Nuwara Eliya was 'discovered' in 1826, by a group of British officers who had lost their way while on an elephant hunt. Back then Nuwara Eliya was a nondescript little village surrounded by thick jungle. This was rapidly to change. The officers informed the British governor of Ceylon, Sir Edward Barnes, of their find, and he in turn soon made his way to Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya - often shortened to Nurelia and meaning 'city of lights' - is situated 1,890 metres above sea level and is Sri Lanka's highest town and as such blessed with a temperate, invigorating climate. Nuwara Eliya sits on a plateau measuring 6.5 km by 2.5 km, ringed by hills and mountains.