The Rock, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Perched at an elevation of 2,250 metres above sea level, The Rock at Nuwara Eliya sits at the heart of Sri Lanka's celebrated tea country. Situated 180 km from Colombo and 77 km from Kandy, it offers a quietly comfortable base from which to experience the cool, flower-filled landscape that has long earned Nuwara Eliya the affectionate nickname "Little England" — a holiday-maker's paradise guarded by a salient mountain range.

The property is modest in scale but generous in character. Its ten quaint and comfortable rooms each come with attached bathrooms and hot and cold running water, while communal spaces include a bar and a lounge warmed by a log fire — welcome comforts in the brisk hill-country air. Ample parking is available on site, and pony rides can be arranged on request.

Rooms and Facilities

The Rock's ten rooms are comfortably furnished and equipped with radio, television and music facilities. The combination of a relaxed lounge, an open fire and a well-stocked bar gives the property a distinctly homely atmosphere that suits the unhurried pace of Nuwara Eliya.

Exploring the Surrounding Tea Country

The Rock's location makes it an ideal starting point for the range of excursions that define a stay in this part of Sri Lanka. Guests can tour the tea estates that carpet the surrounding hillsides, visit Victoria Park, and take in the legendary Nuwara Eliya Golf Club — all within easy reach of the property.

The Hakgala Botanical Gardens, regarded as among Sri Lanka's greatest, lie close by. The gardens are home to a wide range of roses and orchids, alongside many other plant species indigenous to Sri Lanka alone. Further afield, Horton Plains and the dramatic viewpoint known as World's End offer a breath-taking panorama of the surroundings — a top-of-the-world feeling, as well as a nature reserve rich in exotic flora and fauna that serves as a haven for bird watchers.