Ella Sri Lanka: The Mountain Backpackers Paradise

Posted on by Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Ella, Sri Lanka, can be best described as a small, laid-back village in the woods. A ring of mountain peaks encircles this small town, which is located at 1000 metres above sea level. Ella has peaceful and spellbindingly beautiful green countryside; that’s the most striking part of Ella.

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Ella, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is merely 425 km long, and the maximum is around 225km, Sri Lanka is a tropical island with great diversity for a small land area. This beautiful island offers the possibility of experiencing vastly different climates, histories, scenery, and cultures during a short vacation.

Sri Lanka’s hill country with abundant scenery is one of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka and included Sri Lanka trips. Tea plantations, vegetable gardens, cascading waterfalls, streams, and small patches of forest are prevalent in the hill country. Amongst the tea plantations, like nowhere else in Sri Lanka, you can feel the blend of civilizations between England’s colonial past, the Tamil Hindu community that was forcefully moved from India to Sri Lanka to work in the fields, and Ella, the ancient kingdom of Kandy. The blend of landscapes provides an amazing cultural backdrop to rival the already amazing natural beauty of the area.

Where is Ella?

Ella is on the southern slope of Sri Lanka’s hill country. The city is to be found at a height of 1045 metres above sea level, and it is tucked away about 200 metres from Colombo. Ella sits on the beaten tourist path of Sri Lanka, and Ella is to be found on the Ella-Wellawaya main road between Nuwara Eliya and Wellawaya.

How to travel to Ella

The travellers can reach Ella by train, as well as by road. The drive on the main road to the country is faster compared to the train journey, however, the train trip from Kandy to Ella is considered one of the most scenic train journeys in the world with access to abundance of spellbinding hill country scenery.

  • Dhowa temple, a 2,000-year-old rock temple, is located on the Badulla-Bandarawela Road. It contains a 12 metres (39 ft) unfinished Buddha statue carved into the surrounding rock.
  • Bambaragala Peak
  • Ella Rock, a lookout point
  • Little Adam’s Peak, a 1,141 m (3,743 ft) pyramidal-shaped hill, located to the southeast of the town. Named after the larger Adam’s Peak.
  • Ravana Ella Falls, a 25 m (82 ft) waterfall, located approximately 6 km (4 mi) away from the town
  • Nine Arches Bridge, Demodara
  • Diyaluma Falls, a 220 m (720 ft) waterfall
  • Yahalamadiththa temple
  • Ravana cave
  • Nildiya pokuna

Ella is a tourist resort for adventure activities

Ella, Sri Lanka, can be described as a small, laid-back village in the Sri Lanak hill country. A ring of mountain peaks encircles this small town, which is located at 1000 metres above sea level. Ella has peaceful and spellbindingly beautiful green countryside, that’s the most striking feature of Ella. On clear and sunny days with a clear sky, you can see the southern part of Sri Lanka from Ella, you can even see glow from the lighthouse in southern -metrei Lanka-foot

Ella is a popular hilly resort in Sri Lanka and attracts a large number of foreign travellers. Ella offers a wide range of interesting activities for adventure junkies.

  • Trekking
  • Hiking
  • Rock climbing
  • Waterfall abseiling
  • Ziplining
  • Caving

Zip lining and ATV bike adevnture

If you are a traveller, who are interested in modest adevnturous acitvities, you can do a zip lining and ATV bike ride in Ella. The zip line is 500 meters long and you reach the speed of 80 km per hour on this line. It is not only quite advnturous activity, but also it allows you to have a nice view over the beaiful countryside in Ella. ATV bike ride on the other hand, is also very interesting. As you ride through the rough terrain in Ella. You will ride through tea plantations. patches of forests and many scenic areas in Ella. The ATV bike ride allows you to reach many scenic areas in Ella, that you can’t reach by foot and using other vehicles.

On days with a clear sky, you can see southern Sri Lanka from this mountain resort

How much time does it take to go to Ella from Colombo?

A trip to Ella from Colombo takes well over 5 hours. If you drive from the southern part of the island it can be curtailed to 3 hours. However, it takes much longer than the average journey due to the rapid climb of the mountain. This fascinating holiday village is situated just south of Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela. There are two methods to reach Ella from Colombo, train or road. Most tourists, who spend a holiday in Ella choose the train to reach the destination. The train is more convenient than the busses and the train ride also gives you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sceneries across the mountain, valleys, forests, and tea plantations in the mountains.

The Sr Lanka hill country train trip from Kandy to Ella

The train journey from Kandy to Ella is considered one of the most beautiful train trips in the world. A large number of travellers love it and there is a big demand, for hill country train trips among foreign travellers. Due to the high demand for the Sri Lanka hill country train journey, the railway department of Sri Lanka has launched a new luxury train, known as ”Ella odyssey” from Colombo to Ella, especially targeting foreign trav: byllers.

“Odyssey”, a new and luxury train to reach Ella

The Department of Railway of Sri Lanka announced the plan to put their “Ella Odyssey” train back on track after a lapse of many months, which is a reason for tourism-related businesses in Ella to breathe a sigh of relief. This super-luxury intercity train is particularly launched to promote tourism in the hill country. Train travel is one of the favourite forms of travel among foreign travellers on their way to Ella from Colombo.

The train journey between Colombo and Ella is considered to be one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. The train trip from Ella to Kandy is the most scenic and most popular train ride on the island due to the scenic beauty it offers. A large number of foreign travellers love it and they are particularly asking for it. Therefore, most Sri Lanka tour operators offer the hill country train journey as a standalone journey or combined with other tour packages eg “Sri Lanka Kandy trip with hill country train journey“.

The minister of Transport, Highway and Mass media, Bandula Gunawardena has directed the authorities to re-start the Ella Odyssey in order to facilitate a luxury train journey for local and foreign travellers. The re-opening of booking for the Ella Odyssey train is expected to help the revival of tourism in Ella.  

Ella hill country train timetable

The train starts the journey from Colombo Fort railway station at 05.30 hrs. on every Saturday and scheduled to reach its destination of Badulla at 15.55 hrs. The train leaves Badulla every Sunday at 09.50 hrs. it reaches Colombo at 19.20 hrs.

Main stops of Sri Lanka hill country train

Stops of Odyssey in Major toruist places such as

  • St. Clair Falls
  • Great Western Railway Station
  • Elgin Falls
  • Pattipola Summit Level
  • Idalgashinna Railway Station
  • Demodara 9-Arch Bridge
  • Demodara Bridge and tunnel.

The rail journey from Ella to Nuwara Eliya (Between Nanu Oya railway station and Ella) is considered one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. This upcountry rail journey is very popular around the world and many travellers who book Sri Lanka tours with us (seerendipity Tours) ask for a train journey in the mountains. If you also wish to have to rail journey on the mountain please don’t hesitate to contact us through our email at admin@seerendipitytours.com. Seerendipity tours can book your train tickets and provide transportation from and to railway stations.

Travel to Ella by road

You might be wondering if it is not possible to have a road trip to Ella from Colombo. Yes it is possible, however, we mainly talk about train journey in this article because this train journey conside one of the most scenic rail journey in the world. For those, who do not like to use the train for the journey you can travel by road from Colombo to Ella. There are two main routes to reach Ella from Colombo. First one is the route from Colombo to Ella via Peradeniya and Nuwara Eliya, the second route via southern expressway.  If you use a private transportation with a local driver mountain, it take between 6-7 hours to reach Ella from Colombo. By using other route, the southern expressway you can reach Ella from Colombo in about 4-5 ours.

Sri Lanka Hill Country Tour

By far Ella Sri Lanka is one of the least explored remote adventure holiday destinations in the mountains of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is not a holiday destination for local travellers and they rarely choose it for a vacation. Most visitors to Ella, Sri Lanka, are foreign traveller eesking for a peaceful holiday with a twist of adventure. You will encounter many travellers and many of them are repeat travellers.

Travellers who look for luxurious accommodation may find it deficult to get a suitable accommodation at a time due to the acrecity if high-end tourist hotels. A possibility of getting luxury accommodation in Ella, Sri Lanka, is very narrow due to the scarcity of such facilities. I feel Ella it is a acute chortcoming of this charming holiday destination. If there had been more properties providing accommodation for high-end travellers, it might have helped this holiday spot attract more wealthy customers.

Ella Sri Lanka is not included in most Sri Lanka road trips, nor is it mentioned in most Sri Lanka package tours. Maybe because tour operators are not very enthusiastic about the possibilities for adventure activities in Ella, Sri Lanka, The city is far off the beaten path. Over the years, Ella grew in fame, but only marginally compared to other holiday destinations such as Bentota and Kandy. If you have never been to Ella, I presume you ought to take a trip to this unexplored holiday destination.

Sri Lanka is merely 425 km long, and the maximum is around 225km. Sri Lanka is a tropical island with great diversity for a small land area. This beautiful island offers the possibility of experiencing vastly different climates, histories, scenery, and cultures during a short vacation. Ellas is a place to experience the vividness of the landscape and climate. The climate of Ella, Sri Lanka, has a mild temperature with high rainfall. The humidity in Ella is about 60%, which is far more comfortable than in lower-elevated areas such as Colombo, Bentota, and Galle.

Sri Lanka’s hill country with its abundant scenery, is one of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka. The tea industry is dominant in the hill country. Amongst the tea plantations, like nowhere else in Sri Lanka, you can feel the blend of civilizations between England’s colonial past, the Tamil Hindu community that was forcefully moved from India to Sri Lanka to work in the fields, and the ancient kingdom of Kandy. The blend of cultures provides an amazing cultural backdrop to rival the already amazing natural beauty of the area.

One striking fact about Ella is the city is not too touristy or culturally washed like Bentota or Hikkaduwa. There’s plenty to see and do. From Ella town, you can hike to waterfalls; wander through the Ella Gap, rain forests, vegetable gardens, and rice terraces.

Ella is undoubtedly the most beautiful Gap on the island of Sri Lanka. Ella Gap is nestled between two huge geological upheavals towards the southern end of the central mountain range. A lot of tourists are curious about this destination and make inquiries often about making holidays in Ella. Therefore, I thought of writing some information about this charming little town. Unlike earlier, Ella is well-developed today, and she continues to grow. Development is creeping fast into the little town, and tourism is the main contributor to rapid development.

Accommodation in Ella

You are most likely thinking of What types of hotels are available in Ella, where you can find hotels in Ella, and what the prices are for hotels in Ella if you are thinking of a Sri Lanka holiday package with Ella. My answer to all these questions is very positive. In this beautiful mountain resort, you can find everything from the most basic hotels to luxury boutique hotels, providing an equal share for any type of budget. All hotels are concentrated around the village of Ella and not far from the Ella Gap; therefore, it is very easy to find them.

Almost all properties are built to allow the guests to have breathtaking scenery across the Ella gap from the room. with regards to the number of hotels in Ella, there is an acute shortage, therefore during the peak holiday season, most tourists have to find accommodation somewhere else. It might be difficult to get a room in a nice hotel in Ella at the last moment in the month of July, August, and November to April.

Most hotels in Ella are small properties, and they provide affordable accommodation. Excess partying, the beautiful setting, the good local food, and affordable accommodation are several reasons for someone to travel to this tiny town and love it. Therefore the town attracts a lot of young travellers from Western countries, and they love the travel atmosphere in Ella.

Weather in Ella Sri Lanka

Ella is warm and humid, however, it is cooler than most cities in the beach areas and has an average temperature of 28C. The temperature goes marginally down in October, November, December, and January but the rest of the year it is warm here. It might rain here frequently during the southwest monsoon (from April to November), but during the northeast monsoon (from November to April) the rainfall is low.

What can we do in Ella Sri Lanka?

If you are wondering what to do in Ella? it is an adventure, adventure and adventure. Rugged terrain of Ella offers many ideal places for low adrenaline-pumping activities like trekking, hiking, and walking. Mountain climbing, trekking, hiking, rock climbing, caving, and bird watching are some of the popular activities in Ella. Ella is particularly popular for trekking and hiking and Ella offers a large number of trekking and hiking trails, therefore Ella is considered one of the best hiking and trekking sites in Sri Lanka. Ella is part of some Sri Lanka tour packages, especially those planned for nature and adventure lovers. Therefore, if you book a Sri Lanka nature tour or Sri Lanka adventure trip there is a good chance of visiting Ella. This holiday destination receives many hundreds of travellers every year. Therefore, tourism is an integral part of the livelihood of most people in the region and a large number of families depend on tourism for their income.

As of Aug 2022, most businesses in Ella are left high and dry due to the lack of foreign travellers. It is a direct result of political and economic turmoil on the island. Hoverer, with the sign of political stability and the economic revival under the new administration the stakeholders of the tourism industry, are awaiting optimism about their livelihood. With the re-launch of Ella Odyssey Sri Lanka hill country train, the people in Ella expect some improvement in their businesses.

An excursion to the nearby gap will make everlasting memories on your visit to this upcountry holiday resort. It will be adventurous but enjoyable, the natural beauty here is endless. The gap is one of the main reasons for its popularity among tourists. Some tourists are visiting Ella only to do adventure sports around the gap. It is a place for sports such as mountain climbing, rock climbing, trekking, and bird watching.

There is a large number of hotels in Ella and the surrounding area offers you plenty of opportunities to find hotels and other accommodation facilities for your budget and taste. Ella is a holiday destination for high-end as well as budget-conscious travellers. Ella attracts a different type of tourists than the average holidaymakers on the island. Most travellers here love to have peace, calm, and serenity. Because this little lazy town is one of the best places on earth for relaxing.

In Elle, you can have a walk for miles into the interior of the country where there are only the woods. Small villages around Ella are inhabited by only several families. Most of the villagers are living in agriculture and produce tea and vegetables. You can also visit a nearby tea plantation and a tea factory to see the process of tea production, during your stay in Ella.

Where to eat in Ella Sri Lanka

Experiencing local food should be on the bucket list of every traveller to Ella, Sri Lanka; after all, it is one of the top things to do in Sri Lanka. A large number of eateries can be found in Ella, Sri Lanka (in the town), and they have some well-developed restaurants providing delicious Sri Lankan and international foods for their customers. The restaurants are operated until late at night, which is not common for typical Sri Lankan eateries. Most restaurants and shops in Ella, Sri Lanka, have changed their working hours in order to provide service to foreign travellers. You can order whatever cuisine you require—a western, eastern, or local recipe.

What to wear in Ella Sri Lanka

Ella Sri Lanka is a destination that demands you to trek, hike, and climb. It is a good idea to think of a more comfortable dress rather than a fashionable dress. The good news is that comfortable cloth such as cotton T-shirts and trousers look good for a holiday in Ella Sri Lanka (What to pack for Sri Lanka holidays, Clothing & Gears Guide).

Anything light and cotton suits the climate here. It is advisable to dress conservatively and stick to layers as it gets cool sometimes after sunset and when windy conditions prevail. A pair of good shoes that are suitable for trekking, walking, and hiking is essential during your trip to Ella because your desire to trek acts up one time or another as you see the gorgeous sunny weather and beautiful green foliage all around the area.

A light cotton dress (a cotton pair of pants and a cotton T-shirt or any other cotton dress is) perfect for the kind of activities you do in Ella Sri Lanka. Include a light sweater to your pack with a wind-proof jacket to use at night and during the chilly wind. recommend carrying a pair of hiking boots too.

Ella gap

Ella Sri Lanka is undoubtedly the most beautiful Gap on the island of Sri Lanka. Ella gap is nestled between two huge geological upheavals towards the southern end of the central mountain range. A lot of tourists are curious about this destination and make inquiries often about making holidays in Ella. Therefore I thought of writing some information about this charming little town. Unlike earlier, Ella is well-developed today and it continues to grow. Development is creeping fast into the little town and tourism is the main contributor to rapid development.

Nine arch bridge

The nine arch bridge is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ella. The nine arch bridge is to be found between Ella and Demodara railway sattion. It is 30 meters at the highest point of the bridge and it is 300 feel long. The bridge considered as one of the importnat enginnering feat in Sri Lanka.

No tourist, who stays in Ella will miss this important engineering feat. The bridge was constructed by local builders using cement and granite blocks. It was constructed right after the First World War. As per the information the British administrators in Ceylon were planning to build an iron bridge between 2 mountain peaks in Ella, however, it was not feasible due to the scarcity of iron. As the construction of the bridge was delayed due to the lack of raw materials, a local constructor called “Appuhami”, suggested the construction of the bridge using cement and stones. Even though the Britishers were a bit hesitant at the beginning about its strength, they allowed the local constructors to build the bridge. The unique architecture of the bridge proved to be very strong and durable. It is being many hundred years since the construction of the Nine arch bridge, but it is still very strong and serves millions of train commuters every year.

When is the best time to visit nine arch bridge?

Nine arch bridge can be reached on the Ella-Passar road. After travelling about 4 kilometers on teh Ella-Passara road the tarvellers can reach the Nine arch bridge. Most tarvellers go to the nine arch bridge to take a glimpse on the hill country blue train as it make its way on the bridge. The nine arch bridge with beautiful architecture makes and spectacular scenery, when the blue train makes its way from Ella to Badulla and vise-a-versa.

Wasp attacks

Wasp attacks are occurring in many parts of Sri Lanka, such as Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Ella. Wasps are a kind of bee that is a bit bigger than normal bees. There are many wasp nests in and around Ella. These bees are disturbed sometimes due to the heavy wind, and due to these disturbances, wasps are starting to attack people. If you are in an open area during a wasp attack, you may become the target of these small creatures. Therefore, try to move into a closed area, such as a house or hotel, and try to evade the area where the wasps are roaming. During the wasp attacks, the local people are making a fire in the open area. The warm smoke that rises from the fire helps them keep away wasps.

Exploring Horton Plains from Ella

Though Ella Sri Lanka is a destination where you can have a nice, cosy stay. Same times one of the nicest things about Ella is availability of dozens of interetsing day trips. Going out on a day tour fro your resort in Ella don’t demand you to do a great deal of driving. One of the most interesting day trips from Ella, Sri Lanka, is the trip to Horton Plains National Park, which is one of the coolest places to explore in the mountains. Horton Plains is about a 1-hour drive from Ella, Sri Lanka, which is the best national park to explore the fauna and flora of Sri Lanka in the mountains.

  • One day trip to Udawalawe Nationa Park
  • One day Yala safari
  • One day trip to Mirissa and south coast beach
  • One day trip to Kandy
  • Trekking hiking one day tour Ella
  • One day Nuwara eliya tour

Ella Mini Adam’s peak

About 2 kilometres from the Ella junctions is the mini Adam’s Peak, which is a mountain with the shape of Sri pada holy mountain or better known as Adams’ Peak. Since this small mountain has the shape of holy mountain people in the area call it mini Adam’s Peak. Mini Adam’s peak just has a similar shape to Adam’s peak, however, it does not carry the religious importance of Adam’s peak.

Hiking mini Adam’s Peak of Ella is a priority for most travellers, who are coming to Ella. There is a well-demarcated footpath towards the top of the mountain and it is a fairly easy venture. The hike at Mini Adam’s Peak is suitable for travellers of all ages and hikers do not need to have prior experience to make it to the top. Adam’s Peak hike is most popular among foreign travellers and you can hardly see any local travellers among the hikers.

The upward journey and downward trek take around 1 hour, with few stops along the way. However, the time required for photography is not calculated. The beginning of the hike is very easy you make it through flat land and you will meet the little bit harder part, with a steep climb, towards the tail end of the journey. In the initial stage, you pass the lush green tea gardens and beautiful countryside and the vegetation gradually changes as you make closer to the top of the mountain.

The awe-inspiring view over the surrounding area is the main reward for the travelers, who make it to the top of the mountain. It commands an awe-inspiring sight over the surrounding area, on clear days you can have a clear view up to the deep south of Sri Lanka from the summit of the mountain. Ravana cave, a granite cave that was inhabited by humans during the Stone Age (pre-history) is also located close to the mini Adam’s Peak.

Watch sunrise from mini Adam’s peak

Adams peak mountain, which is far bigger than the mini adams peak is popular place in Sri Lanka to see the sunrise. So is mini adams peak, in Ella. The visitors can experince a very scenic sunrise from mini adams peak, due to its higbh altitude tip. There are 2 places on the mountain, wher you can see the sunrise. It i important to reach the summit well in advance before the sunrise in order to place yourself in a well possition to take a clear glompse of the suntrise. So, make a google seach and learn about the time of the sunrise before you start the hike.

A trek to the Ella gap

“Ella Gap Sri Lanka” is a popular search term on Google. Because this tiny remote hamlet echoed in every traveller’s ear. Ella Sri Lanka is a tiny, authentic rural hill country town with a beautiful setting. Being the home to the biggest gap (deepest and longest) Ella Sri Lanka is more than 1000 meters deep and nearly 10 km long. Ella is a tiny, authentic rural hill country town. Being the biggest gap in Sri Lanka, Ella is more than 1000 meters deep and nearly 10 km long. The Ella trailhead is just about 1.5 km outside of town and brings you through beautiful tea plantations, provides views of Ella Gap, and rewards you after an easy 30-minute hike with spectacular views of the surrounding area.

A trek to the Ella Gap is one of the unmissable activities to do in Ella. After all, that’s why Ellas is so popular on the island. If you stay (as most travellers do) at the Ella holiday resort, the gap is only 100 meters away from you, in fact, you can see it from your hotel. The trip to Ella Gap is always a one-day short trip.

Ella Gap is a perfect point to start on a number of treks-trekking being one of the most loved activities in Ella Sri Lanka. There are many trails in Ella that require different levels of physical fitness. The Ella Gap trail goes along the canyon through some beautiful nature, with the opportunity to admire wildlife native to this area.

Nil Diya Pokuna, Ella

Nil Diya Pokuna is an off-the-beaten-track tourist attraction in Sri Lanka and is visited by only a few travellers because it is largely unknown to travellers. Nil Diya Pokuna is a pond located deep inside the Ravana cave. There are only a few tourist attractions of this type in Sri Lanka. Nil Diya Pokuna is closely connected to the legendary King Ravana, whose name is also mentioned in the Ramayana. According to the belief of the people, Nil Diya Pokuna was constructed during the reign of King Ravana. The path to the pond is quite adventurous, and one should be very careful while going down to the pond. Inside the cave, it is very dark as there is no sunshine. The water of the pond is very clean and clear, and the travellers can witness the deep blue water surface when the cave is illuminated.

Ravana waterfall

Ravan waterfall is the highest waterfall in Ell and is located a few kilometres down the track on Ella-Wellawaya road

Ravana Waterfall is one of the most beautiful and tallest waterfalls in Sri Lanka. The visitors need to do some rock climbing to get a closer look at this giant. The waterfall is 25 metres in height and cascades from natural rock. The waterfall is located in the Ravana Ella wildlife sanctuary, which is 6 km from Ella.

Ella rock

Ella Rock is a mountain that can be seen from anywhere in Ella due to its height. Ella Rock Mountain is taller than the mini Asam’s, and the climb is more difficult than the mini Adam’s peak. Climbing Ella Rock is a very popular activity among travellers. It would take around 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the summit from the start. The upward journey may be a little bit strenuous, but the reward is well compensated by the nice view. Ella Rock Mountain also serves as a good point to see the sunrise. You can have a breathtaking bird’s-eye view from the pinnacle over the surrounding greenish area and the Ella Gap.

Conclusion

I was reiterating the importance of Ella as a holiday destination in the article because I think it is not given its due recognition as a holiday destination. This off-beat holiday spot is still largely unexplored and uncrowded and Ella is one of the best places for an unforgettable offbeat experience. So plan your Sri Lanka tour package and get over Galle, Colombo, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya, for this emerging holiday hot spot.