Tucked away in the misty Sri Lankan high country, amongst idyllic green hills and gushing waterfalls, lies Ella: one of most appealing destinations in the island.
Lots of people make Ella as one of their must visit destination just to witness the breath-taking views it creates. It is a dream place for many trekkers with some of the best hikes the Island provides. This hidden village got vastly popular among the tourists lately.
From scaling the heady heights of Ella Rock, to laying eyes on the mystical Nine Arch Bridge for the very first time; standing on the edge of the roaring Diyaluma Falls (the second tallest in the country), and winding through the tea plantations and mountains passes on the famous Kandy to Ella train; many of our favourite Sri Lankan adventures can be found right here.
At its heart, Ella is a charming and laid back village perfect for relaxing, hiking and escaping the searing temperatures of the southern coast.
Ella tourist paradise in Sri Lankan highlands
Views of mist and clouds covering the summits of the mountain range and the morning sun rise in Ella are spectacular scenes to witness and captured. After a fresh hike in the morning, hit a waterfall, grab some tasty Sri Lankan foods from somewhere with a beer, rest for a while and go for a railwalk to famous Nine Arch Bridge in the evening, you would sure love the all experience.
Ella got its own historic values with the link to the Legendary King Ravana stories too. Visit the Ravana waterfalls, simply a beauty. You can explore all of them while you are here.
Ella certainly a place with plenty of things to do which will keep you busy and happy.
If you are looking for a place to unwind from your busy lifestyle and to spend some peaceful, relaxed time with the nature, this is the place and you will leave Ella with some fond memories to last a life time.
When it comes to nightlife in a quaint town nestled in between misty mountains, it comes as no surprise that there is no party scene going on with loud music and excitement here. Instead, there are a few restaurants that serve up some warm western-style cuisine while there are a few bars and snazzy cafes that offer a great relaxing vibe which is perfect for ending a tiring day of hiking.
One of the most popular cafes in the area among tourists would be Café Chill where you can spend the evening on the pretty upper deck sipping on some beer or whatever suits your palate at the time. Just like the name suggests it is truly a “chill” spot in Ella. The menu is full of items like pizzas, delicious hamburgers, and Sri Lankan lamprais’ which is an absolute must-try!
Beautiful view of the Ella gap
One of the most magnificent sceneries in Ella is the Ella gap, a valley that sits between opposing mountain ranges. It is one of the most eye-catching natural landmarks in Ella. On a clear day, the Ella gap grants view all the way down to the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
Nine Arch Bridge
The Nine Arch Bridge call as the “bridge in the sky” is one of the major iconic sights in Ella. It can consider as Sri Lanka’s best colonial-era railway construction work. The 24 m tall bridge was constructed of blocks of stone and cement, without any strengthening iron or steel. Although it is almost 100 years old, it is well preserved showing the incredible architectural skills and grandeur of ancient constructions.
Flying Ravana
Flying Ravana zip lining is a marvelous adventure to experience in Ella. This zip lining course opened in 2019, but already highly popular, awesome things to do in Ella. It is the longest zip line in Sri Lanka runs for 500 m and situated 80 m above ground level.
The most scenic train ride in the world – Kandy to Ella
The train ride from Kandy to Ella is famous as the world’s most scenic train ride. It takes around 7 hours to reach there from Kandy and 10 hours from Colombo. During this train ride, you’ll immerse yourself in the beauty of the surroundings among the lush green hill country of Sri Lanka.
Little Adam’s Peak
Little Adam’s Peak is the most popular hiking trail in Ella. It refers as ‘little’ because of the similar conical shape to its big brother ‘Sri Pada Mountain’ or the sacred Adam’s peak. The height of Little Adam’s Peak is 1151 m, much lower than the height of its big brother which is 2243 m. The hiking route along the winding roads overlooking the green valley below offers breathtaking sceneries.
Ravana Falls
Ravana Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Ella. It’s located only 5 km away from Ella, just beside the Ella -Wellawaya main road. This is one of the easily accessible waterfalls in Sri Lanka. Since Ravana Falls can conveniently reach without any hassle, it is highly popular among most hill country travelers.
Pics courtsey Magnificentsrilanka