Ella exotic for trekking in Sri Lanka
Are you game to explore the rocks and waters of Ella? So come, read on, learn more, grab a map, pack your gear and hike until dawn and dusk dances to the sound of your indelible episodes of adventure. She is your next destination that you must visit, say YES!
Ella is a verdant hilly gathering place in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, 202 km from Colombo. This sprawling hinterland rests in the mid-island with everything impressive. You will continue eating with your eyes the landscapes it offers. Many mountains, big and small, waterfalls, tea plantations, tea factories, rocky terrain, ancient temples, tunnels, and mossy forests are some of the highlights of this base. If you don’t like mountaineering, you can take a long walk through the pine forest to enjoy the aroma of musty, windy, leafy air.
This serene attraction cannot be an eyesore to big-city eyes. You will fall head over heels in love with the perfect setting. She boasts of her natural waterfalls that cascade from towering heights. Being under the drops of pure water would bring you back to life even after a long day of huddled for hours against Ella’s beautiful backdrop.
You don’t need to spend wads of cash on sightseeing this time. Pay nothing more than non-luxury overnight stays, food, and transportation in Ella. Cozy hotels serving tempting cuisines from restaurants will whisk you back and forth throughout Ella until you devour the entire village before leaving fully satisfied.
The mode of transportation depends on your choice: bus, train, taxi, or whatever you feel comfortable traveling on. Train travel is the most enjoyable to make the most of every opportunity to blend in with nature on your way. Cool nights and sunny days create the perfect weather for walking Ella. Do not rush to land in this place during the rainy season, which might ruin her plans.
Here we give you a detailed idea of the incredible sites that this place consists of simply to simplify the process of returning for a memorable trip to Ella as soon as possible with the passion of narrating your trip in words and photographs.
LITTLE ADAM PEAK
You call the name Little Adam’s Peak because it resembles the great Mount Adam’s Peak. This mount, which is 1,141 meters high, would take 3 hours to get you to the top, where you can spend an hour or two admiring the surrounding landscapes. Tea plantations sparkle in the lush greenery along the slopes as you begin to walk the paths where men and women with broad welcoming smiles keep themselves busy with their daily work. Even the faintest of hearts can hike this mount due to its low altitude. The trails are socially friendly and very easy to navigate. You won’t even need a guide for this type of climbing.
SHE ROCKS
Start your hike very early in the morning from the train station to complete the loop of your walk in 3 to 4 hours. Watch out for everything, slippery rocks and a cute little WARNING for bugophobics! Leeches multiply by the thousands during rainy weather, hoping to expect gallons of blood during the climb. Obviously this hike is arduous so be prepared instead of going back half way. The stunning image of sunrise and sunset behind the clouds, valleys, mountains, pastures, meadows, waterfalls, will keep encouraging you to bravely accept the challenge of climbing this rock. If you feel lost, don’t ponder blindly, seek help from the locals who will be happy to give you directions to trails that aren’t very visible in certain areas. Some natives of these places who are backed by guides may also try to trick you into getting money from you. So don’t panic with these tricks. You can do it. Just go your own way, there is nothing to fear, you will quickly get back on track. Once you have climbed closer to the top you will find level ground with eucalyptus trees, which in the sun look extremely beautiful and there you are at the top within earshot! Drink in all the vibrant scenery from the top with your eyes and camera, of course, without one you won’t like trekking. You can’t stay there forever, so going back is the only option. I gave a last sad tata to the wide panorama.
SHE-GAP
The dense cleft between two mountains is known as the Ella Gap. For a cheap fare you can board the trains that come and go through the highland loops and even to Kandy, Colombo etc. Thousands of photography options accompany you until you reach your destination. You’ll get the best views of Ella Gap from the train. Something like a misty island within an island would capture your full attention. This place is the favorite of any tourist who visits Ella.
HALPEWATTE TEA FACTORY
Never leave this lush, green highland without pouring yourself a cup of Halpe. The British built this tea factory in 1940 that stands high above sea level in the Uva province. With a distance of 3 km from the town of Ella, no tourist crosses these regions without knocking at the doors of this tea factory that produces high quality infusions. Decades have passed since its opening, but the quality of the tea it produces has not diminished. Feel the warmth of the tender tea leaves at least once in your life.
FALLS IN IT
These Ella waterfalls do not lack anything magnificent to ignore that will blow your mind with its heavenly touch. You will come across many falls in this beautiful town. Some to visit are Ravana Ella Falls, Bambaragama Waterfall, Dunhinda Falls and Diyaluma Falls etc. You cannot even imagine the beauty of these waterfalls unless you go to see them for yourself. Ravana Falls is one of the widest among other waterfalls in Lanka and Bambaragama is believed to be the second highest. ‘Ravana Falls’ is named after the antagonist of the famous Indian epic Ravana, because it is believed that he kidnapped a lady named Sita and hid her behind this waterfall where there is a cave. You can know the rest of the story by going through the ‘Ramayana’. The rushing waters from high altitudes are another experience that you will find fascinating at these falls. Traversing from one fall to another with camera in hand is something we know you’ll never ignore before heading back into retirement.
NINE ARCHES BRIDGE – DEMODARA
This historic bridge was built in the year 1921 by the British authorities. It contains beautiful arches, which is why it is called the Nine Arches Bridge. It has another native name in Sinhala ‘Ahas Nawaya Palama’ which means the bridge of nine heavens. Trains from Colombo to Badulla run along this iconic rail which is still in good condition today. It is this bridge that supports a curve in the rails that bend beautifully giving a welcoming view of the very train you are riding on. The stunning views along the way are worth all you can stomach in crammed compartments for hours before snagging a window seat. And for those with a burning passion for ancient architecture and live train watching, here you go!
DIFFERENT ROUTES TO VISIT IT
Take the A1 highway from Colombo to Gampola heading towards Nuwereliya stopping first at Bandarawela before reaching Ella. The second option is to take the A4 highway from Colombo via Ratnapura, Balangoda, Haputale, Bandarawela and there, you are in Ella.
WHEN TO VISIT HER
The best time is between December and March. It is during these months that the mountainous region becomes somewhat arid. Even the rest of the months are fine except for the monsoons which start from May to August. The rain is unpredictable at all.
Don’t forget to trade smiles for a selfie with the locals, as they too cannot be counted out of the long list of attractions that you can only witness while you’re active and agile.