Ella Sri Lanka
Ella, an awe-inspiring place in the hill country of Sri Lanka, is the epitome of natural beauty.
Located on a ridge between the central and southern provinces, Ella is naturally breathtakingly beautiful, defined by spectacular views and lush scenery.
Ella always walks tall with an elevation of 1004m above sea level, surrounded by mountains showcasing a terrain that is laden with moss, tea plantations, and a jade-green forest-cover nourished by gorgeous waterfalls. Simply Ella throws her tantrums to be such an all-rounder whether it be waterfalls, hills, plantations or historical places; inspiring such a gasp when you see them around you.
If you want to sample your own slice of heaven, look no further than Ella: a place that holds its breath to welcome tourists from all over the world; a place that leading travel magazines feature as a hotspot.
There are several places in Ella, Sri Lanka that combined make it so awesome.
Diyaluma waterfall
This is one of the spectacular places in Ella standing as the second highest waterfall in the island. If you fancy immersing yourself in a waterfall’s spray, Diyaluma is for you. It is easily accessible too. Diyaluma waterfall is 220 m high and the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 361st highest waterfall in the world.
How to get to Diyaluma Waterfall.
Located about one hour from Ella, this place is easy to reach by foot. Once you get there, if the sight of the cold water cascading down into a crystal clear aquamarine pool inspires you to trek to the summit of the waterfall, It will take about 30 minutes to reach and see the magnificent view from the top of the waterfall.
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Ravana waterfall
This is another awe-inspiring waterfall and can be reached in 10 minutes drive from the town. Since this is located right beside the main road, you won’t miss it. Getting drenched by the cold water is a touch of paradise. You’ll feel fabulous afterwards.
What is so special about the waterfall is that a legend has evolved around the name, Ravana.
in ancient times, there was a king – Ravana – who kidnapped a princess called Sita and hid her in a cave close to the waterfall.
How to get to the Ravana waterfall
It’s not far. You can get a bus in the main street of Ella town. It costs Rs 70. Also, there are tuk-tuk taxis.
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Little Adam’s Peak
Little Adams Peak is another astounding attraction located in Ella. It stands proudly around 1,140m above sea level. Atop the peak, you can witness the sun rising over the panoramic view. It’s magical. The experience makes you realise why Sri Lanka is known as “The Wonder of Asia.”
Not to worry when climbing up to the summit as the trail is well marked with signs on either side. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the top but you should allocate more time since the picturesque view will definitely make you slow down your pace.
How to get to Little Adam’s peak
It’s about 2km from Ella junction. A shortcut from Ella Motel will get you sooner to the 98 Acres Resort. From there you can access the track leading to the peak.
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The Nine Arch Bridge in Ella is on the Demodara loop
A landmark site on “the most beautiful train ride in the world .”
It’s a train enthusiast’s dream to take a ride from Kandy to Ella or vice versa by train. You pass tea plantations, waterfalls, lush forests, deep valley views and quaint railway stations.
The route is from Kandy to Nanu Oya and onto Ella and Badulla. If you love nature’s scenic surprises, you will surely be thrilled by the mesmerising sights welcoming you on this journey. The cold breeze will add to your exhilaration.
The views from the window make for great photographs, but it’s dangerous to lean out of the open doors for a selfie. This journey through the hill country, not just a spectacular train ride, because the train also travels across the remarkable Nine Arches Bridge.
It’s unusual as it was built in the British colonial era with only rocks found locally, without steel supports. It proudly spans around 91m at a height of 24m.
The bridge is also known as “the bridge of the sky” which derives from the visual experience. Wherever you stand underneath the bridge, you can see the sky through the nine arches.
The easiest way to reach the bridge is by a Rs 400 tuk-tuk ride from Ella or else walk along the track from Ella railway station (although listen carefully for oncoming trains). If you can be there when the sun rises, it will create an even more memorable moment.
Sip a drink or dine at Cafe Chill, Ella
Run by an engaging local team, Cafe Chill is a stylish roadside cafe-bar-restaurant with a wave-inspired wooden roof. Carefully selected modern music and the relaxed seating atmosphere with beanbags on the 2nd floor is a must way to spend a chilled evening in Ella. Cricket world World cup matches are streamed on the two large TV’s.
Both Sri Lankan and Western food are served here in a quick and qualitative manner. Its ambience is a clear winner and the reason as to why Cafe Chill remains such a favourite. Cafe Chill Ella, Sri Lanka is open from Monday to Sunday 10:00 am – 12:00 am.
Where to stay in Ella, Sri Lanka
Ella has mostly small family run guesthouses but also a few higher end boutique hotels. The recent popularity surge means that there is no shortage of accommodation options for any budget. Below are some of the best accommodation options.
