Ambewela: One of the Best Places to Witness the ‘Milkyway’

If you’re a traveler wishing to view the Milky Way and also photograph it, one of the best places to do so is the Ambewela area.

Ambewela, 15 kilometers away from Nuwara Eliya city, is located at a high altitude of approximately 6,064 feet (1,848 meters) above sea level.

The area known as the highest and widest grassland in the country is boasting of a cool climate, as temperatures often go below 17.5 degrees.

The village is known for being covered by dense forests as it borders the Horton Plains National Park.

Villagers mostly depend on farming and working on the nearby dairy farms and also tea estates.

Tourism too helps them in a way as thousands pass the village to go see attractions such as the Horton Plains, Baker’s Falls, World’s End, and also the milk farms.

Best Places to Witness the Milky Way

Whilst the environmentally cool, green, and friendly environment also offers a golden opportunity for visitors who are actually keen on exploring the ‘sky.’

If you want, Ambewela is considered one of the best places in Sri Lanka to view and photograph the Milky Way.

This is due to its high elevation, clean air, and minimal light pollution, which make the night sky exceptionally clear.

If you’re planning to observe the Milky Way from Ambewela, here are the key points:

1. Best Time To Capture the Milky Way

• February to October: The Galactic Core of the Milky Way is most visible during this period.
• New Moon nights: Choose nights without moonlight to see the stars and Milky Way more vividly.

2. Why Ambewela is Special For Milky Way

• Low light pollution: Compared to cities like Colombo, the sky here is much darker, allowing even the cloudy structure of the Milky Way to be visible to the naked eye.
• High altitude and cool climate: Being elevated above sea level reduces atmospheric interference, improving visibility.

3. Astrophotography Tips

If you plan to photograph it:

• Use a tripod (essential).
• Use a wide-angle lens with a wide aperture (e.g., f/1.8 or f/2.8).
• Set your ISO between 1600 and 3200 for better exposure.

The exact positions

Once you pass the Kande Ela River Area and travel a few kilometers towards Ambewela, you see valleys or farms at high elevation spreading over thousands of hectares.

You will see ample free open air spaces across the road leading up to Hortain Plains, where you can position yourself to witness the ‘Milky Way’ and also photograph it.

The best timing is to start driving towards the area around 6 pm in the evening so you can get the best views of the ‘sun setting down.’

Read Naza’s position on Milkyway