Nuwara Eliya celebrates its 190th anniversary
August 11 marked the 190th anniversary of the establishment of the Nuwara Eliya town, otherwise known as ‘Little England.’ The town’s origins date back to August 11, 1828, when the British Governor of then Ceylon, Sir Edward Barnes, established a rest area in Nuwara Eliya for British troops.
Though the town began to take shape only in 1828, it was first used by British troops in 1818. Records show Nuwara Eliya was one of the locations in the hill country where contingents of troops dispatched to quell the 1818 Uva rebellion set up camp.
John Davy, a doctor and explorer who travelled with a British army unit tasked with quelling the rebellion is regarded as one of the first person to recognise that the climate at Nuwara Eliya held similarities to the climate in England.
At the time the Kandyan Convention was signed -March 2, 1815- Nuwara Eliya came under the Walapane Disawe. But the Kandy Convention was signed by the ‘Doollewe Nilame’ on his behalf. Even today, the Nuwara Eliya District’s official flag is the flag of Walapane Disawe.
While Sir Edward Barnes is regarded as the architect of Nuwara Eliya town, Sir Samuel Baker, an explorer who traveled through nations conquered by the British is regarded as the man who had direct influence in its expansion.
In 1848, Sir Samuel Baker established a farm covering 1,000 acres at Nuwara Eliya. He bought the land at 20 shillings per acre. He brought in members of his family to staff the farm, and also brought animals from England to be reared on it.
Even today, the area where the farm once stood, (on the Nuwara Eliya-Badulla Road), is known as ‘Baker’s Farm.’
Among other prominent locations and landmarks in Nuwara Eliya are the Gregory's Lake (established in 1874), the golf course (1889), the post office (1894) and the Victoria Park (1897).
A census conducted in 1881 reveals the Nuwara Eliya town at that time had a population of 1,791. At the last census, in 2016, put the town’s population had grown to 36,044.
Situated 6181 feet above sea level, the town continues to be a popular holiday destination for both local and foreign tourists.