Ella exotic for trekking in Sri Lanka

Are you game to explore the rocks and waters of Ella? So come on, read on, learn more, grab a map, pack your gear, and walk until dawn and dusk dance to your indelible episodes of adventure. She is your next must-visit destination, say YES!

Ella is a verdant hilly hangout in the central mountainous regions of Sri Lanka, 202 km from Colombo. This growing hinterland rests in the middle part of the island yet is impressive. You will continue to eat the landscapes it offers with your eyes. 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 scent of the musty, windy and leafy air.

This serene attraction can’t be an eyesore for big city eyes. You will fall madly in love with the perfect setting. She boasts of her natural waterfalls that cascade down from towering heights. Being under the drops of pure water would bring you back to life even after a long day of cuddling for hours against Ella’s beautiful backdrop.

No need to spend wads of cash on sightseeing this time. Pay nothing but non-luxury overnight stays, food, and transportation in Ella. Cozy hotels serving tempting restaurant cuisines will whisk you back and forth throughout Ella until you devour the entire village before leaving completely satisfied.

The mode of transportation is up to you: bus, train, taxi, or whatever you feel comfortable traveling on. The train ride is the most enjoyable to make the most of every opportunity to mingle with nature on your way. Cold nights and sunny days create the perfect weather to walk around Ella. Do not rush to land in this place during the rainy season, which could ruin her plans.

Here we give you a detailed insight into the incredible sites this place consists of simply to simplify the process of getting back for a memorable trip to Ella as soon as possible with the passion of narrating your journey in words and photographs.

LITTLE ADAM’S 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 take you to the top, where you can spend an hour or two admiring the surrounding landscapes. Tea plantations shimmer in the lush greenery along the slopes as you begin to walk along paths where men and women with wide welcoming smiles keep busy with their daily work. Even the faintest of hearts can walk 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 climb.

SHE ROCK

Start your hike very early in the morning from the train station to complete the loop of your hike in 3-4 hours. Watch out for everything, slippery rocks, and a cute little WARNING for bugophobes! Leeches multiply by the thousands during rainy weather, hoping to wait for gallons of blood during the climb. Obviously this hike is strenuous so be prepared instead of turning back halfway. 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 think in the dark, seek the help of the locals who will be happy to give you directions to trails that are not very visible in certain areas. Some natives of these places who are backed by guides may also try to trick you out of money. 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 it is at the top within earshot! Take in all the vibrant scenery from the top with your eyes and camera, of course, without one you won’t like doing the trek. You can’t stay there forever, so going back is the only option. Say one last sad daddy to the big picture.

SHE-GAP

The dense cleft between two mountains is known as the Ella Gap. For a cheap fare, you can board the trains that go back and forth through the highland loops and even to Kandy, Colombo, etc. Thousands of photography options accompany you until you reach the 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 plateau without pouring yourself a cup of Halpe. The British built this tea factory in 1940 which remains high above sea level in the Uva province. With a distance of 3 km from the town of Ella, no tourist passes through these regions without knocking on the doors of this tea factory that produces high quality infusions. Decades have passed since it opened, 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 paradisiacal 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 learn the rest of the story by reviewing the ‘Ramayana’. Waters rushing down from high altitudes are another experience you’ll find fascinating at these falls. Traversing from drop to drop with camera in hand is something we know you’ll never ignore before heading back to retirement.

BRIDGE OF THE NINE ARCHES – 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 Sinhalese name ‘Ahas Nawaya Palama’ which means the bridge of nine heavens. Trains from Colombo to Badulla run along this iconic track, 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 traveling on. The breathtaking views during the journey are worth all you tolerate in the crowded compartments for hours before getting a seat to settle by the window. 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 through 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 that start from May to August. The rain is unpredictable at all.

Do not forget to exchange smiles for a selfie with the locals, as they are the ones who cannot be ruled out from the long list of attractions that you can only witness while you are active and agile.