HILL COUNTRY TEA & GEMS IN SRI LANKA From Kandy, you leave towards the hill country.     Nuwara Eliya is a district located 6000ft above sea level. Leaving behind the comfortable climate of Kandy with its friendly temperature and humidity you can travel to Nuwara Eliya either by rail or road. The scenic beauty can be enjoyed much by train as you arrive in Nanu Oya, located 4 miles before Nuwara Eliya also known as “Little England”.   The diesel locomotive will take you through tunnels and hills beyond cascading waterfalls into an ambience of nippy cold and misty mountains with tea plantations that appear as green carpets.The tea pluckers mainly clad in colourful clothes add life to the green hills while playing a major role in the production of world famous ‘Ceylon Tea’. On your way to Nuwara Eliya either by rail or road, you will be able to visit a Tea Factory and enjoy an invigorating cup of Pure Ceylon Tea to combat the cold.There are cottages built in days of colonial times adding charm to the hills with an 18 hole golf course for recreation.       Bandarawela is another town located in the hill country famous for holiday making, vegetables and flowers. It may be used on tour as an alternative to Nuwara Eliya for overnight stay.Depending on your choice, the tour route from Nuwara Eliya could be through Ratnapura.         Driving South from Nuwara Eliya is one route through Ratnapura, the City of Gems famous for its glittering stones of rare beauty. You can visit gem pits and the Gem Museum of Ratnapura.           Designed by :dinuk@asia.com