Hill Country, Sri Lanka

Weddings in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Tea country at 1,900 metres, where the air is cool and the hotels are colonial.

Planning a wedding in Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya sits at nearly 1,900 metres in the tea hills, and stays between 14 and 22 degrees all year, so an outdoor ceremony works in any season. The town kept its colonial hotels and English gardens. Venues hold up to 300. It is 5.5 hours from Colombo, or you can take the train from Kandy.

At a glance

  • Best For: Highland & Heritage Weddings
  • Peak Season: January to April (driest)
  • Typical Guest Capacity: 30 to 300 Guests
  • Elevation: ~1,900m / 6,200ft
  • From Colombo: ~5.5 Hours
  • From Kandy: ~2.5 Hours
  • Venue Styles: Colonial Heritage, Tea Plantation, Mountain Ballroom, Boutique Bungalow
  • Vibe: Misty, Romantic, English Countryside, Cool & Elegant

Top wedding venues in Nuwara Eliya

  • The Grand Hotel (Central Nuwara Eliya). Built as a governor's residence in 1828 and a hotel since 1891, with mock Tudor facades and 27 acres of English gardens. The Grand Ballroom seats 300, and the Rose Garden and main lawn work for outdoor ceremonies. 154 rooms.
  • Heritance Tea Factory (Kandapola (14 km from Nuwara Eliya town)). A 19th century tea factory converted into a hotel at 2,000 metres, the highest in Sri Lanka. The original machinery is still in place. 54 rooms and weddings up to 100. Dinner is served in a restored railway carriage.
  • Araliya Green Hills Hotel (Central Nuwara Eliya (near Gregory Lake)). A modern hotel in the hills, with a ballroom for 250 and gardens for outdoor ceremonies and cocktails. Close to Gregory Lake and Victoria Park. The choice if you want current amenities rather than heritage.
  • Jetwing St. Andrew's (St. Andrew's Drive, Central Nuwara Eliya). A restored Georgian mansion run by Jetwing, with 56 rooms, log fireplaces and one of the oldest snooker tables in the country. Walking distance to Victoria Park and the golf club. Gardens and terrace take 120.
  • The Hill Club (Grand Hotel Road, Nuwara Eliya). A members only club founded in 1876, with panelled lounges, fireplaces and billiard rooms. About 100 guests. Jackets are required at dinner, which tells you the register. There is nothing else like it here.
  • Goatfell (Kandapola (near Nuwara Eliya)). A four bedroom tea bungalow on a hill, hired as a whole. A garden marquee takes the ceremony to about 30. The infinity pool looks over the tea country. Run by Teardrop Hotels, who handle the catering.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time of year for a wedding in Nuwara Eliya?

January to April, with March and April the best of it. The cool climate means outdoor ceremonies work year round. Note that April brings Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the town's busiest week, so book far ahead.

Is Nuwara Eliya too cold for a wedding?

No, but pack for it. Nights drop to about 10 degrees and days reach 22. Formal wedding clothes are far more comfortable here than at sea level. Tell guests to bring layers, and pick a venue with a fireplace.

Can you get married on a tea estate in Nuwara Eliya?

Yes, and it is what the town is known for. Heritance Tea Factory sits on the Hethersett Estate at 2,000 metres and hosts ceremonies among the bushes. Goatfell is the smaller option, and other bungalows can be hired privately.

Which Nuwara Eliya venues are colonial buildings?

The Grand Hotel is the big one, with English gardens and a heritage ballroom. Jetwing St. Andrew's is a restored Georgian mansion, and The Hill Club is Victorian and members only. Araliya Green Hills is the modern alternative at 250 guests.

How do guests get to Nuwara Eliya?

It is 5.5 hours from Colombo by road and 2.5 from Kandy. The train from Kandy to Nanu Oya takes about 3.5 hours through the tea country and is worth doing as a group. The road is winding, so many break the trip in Kandy.

Is Nuwara Eliya a good honeymoon base?

Walks through the plantations, the train on to Ella, and Horton Plains at dawn. It is a cool weather honeymoon rather than a beach one, and an easy base for the rest of the hill country.

Find Nuwara Eliya vendors · All destinations