Gregory Lake, Nuwara Eliya -Where the town comes to life

When you are Nuwara Eliya, it is likely that you would want to take a stroll to feel the weather and enjoy the scenery. The best place to go for this, whether you travel as a family or a couple or are a solo traveller, is Gregory Lake, a hub of activities in Nuwara Eliya that has superseded its original purpose.

Built in 1873 by the British governor Sir William Gregory, after whom the lake is named, the purpose of the lake was to create more space for town’s expansion. The water from the lake is what powers the town of Nuwara Eliya since 1913 when it was first directed into a hydropower plant. However, in the modern day and age, it is known as a favourite for the visitors to hang out and chill. There are swan boats for you to paddle, jet skiing available at an hourly rate, a yacht that sails around the lake, and plenty of food stalls, benches, stone bridges and ponies to create a sense of old England. There are plenty of properties overlooking the Lake as well. These sell like hot cakes during the season, thus, if you want to wake up to a glorious view of the Lake Gregory, you need to be early in making reservations. Although this is a common place for the random traveller to visit, especially towards the evening, it is not included in most of the Sri Lanka tours itineraries due to its lack of cultural value. However, if you wish to pay a visit to Lake Gregory, and still do it as a part of your arranged itinerary, you could talk to a Sri Lanka Tailor-made or the like who arrange itineraries based on your interest.

You might not have much to do here other than take a stroll and enjoy the view. But you are sure to come back from your visit with a happy heart and a camera roll full of pictures that are reminiscent of an age long gone.