Nuwara Eliya April Season
Every April, Nuwara Eliya fills up for "the season": horse races, a flower show at Victoria Park, motor racing and New Year holidays in the cool hills.
April is when Nuwara Eliya is at its busiest. The weather in the hills is usually bright and cool, the gardens are in full bloom, and the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays bring families up from Colombo and the lowlands. Locals simply call it "the season", and it officially starts on 1 April.
The biggest fixtures are the horse races run by the Royal Turf Club at the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse, one of the oldest racecourses in Asia. The main race day features the Governor's Cup, alongside other cups on the same card, and it is as much a social event as a sporting one, with hats, picnics and crowds along the rails.
Toward the end of the month, the flower show takes over Victoria Park, with prize blooms, nursery stalls and plant sales. Through the month there are also motor races and hill climbs, golf tournaments, concerts, and fairs and boat rides around Gregory Lake.
Good to know: this is the most expensive and crowded time of year in Nuwara Eliya. Room prices go up sharply and the best places sell out weeks ahead, especially around 13 and 14 April. Roads into town are slow on weekends. If you want the cool air without the crowds, the first few days of April are calmer.
Racing here has a long history. The first race meeting at Nuwara Eliya was held in 1875, the present course was laid out around 1900, and in 1910 the governor of the day, Sir Henry McCallum, introduced the Governor's Cup that still headlines the season.
If you're planning to go, book your room as early as you can, ideally months ahead for the New Year weekend. Pack warm layers too: April days can be sunny, but nights in the hills turn cold, and afternoon showers are common. Race days are lively and family friendly, and an early walk around the lake or through the park is the best way to enjoy the town before the crowds arrive.
At a glance
- When: Usually in April
- Duration: The whole of April
- Venue: Nuwara Eliya town, the racecourse, Victoria Park and Gregory Lake
- Organizer: Royal Turf Club, Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council and others
- Entry: Free to walk around; race days and some events are ticketed