Nuwara Eliya has two distinct seasons. The dry season runs roughly from January to March and again from July to September — these are the clearest months, with crisp cool days and cold nights. April is race season, when Colombo empties to Nuwara Eliya for the Sinhala New Year holiday and prices spike dramatically.
The inter-monsoon months of October to November and April to May bring heavy afternoon rain and mist. The tea country is green and beautiful in these months, and the falls are at their most impressive, but you need to be prepared for cool, wet days. The main southwest monsoon (May to September) is less pronounced in Nuwara Eliya than on the lowland coasts due to the altitude, but rainfall is still significant. The town's cool temperatures make it a year-round destination for Sri Lankans escaping the coastal heat.