There are numerous things to do in Nuwara Eliya, including hiking trips and in general experiencing the true beauty of the Sri Lankan wild. A small national park in Nuwara Eliya, Galway’s Land was first named a national park in 2006. The park is a protected area of montane forest or cloud forest, a unique ecosystem found in many hilly areas of South and Southeast Asia. It covers about 15.6 hectares of land, all of which consists of highland forest. There are a few small resorts in the park to cater to any overnight visitors, including the Galway Forest Lodge. One must take care while walking along the birding trails in the forest, so as not to startle the local avifauna. In fact, both Victoria Park and Galway’s Land in Nuwara Eliya are considered as among the best sites for bird watching in the country. About twenty species of migrants and thirty native species can be seen here.

Written by Vasika Udurawane for Travel Lanka Compass