About Ella

Country: India | State: Sri Lanka

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Ella: Colombo (224 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Ella: January to May

Peak Season: February to March

At a distance of 22 km from Badulla, 53 km from Nuwara Eliya, 129 km from Kandy, 166 km from Polonnaruwa, 171 km from Dambulla, 182 km from Sigiriya, 221 km from Galle, 224 km from Colombo, 235 km from Anuradhapura, 272 km from Trincomalee, and 415 km from Jaffna, Ella is a quaint little hill town located in the Badulla district of the Uva Province in Sri Lanka. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful places to visit on the island as part of Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

Situated at an altitude of 3,415 feet, Ella is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The area has a rich bio-diversity, dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. The town also offers stunning mountain hikes and lovely waterfalls. With picture-perfect environs, a pleasant climate, and super-friendly people, it is an ideal destination for people trying to break the routine of the warm and humid climate of coastal Sri Lanka. The town is most famous for its iconic nine arches railway bridge which is a fine example of colonial-era construction in Sri Lanka.

The hill town of Ella is connected to the Hindu epic, Ramayana, a historic tale that covers over India and Sri Lanka. The locals believed that the town of Ella is the place where goddess Sita was held captive in a cave near Ravana Falls. The story goes that King Ravana kidnapped Princess Sita from India and hid her in the caves behind the waterfall. It is also said the Sita bathed in a pool of water that was collected with the water that fell from the fall. The caves behind the fall are known as the Ravana Ella Caves.

Enclosed by the lush green tea plantations, Ella in Sri Lanka is a beautiful paradise that offers stunning mountain hikes, lovely waterfalls, and pleasant climate. It makes an ideal base for people who want to explore the magnificent green valleys of Sri Lanka. Climb up Little Adam's Peak or walk along the railroads on the Nine Arch Bridge, enjoy the endless tea plantations or get a shower under the Ravana waterfall or hike up the trail leading to the Ella Rock to enjoy the awe-inspiring view of the endless valleys, Ella has something for every kind of a traveler.

No trip to Ella would be complete without taking a ride on the famous 7-hour route between Kandy and Ella. And, it is also the most famous train journey anywhere in the country. The tracks wind through the hills and mountains of central Sri Lanka and provide stunning views of tea plantations. One needs to book in advance if you want a seat as they fill up fast! Otherwise, you can book the day of, an hour before the train departs for an unreserved seat - but you risk standing for the entire ride.

Wildly known as a backpackers' paradise, Ella offers a variety of accommodation options to fit every travelers' needs. There are few options to choose from such as guesthouses, hostels, and nice resorts and hotels. This town has a nice laid-back feel to it and offers a good variety of local restaurants and activities.

The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is the nearest airport which is about 230 km from Ella. It has well flight connectivity with India and other parts of Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the United States. Ella Railway Station ha well connectivity with Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Galle, and Badulla. One of the best ways to reach Ella is by train and the ride from Kandy to Ella is known to be one of the most beautiful in the world! There are a number of public and private buses that travel from Colombo to Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Galle on a daily basis. From there, one can hire a cab or bus for Ella. The best way to get around Ella is on foot, tuk-tuks, or renting bikes.

The town has a cooler climate than surrounding lowlands, due to its elevation. Although, the temperature during June, July, and August is comparatively hotter. However, one can visit the alluring town from January till May, as the weather is significantly warm in the morning and afternoon and one can witness chilly nights.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Average
STD Code: 0094-057
Languages Spoken: Sinhalese, Tamil, & English
Major Festivals: Details Not Available
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Ella

By Air

Nearest Airport: Colombo - Bandaranaike Airport (230 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Ella Railway Station (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Ella Bus Stand (0.5 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Ella

Waterfall

#1 of 14 Places to Visit in Ella

At a distance of 7 km from Ella Railway Station, Ravana Falls is a stunning waterfall situated in the hill town of Ella, Sri Lanka. It is one of the popular waterfalls in Sri Lanka and among the must include places in Ella Tour Packages.

Ravana Falls is about 82 feet in height and cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. A part of the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, the falls is bounded by a thick blanket of forests and is considered as one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka. The waterfall can get extremely powerful during the rainy season and said to resemble an areca flower with withering petals but its size is reduced dramatically during the dry season. The fall is quite impressive, and one can climb over some of the rocks to get a closer look. Visitors can get close and spend some time swimming, but be safe as the rocks are slippery.

The falls have been named after the legendary character Ravana, which is connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. According .....

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Adventure

#2 of 14 Places to Visit in Ella

At a distance of 9 km from Ella Railway Station, Ella Rock is a dramatic peak situated near Ella in Sri Lanka. It is one of the best hiking and trekking sites in Sri Lanka and among the must-do things in Ella.

Ella, a quaint little town ringed by verdant mountains has become a sensation among travelers. Amidst its many a delight, the trail to the top of Ella Rock is a bucket-list item of many who visit Ella. Though it is known as a quite challenging hike, the view from the top of the rock was thrilling. One can see the Little Adam's Peak in front, the petite village at the bottom and enormous ranges all around.

Hiking to Ella Rock is considered to be one of the biggest accomplishments for hikers and trekkers. While the views from the top of Ella Rock are breathtaking, it takes about more than 4 hours to trek up and down. The track up the peak is averagely strenuous and has quite a few interesting things to see. Walking through the beautiful path, the train track, bridge and .....

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Adventure

#3 of 14 Places to Visit in Ella

At a distance of 4 km from Ella Railway Station, Little Adam's Peak is the mini version of Adam's Peak, the pilgrimage mountain site of central Sri Lanka. It is one of the popular places of hiking and trekking in Sri Lanka and among the must-visit places in Ella.

Located at an altitude of 1141 m, the Little Adam's Peak got its name after its big brother, the holy mountain Adam's Peak, because of the similar shape. It provides a less exhausting and more pleasant alternative as a hiking spot to those who cannot hike on a mountain as big as Adam's Peak. During the trek, one can enjoy the view over the valley, relax, and connect with other travelers.

Climbing up the Little Adams Peak in Ella is one of the favorite activities of the tourists on their Sri Lankan holiday. It takes about 2-3 hours in total. There are two trailheads to start the hike for Little Adam's top. One of them is next to Ella Flower Garden Resort on the main road, and the other is located at 98 acres resort .....

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Heritage

#4 of 14 Places to Visit in Ella

At a distance of 3 km from Ella Railway Station, the Nine Arches Bridge is an ancient bridge located in the hill town of Ella in Sri Lanka. Also known as Ahas Namaye Palama or the Bridge in the Sky, it is one of the popular iconic structures in Ella and among the must-visit places as part of Ella Tour Packages.

The Nine Arch Bridge is a magnificent stone bridge built amidst lush green tea plantations, with stunning mountains in the backdrop. It is located at Demodara, between Ella and Demodara railway stations. This ancient construction is 91 m long and 24 m high and never fails to leave tourists spellbound at its beauty.

It is one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the country. The construction of the bridge is generally attributed to a local Ceylonese builder, P. K. Appuhami, in consultation with British engineers. The designer of the viaduct was Harold Cuthbert Marwood of Railway Construction Department of Ceylon Government Railway. Popular rumors .....

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Nature

#5 of 14 Places to Visit in Ella

At a distance of 53 km from Nuwara Eliya and 137 km from Kandy, the Kandy to Ella train ride is considered one of the most spectacular train trips in Sri Lanka and one of the top things to do in Ella Sri Lanka.

No trip to Ella would be complete without taking a train ride between Kandy and Ella or the other way around, as it is considered to be one of the most beautiful train trips in the world. This train ride lasts for 7 hours and takes you through stunning landscapes of green and lush tea plantations and mountain views. For a shorter trip, the section from Nanu Oya (near Nuwara Eliya) to Ella is considered the most picturesque and takes around 3 hours.

The train trip Ella - Kandy, and Kandy - Ella is very popular, both among tourists and the locals. It is highly recommended to buy tickets well in advance as the trains usually get fully booked especially on weekends. Tickets can be booked 37 days in advance online only at 12Go.asia as unfortunately, the Sri Lanka Railway .....

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Heritage

#6 of 14 Places to Visit in Ella

At a distance of 3 km from Ella Railway Station, Ravana Cave is a historical cave situated in Ella, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka with historical value.

At an altitude of 4,490 feet, the Ravana Cave or Ravana Ella Cave is located at the base of a cliff not far from the Ravana Waterfall. It is quite a small cave, measuring about 50 feet wide, 150 feet long and 60 feet high. The cave is a huge cavity in a rock which people say leads to an underground tunnel. There have been reports stating that the tunnel leads to an underground open area with a lake and rooms, which are assumed to be parts of Ravana's palace. It is believed to have been the cave where Sita was imprisoned. Excavations in the cave have revealed evidence of human habitation dating back to over 25,000 years ago.

The trek to the Ravana Cave starts near the Ravana Ella Temple. One has to climb 700 steps for going to the cave. There are short cemented steps, as well as makeshift .....

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Nature

#7 of 14 Places to Visit in Ella

At a distance of 7 km from Dambatenne, 15 km from Haputale and 27 km from Ella, Lipton's Seat or Lipton Seat is a viewpoint situated in the Haputale mountain range, atop the Dambatenne Tea Estate. It is one of the popular vantage points near Ella.

Located at a height of 1970 m above sea level, Lipton's Seat is a beautiful tourist attraction that offers awe-inspiring views of the surrounding verdant hills and tea plantations. The viewpoint is named after Sir Thomas Lipton, the founder of Lipton Tea. This precise spot is the place where Sir Thomas Lipton used to sit and contemplate his plantations. A statue of Sir Lipton greets visitors to Lipton's Seat.

From the summit, one will have a bird's eye view of the Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern provinces. On a clear day, one should be able to spot the Handapanagala Lake, the Chandrika Lake and the Udawalawe Lake as well as the Wedihiti Kanda mountain range. This place is also perfect to witness the best of sunrise and sunset. .....

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Waterfall

#8 of 14 Places to Visit in Ella

At a distance of 30 km from Haputale and 40 km from Ella, the Diyaluma Falls is a stunning waterfall located at Koslanda in Sri Lanka. On Colombo-Badulla highway, it is one of the best waterfalls in Sri Lanka and among the famous Ella Tourist Places.

Diyaluma Falls is cascading down from a height of about 220 m (720 feet) with several beautiful natural infinity pools at different levels along its length. It is the second-highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 361st highest waterfall in the world. The waterfall is formed by Punagala Oya, a tributary of Kuda Oya which in turn, is a tributary of Kirindi Oya. In Sinhalese, Diyaluma or Diya Haluma means 'rapid flow of water' or may be translated as 'liquid light'.

It has two different sets of waterfalls- the Upper Diyaluma Falls and the Lower Diyaluma Falls. The upper waterfall is beautiful and has pools deep enough to jump into, but the dramatic drop-off is at the lower part of the falls. The pools were cool and refreshing, especially .....

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Museum

#9 of 14 Places to Visit in Ella

At a distance of 5 km from Ella Railway Station, Halpewatte Tea Factory is a tea factory located in the beautiful town of Ella. It is one of the largest tea factories in the region of Uva.

Amidst the green surroundings stands the Halpewatte Tea Factory produces 1.5 million kilograms per year. The factory was once a part of the British era which dates back to the 1940s. The Factory provides a range of supreme quality tea using the latest manufacturing techniques. A walk in the tea plantations of this hill town Ella will give you an unforgettable experience.

The Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory offers a guided tour for its visitors who wish to learn more about the authentic Sri Lankan tea. The tour usually lasts for 40 minutes to 1 hour. The tour commences with a short lecture on the different types of tea and the various procedures which go into making the tea. The tour comes to an end with a tasting session of the aromatic teas of the factory. There is also a tea shop where one .....

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Pilgrimage

#10 of 14 Places to Visit in Ella

At a distance of 1 km from Badulla Railway Station and 21 km from Ella, Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple located at the center of Badulla town. Also known as Muthiyangana Temple, it is one of the sacred Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka.

Muthiyangana Temple is one of the sixteen sacred Buddhist temples in the country. According to legend, Lord Buddha, along with 500 Arhants, during his third visit to the island, arrived at Badulla by the invitation of King Indaka, the chieftain of the Deva tribe. At the end of sermons, Indaka had wanted something to worship in memory of Lord Buddha's visit. The Lord Buddha is said to have given him a few of His hairs and a few drops of sweat that turned into pearls. Indaka had enshrined these sacred hairs and pearls in a stupa at the site of his sermons. King Devanampiya Tissa (307 - 266 BC) further developed the original stupa and turned the site into a temple complex. Thereafter King Jetta Tissa I, King Dhatusena, King Vijayabahu .....

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