Sri Dalada Maligawa was once a part of the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy. The entire structure looks very grand. The main building is a three-story hall and there are halls within halls. The temple is structurally complex and it primarily includes a Buddhist temple, drum hall, long hall, treasure hall, and chanting hall.The inner hall on the second floor houses the national treasure of Sri Lanka, the relic of the tooth of Shakyamuni Buddha.The relic is enshrined in a golden stupa that is studded with jewels. It is displayed for half an hour every night for believers to worship it for free.If you would like to pay your sincere respect, you can buy a bouquet of lotus flowers from a row of stalls selling flowers on the left side of the door.

Nuwara Eliya is the biggest tea-growing district in Sri Lanka. Situated at a high altitude, there is huge difference in temperature between day and night here. The air is fresh and moist, and the tea produced is mellow and strong. It is no wonder that “Ceylon black tea” is known as one of the top three black teas in the world, with sales all over the world.Sipping on a cup of Ceylon black tea is an experience that you can’t miss out when you are in the central mountain region.With Nuwara Eliya as the center, there are surrounding tea plantations of various sizes that are gracefully concealed in the clouds. You can choose from among several famous or heritage tea factories for a visit, and have a wonderful day tasting local authentic Ceylon black tea.

Horton Plains, also known as “World's End”, is located in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. It is situated about 32km from Nuwara Eliya and it is the only national park in Sri Lanka where tourists are allowed to hike in. It is between 2,100 and 2,300m above sea level, its entire length is about 9.5 km, and it takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete the entire hike.“World’s End” is just a colloquial name.It refers to the sheer cliff that has a drop of about 880m.You can enjoy a panoramic from the top of the cliff.It is as if the world has come to an abrupt end, and you will truly feel as though you are at the end of the world.

An alpine train ride through tea plantations is a must in Sri Lanka. Due to the high altitude of the central mountainous region, it is often shrouded in the clouds, and a train ride through the lush thousand-acre tea plantations feels like a ride through a cloud wonderland.You will be greeted with spectacular sceneries whether you take the train from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya or from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.The ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is the best, and it is also the ride that is most popular with tourists. You can catch glimpses of local life as the train passes through the tea plantations and farmlands along the way.

The Kandyan dance is the essence of traditional Sri Lankan culture. It originated from the central mountainous region ruled by the Kingdom of Kandy and it was originally a religious ritual of offering sacrifices for health, prosperity and the elimination of diseases.With the development of the times, this dance which had existed for religious rituals has gradually evolved into a dance performance that is enjoyed and popular among tourists.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is located on the outskirts of Kandy, about 30 km West of it. It is currently one of two existing elephant orphanages in the world. It has adopted more than 100 young elephants that have lost their parents or got separated from them, as well as injured young elephants. Close to 100 elephants are carefully cared for and trained here, and adult elephants can help people with their work or perform shows to attract tourists and raise funds.Here, visitors can observe various aspects of the lifestyle and living habits of elephants. They can also feed the elephants, watch them bathe, and get up close with these smart and adorable little fellows.

Adam's Peak is considered a holy place by almost all religious sects in Sri Lanka. The annual period from the full moon of December to the full moon of May the following year is the pilgrimage season, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come to climb Adam’s peak.Most pilgrims choose to start climbing at night in the hope of catching the sunrise the next day.It takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach the summit of Adam’s peak. The temperature on the mountain is low. Remember to keep yourself warm!

The Heritage Hotel is located on the outskirts of Nuwara Eliya, at an altitude of 1,900 meters above sea level. It was carefully converted from a dilapidated British tea factory from the 1930s.The hotel has basically maintained the appearance of the tea factory, and the original machinery used to make tea has been used as decoration, giving it the look of a tea museum.The hotel restaurant is also very special and it was remolded from a train carriage, which gives it a delightful appeal.The hotel has its own tea plantation, and tea-picking and tea garden trekking activities can be arranged. If you would like to have a comprehensive understanding of the workings of a tea factory and experience life in a tea garden, you will not be disappointed by a stay here.