sri lanka
8 Unforgettable things to do in Ella
If you are looking for a quiet hideaway to surround yourself with mind-blowing sceneries of nature and landscape to sip a warm cup of Ceylon tea and relax, Ella should be on the top of your itinerary list in Sri Lanka. Located in the border of the hill country, Ella is a small village that has blessed with pristine nature. Attracting tourists in thousands every year, the village makes you fall in love with its beautiful scenery instantly.
The village is a 5-hour drive away from Colombo and is one of the top tourist destinations in Sri Lanka, nature lovers and peace seekers flock around. With misty rolling hills, emerald-green tea plantations, cloud kissing pine forests and mesmerizing waterfalls Ella has many attractions that you can explore during your stay. Here are the top 8 things to do in Ella.
1. Little Adam’s Peak
If you fancy a hike that ends at a panoramic viewpoint up in the hills, Little Adam’s peak should be on the top of the things to do list in Ella. The hike along the railway line amidst the tea plantations and local villages will be an unforgettable hiking adventure for you.
Usually, the hike will take 15-20 minutes and is easy as most of the route lies along the railway line. At the viewpoint, you will see a mind-blowing scenery of the surrounding mountainous landscapes and small mountain villages and tiny vehicles driving along the roads at distance.
2. Nine Arch Bridge
Nine arch bridge is one of the most famous historical bridges in Sri Lanka. Built by the British in 1921 without any steel, the brick bridge is a design of a local who has no education in engineering. Today the bridge with nine arches is one of the most visited attractions in Ella. With a 30 minutes’ walk, you can reach this brilliant construction hidden away in the thick greeneries and lush tea plantations.
Make sure to wait to witness a train passes by along the bridge for a complete nine ache bridge hiking adventure. The path to the bridge is through the greeneries, forests and villages and will offer you incredible sights and sceneries at every turn.
3. Lipton’s Seat
Located near Ella in Haputhale is the Lipton seat, another famous attraction in Ella. The tea plantation started by Mr. Lipton in back in 1890 is today known best for its viewpoint that offers unbelievable views of the surrounding hills, tea plantations, villages and landscapes.
Offering you an incredible sunrise, the site is entirely free and only take 7 km walk to reach the point. Before you leave the place, make sure to pose with the statue of Mr. Thomas Lipton and take a photo to keep your Lipton seat travel adventures with you forever.
4. Diyaluma Falls
Your adventure in Ella is not complete without exploring a waterfall. Diyaluma is one of the most beautiful and easily accessible waterfalls near Ella, and is the second-highest waterfall in Sri Lanka.
The beautiful cascade of Diyaluma with many natural water pools is one of the best ways to spend half of your day enjoying the views and a refreshing bath. You can reach to the top of the falls with a 45 minutes hike, one of the most beautiful hiking trails you will find in Sri Lanka. If you are not up for a challenge, you can still enjoy the falls at a distance and maybe capture some insta-perfect shots for your Instagram feed.
5. Ella Rock
If you are up for a real hike, Ella rock is the place for you to explore in Ella. The beautiful Ella rock offers you 2-hour hiking trails that end at the viewpoint in Ella rock that presents you 180 degree views of the surrounding mountainous landscape. The hike is quite intense, so if you are an avid hiker, you are in for a treat.
6. Ravana Waterfall
Ravana falls is one of the places everyone stops during their visit to Nuwara Eliya. And if you are staying in Ella, Ravana waterfalls is another beautiful waterfall that you can easily visit during your stay. The 25 m tall waterfall is one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka.
It is believed that the great king Ravana, used to live in a cave at the top of the falls which is why it has given the name Ravana falls.
7. Flying Ravana Zipline
For those adrenaline junkies, who like to get their blood racing, you must enjoy the Flying Ravana Zipline. The 500-meter zipline that slides 80 km/h will offer you the blood rush your adventurous soul is seeking. The beautiful scenery below the treetops and greeneries will take your adventure to the next level providing you with incredible bird-eye views of the landscapes below. You also can enjoy ATV/quad bike rides, Abseiling, Archery and Air rifling at the place and feed your desires of the adventurer inside you.
8. Ella Spice Garden
If you are interested in Sri Lankan cuisine, a visit to the Ella spice garden will be an experience of a lifetime. The garden is full of locally grown spices that are used in Sri Lankan dishes. At the place you will see how difference spices are produced from different parts of plants including leaves, flowers, fruits, barks, roots and more.
The amazing aromas of the spices will fill your lungs throughout your tour as you get to explore the garden with your guide who will share with you about the different spices. If you are into cooking, you can participate in a cooking demonstration and enjoy a traditional meal before you leave the place.
Traveling to Ella
There are different ways to reach Ella and the main transport methods are to travel by Train and Car. By car it will take approximately 5 hours to Ella from Colombo.
However traveling to Ella by train is considered as the best way, even though it will take around 10 hours to reach from Colombo. This train route is considered as one of the best in the world with picturesque sceneries throughout the journey.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of accommodations in Ella and below are our recommendations.
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