan fig tree which is a century old. The roots of the tree extend out to cover an area of nearly two thousand square meters and the branches of the tree previously protruded out from the gigantic trunk to form an expansive canopy. In 2015 the tree was cut back due to disease but it now nearly just as tall as it was previously (approx. 40ft high) but not currently quite as wide as it once was, but is getting there!

Notable people who have visited the gardens and planted trees to mark their visit include Queen Elizabeth II, Yuri Gugarin and Marshal Tito.

The post Day trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kandy first appeared on Unique Travel.

Comprising of grasslands, evergreen forests, marshes and water systems, Horton Plains was declared a World Heritage Site in 2010 in light of its precious ecosystem and large number of endemic flora and fauna species.

Horton Plains sits at an altitude of over two kilometres above sea level and stretches over three thousand hectares. The plains can be enjoyed by visitors who take the main nine kilometre trekking route that encircles the plains and typically takes three to four hours to complete.

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Situated nearly two kilometres above sea level, Pattipola rail station is the highest railway station in Sri Lanka and is conveniently located close to Horton Plains and Worlds End.

Taking the train from Pattipola to Ella provides stunning scenery as the train meanders through the beautiful hill country and the picturesque Sri Lankan tea plantations. Sitting back and enjoying the fantastic views is the perfect way to recharge after trekking Horton Plains.

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The climb up Adams Peak has great significance to Buddhists with most wanting to do the pilgrimage at least once in their lives. In recent years it has become a must-do for all adventurous travellers to the country!

While the sacred mountain is primarily a Buddhist pilgrimage site it does also have major significance for Christians, Muslims and Hindus who each have legends about the origin of the footprint depression at the top of the mountain.

The post The Adams Peak Pilgrimage Climb in Sri Lanka first appeared on Unique Travel.