Ella, Sri Lanka: 5 Best Things To Do
22 jun 2023
08mins
BY Inudi
22 jun 2023
08mins
BY Inudi
Ella has all the best parts of Sri Lanka rolled into one : beautiful jungle mountains, rolling tea plantations, and epic waterfalls. As one of the biggest tea producers, travelers can look forward to spending their days among the greenest surroundings, enjoying the views from hilltop houses and adventurous hiking trails. Even the train ride to Ella is one of life’s most remarkable experiences, as you travel by iconic blue train through bamboo forests and tropical mist. Enjoy all the top things to do in Ella with this complete travel guide
Tip: At each station, local vendors will climb on board to sell a variety of delicious Sri Lankan snacks. This can be anything from spicy Rotis to sambal, wrapped in banana leaves or newspaper. The snacks are cheap, tasty (and very spicy), and a great way to support the local economy.
"Ella is a small town in the Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka governed by an Urban Council. It is approximately 200 kilometres east of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 1,041 metres above sea level. The area has a rich bio-diversity, dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna"
Nine Arch Bridge is iconic in Ella and famous worldwide for its beauty. The impressive bridge is 25 meters high and a mammoth 91 meters long! Located just outside Ella Town and on the same route as Little Adam’s Peak, you’ll find it hidden up in the dense green hills among low-lying clouds.
"Walk through the beautiful bamboo forest before reaching the
postcard-worthy setting, spending time admiring the stone arches
and waving at the people passing by on the historic blue train.
This is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka!
If you want to have a rough guideline of times to be at the bridge to see
a train crossing over we’ve taken a picture of the train schedule
we found at the Asanka Café or you simply go to the Sri Lankan Railway website
where you can check for all passenger trains from Ella to Badulla and from Badulla to Ella!
However, keep in mind you are in Sri Lanka so don’t take these times for granted.
Sometimes they don’t show up at all (they apparently cancelled 2 trains on the day
we were there so from 12am to 3pm there was not a single train), sometimes there
are random trains at times when there shouldn’t be one (luckily after those 3 hours
of waiting such a train showed up out of the blue at 3:00 pm ) and sometimes you are
lucky and these trains are actually – believe it or not – right on time
(e.g. the 3:30pm we saw while enjoying our coffee and fruit juice – it crossed
over the bridge not a minute too early or too late)"
Diyaluma Falls is a top thing to do in Ella and the 2nd highest waterfall in all of Sri Lanka. It’s the perfect opportunity to get out amongst nature and enjoy the hike to the top of the waterfall.
At the foot, enjoy the roaring power of the water falling onto the rocks.
At the top, you’ll feel on top of the world as you explore the three natural
infinity pools stretched out onto the cliff edge. Swimming in these pools and
gazing down the 220 meters below is an experience like no other.
Endless Tea Field Views at Lipton’s Seat :Lipton’s Seat in Haputale is
the perfect morning or afternoon trip from Ella. Jump on the train to Haputale
and take a tuk-tuk to the stunning viewpoint above Lipton tea plantation.
This is where Thomas Lipton (a famous tea producer) would sit and admire
his beautiful tea fields. It’s also the site where he planted the first
seeds of Sri Lanka‘s biggest export
Flying Ravana Zip Line
The Flying Ravana zip line is one of the top things to do in
Ella for adrenaline seekers and adventurers! The extraordinary zip
line runs for over half a kilometer, sits 82 meters high, and boasts speeds
of up to 80km! Zipping high over the treetops and looking down on the valley
below is the closest you’ll get to flying. Best of all, it’s only a 10-minute
drive out of Ella town, so it’s the perfect activity for an afternoon in Ella.
Join a Cooking Class at Ella Spice Garden: The food is so good; you’ll want
to take away the recipes with you and learn how to cook these dishes at home.
Learn about the local ingredients by joining a cooking class at Ella Spice Garden.
Diyaluma Falls is 220 m high and the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 619th highest waterfall in the world. It is situated 6 km away from Koslanda in Badulla District on Colombo-Badulla highway. The falls are 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". According to Sri Lankan historian, Dr R. L. Brohier, Diyaluma is the setting of the folklore about a tragedy involving a young chieftain who had been banished to the highlands and the attempt by his betrothed to join. As all the passes were guarded the young man let down a rope of twisted creepers over the escarpment, as she was hauled up she was dashed against the rocks and died. The Gods moved to pity by the harrowing spectacle, caused a stream of water to gush from the mountain and veil all evidence of the tragedy in a watery light, hence the term Diyaluma.
I’m not sure why some people choose to spend only 2 or 3 days in Sri lanaka when there are so many different neighbourhoods to explore and sights to see! Take the extra time, add another few days to your Ella itinerary and allow yourself to really experience this awe-inspiring city in the way it deserves. Why rush? You’ll thank yourself for it later!
The town of Ella has to be one of the most picturesque settings
in Sri Lanka. Aside from the incredible nature that draws travelers
from all over the world, the town has an entertaining atmosphere with
great cafes and restaurants. If you’re also looking for lively nightlife,
head for one of the bars on the main street. For example, Cafe Chill serves
tasty cocktails, smoothies, and a variety of cuisines and plays music into the early hours.
Although it may look like my travel buddy and I crammed a lot into
Ella, I can honestly say we never felt rushed. Because we were
prepared it allowed us to leisurely stroll between many attractions
and enjoy taking our time uncovering the wonders that make this
beautiful city so unique. Travelling The Invisible Tourist way is
about being efficient and making the best use of your travel time.
I hope you enjoyed my Ella itinerary and I hope you’ll join me
on my next trip!
Thank you for reading!
Content
