Nuwara Eliya’s beauty threatened as waterfalls face decline

Environmentalists stress that urgent steps require to be taken, even at this late stage, to safeguard the water resources that feed Nuwara Eliya’s waterfalls and preserve the town’s future as a premier tourist destination.   
Nuwara Eliya town and its surrounding areas, rich in scenic beauty and biodiversity, form one of the country’s premier tourism zones. History records that this picturesque city was founded in the 19th century by British explorer and hunter Samuel Baker. Since then, it was used by the British as a pleasure retreat and hunting ground.   
The British called it “Little England” due to its cool climate somewhat resembling that of their homeland, and they gave the city the character of an English town through its architecture and layout.   

In colonial times, hunters roamed the jungles, hunting elephants, sambur, and jackals. One such hunter, Maj. Thomas William Rogers, is said to have killed 1,500 wild elephants. Local belief holds that lightning strikes his grave every year. The British also planned the town carefully, adding playgrounds, gardens, and the famous lake that remain attractions to this day.   
From its inception, Nuwara Eliya has been both a tourist destination and a health resort, particularly valued for its salubrious climate. Thousands visit during the season to restore their health and enjoy the festive atmosphere. With its cool weather, frost, and mist-covered hills, it remains the only region in Sri Lanka to experience such a climate.   
Among its many attractions are Lake Gregory and the Park, constructed in 1874 by Governor Sir William Gregory; Victoria Park, established in 1897 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria’s coronation; and the Hakgala Botanical Gardens, founded in 1884 by botanist Dr. George Henry Kendrick Thwaites. The iconic red-brick post office, built in 1894 in Victorian style, is another landmark. Complementing these are the Lover’s Leap and Glenfall waterfalls, natural wonders that enhance the beauty of Nuwara Eliya.