Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
One of Sri Lanka's newest (2006) and smallest (29 sq hectares) national parks, Galway's
Land is a dense patch of montane forest a few kilometres east of town. It is renowned for
its birdlife, including 10 Sri Lankan endemics, as well as wild boar, barking deer and other
mammals. Park guides are available by donation from the park office and a 2km walking
trail also leaves from here.
Gregory Lake
LAKE
30min, horse Rs 300 per 15min; 8am-6pm)
Enjoying the paved walkways, paddling a swan-shaped paddle
boat
(or a giant helicopter
boat) or trotting around on a
pony
are all good reasons to devote an hour or so to Gregory
Lake, at the southern end of town. There are also picnic tables, a small restaurant and a
snack bar. Boat hire is from the smaller adjoining lake on the opposite side of the road
from the main lake.
Lovers Leap
VIEWPOINT
From the
Pedro Tea Estate
, take a very enjoyable 5km (round-trip) walk to Lovers Leap,
an impressive waterfall.
From the tea factory, cross the main road and follow the signs to the tea manager's bun-
galow along the dirt road. At the first crossroads go left and at the the three-way junction
take the middle path until, after about 15 minutes, you hit a dirt parking area. A foot-only
track heads left through the tea gardens towards the forest and a rock face. Follow this trail
and, just beyond the small Shiva shrine, you'll see the spluttering waterfalls.
Hakgala Gardens
GARDENS
(adult/child Rs 1100/550; 7.30am-5.30pm)
The pleasantly dishevelled Hakgala Gardens, 10km southeast of Nuwara Eliya (and about
200m lower), are a peaceful retreat. Legend has it that Hanuman, the monkey god, was
sent by Rama to the Himalayas to find a particular medicinal herb. He forgot which herb
he was looking for and decided to bring a chunk of the Himalayas back in his jaw, hoping
the herb was growing on it. The gardens grow on a rock called Hakgala, which means
'jaw-rock'.
