2025 Central Province Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

#summervacay Okay, Sigiriya is like… next-level epic. This massive rock just pops out of nowhere and makes you go, “Yep, I’m climbing that.” And oh boy, the climb is no joke, those steps feel endless, especially under the sun, but every bit of it is worth it. You pass these ancient wall paintings and a mirror wall (which isn’t that shiny anymore, lol), and then you hit the Lion’s Gate. Giant paws carved into the stone. Super cool and kinda surreal. At the top, it’s all wind in your face and views that go on forever. Ruins of an ancient palace, little pools, and lots of monkeys who act like they own the place. Honestly, just chilling up there feels magical. Tip: get there early unless you wanna roast in the heat and fight off tourist traffic jams on the stairs. But even with the sweat and panting, Sigiriya is totally worth the leg burn. Bucket list stuff, for sure.

#summervacay Kandy Lake is the kinda place where you just slow down. Right in the heart of Kandy town, this lake is the chill zone you didn’t know you needed. Whether you’re killing time before heading to the Temple of the Tooth or just wanna stretch your legs, a walk around the lake hits the spot. It’s not huge, so the loop’s super doable, flat path, shaded by big old trees, and plenty of spots to sit and just vibe. You’ll see locals jogging, couples holding hands, monkeys doing monkey things, and maybe a lazy monitor lizard sunbathing like it owns the place. Early morning or sunset? That’s when the lake really shows off. Golden light, soft ripples, and city sounds kinda fade into the background. There’s even a cute island in the middle (no entry, but it looks cool!). Honestly, it’s not flashy or crazy adventurous, it’s just peaceful and pretty. Kandy Lake is perfect for a slow stroll, good convo, or a quiet moment to just breathe.

Nuwara Eliya, located in Sri Lanka's Central Province, is known for its picturesque landscapes, colonial-era charm, and cool climate. Often called "Little England," it features rolling tea plantations, misty mountains, and elegant British-style architecture. Nuwara Eliya’s unique atmosphere makes it a favorite destination for both locals and tourists seeking cooler weather and natural beauty. #voyagevibes #traveldiaries #srilanka

If you ask me where Sri Lanka is the most beautiful, I do not hesitate to answer the question is NE town, Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya was Little England by the Sri Lankan tourism industry. Although the style of this toy town is somewhat similar to that of the English countryside, it has a confusing surreal style. The dirty and messy town centre is completely Sri Lankan, but when you smash the surface, the huts and rose gardens separated by shrubs will remind you of a colonial character. It's hard to imagine that in 1819, a colonial official named John Dawei discovered the town of NE. Ten years later, the British made it a retreat. Later, this area began to be famous for producing British vegetables and fruits, because the colonial officials loved it, and it began to grow in large quantities, such as lettuce and strawberries. In the early days, coffee was also grown here, but the harvest was not good and it was planted instead. Tea is widely promoted. Thanks to its great success, NE Town soon became the world-famous City of Tea. The town of NE is not the same as the rest of Sri Lanka. There are not many cheaper hotels for backpackers. Most of the hotels are colonial-style buildings, which are slightly higher. NE town is the peak season for travel in April, Sri Lanka New Year, house prices will be 3-5 times in normal times; August also has more tourists, and is also affected by China's long holiday cycle is also very serious.

Nuwara Eliya is a beautiful city on the plateau of Sri Lanka. In the Ceylon language, Nuuller means the city, and Eliye means the sun. Nuwara Eliya means a city full of sunshine. Nuwara Eliya is surrounded by a series of endless hillsides, and all the mountains are tea gardens. No matter where you look at it, the tea is bright green. In the morning, I will see tea picking women picking tea in the mountains on the Chashan Mountain, but in the middle of the afternoon they will also come out to pick tea. The slopes of Chashan are not smooth. They work hard in the mountains to provide Sri Lanka with the world. The best black tea.