The grandeur of 'Little England'

by Beverley Jansz

Nuwara Eliya is located in the heart of Sri Lanka's hill country. Home of the famous Ceylon tea the rolling mountains are carpeted with velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. The cellubrious climate, makes the place a must to include in your travel itinerary. Nuwara-Eliya is located at the height of 1890 metres above sea level.

Nuwara-Eliya was discovered by a hunting party led by Dr. John Davy in 1818 and was established as a Summer Retreat in 1828 by Sir Edward Barnes, the then Governor of Ceylon.

Travelling by train to Nuwara-Eliya is very pleasant. Althought it takes a longer time than the bus. Even if you get travelsick, travelling by train doesn't do all the winding along the bumpy roads. Getting around the town - Nuwara Eliya is a small town and everything is within walking distance. Single Tree Hotel

Overlooking the Race Course and the gorgeous Gregory's Lake, on Haddon Hill Road, is Single Tree Hotel, an ideal location for a family outing in the cool climes of Nuwara-Eliya. Single Tree began life as a modest eight-room hotel in 1996, on a 50-perch land. The hotel now boasts of 11 guest rooms, offering all in modern facilities. Guest rooms are furnished with modern Italian fittings to retain the cosy comport.

Toilets are attached with hot/cold water facility and the restaurant serves both Western and Eastern dishes turned out by master chefs. Single Tree Hotel offers its guests "Waterfall tours" to 16 beautiful waterfalls in close proximity to Nuwara-Eliya.

The hotel also offers laundry service, IDD calls, free transport to the railway station jeep and van service to Horton Plains, mountain trekking and tours to other places of tourist attraction in Nuwara-Eliya. "We offer special discounted packages to Sri Lankans and expatriates to spend a memorable holiday in "Little England," Managing Director, Single Tree Hotel, D. G. A. Krishantha said.

Single Tree Hotel can be reached via E-mail: [email protected]