Gregory Lake

An artificial lake created in 1873 by British Governor William Gregory, surrounded by a paved walking path and paddle boat rentals. The lake sits at the centre of Nuwara Eliya town with eucalyptus trees and manicured gardens. Evening brings food stalls and horse rides around the perimeter. It sits below the headline sights but earns its place on a longer visit to Nuwara Eliya, especially paired with nearby Pedro Tea Estate. Entry is free and 1-2 hours gives you a thorough visit.

Walk the 1.2km paved circuit around still water that reflects the surrounding hills. Paddle boats churn across the surface while families picnic on grass patches between eucalyptus trees. Evening mist rolls down from the hills to touch the water.

Easy walk with mountain reflections and central location for exploring town. It is not the first thing you should see in Nuwara Eliya, but with two or more days it fills a gap the major sights leave. It pairs naturally with Pedro Tea Estate and Victoria Park - together they fill a solid half-day. Afternoon tends to work best here.

The nearest area to base yourself is Gregory Lake Area. It is one entry in our list of things to do in Nuwara Eliya. The Nuwara Eliya guide covers transport, costs and when to go.

We plan trips to Nuwara Eliya and the rest of Sri Lanka. Tell us your dates and we will put a route together. Our routes are on the tours page.