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Ella, with its mountainous surrounding landscape and foggy streets on cold days, has a special feel to it. Whilst it might be labelled as being a bit touristy, I don’t think that you should give it a miss. It is a small town with a lot to do. It has good food and a very good atmosphere. Situated at one end of the famous Kandy – Ella train ride, it is a perfect place to spend a few days. I wrote this Ella Travel Guide to give you an insight into what to do and eat there, all well within even the most thrifty backpackers’ budget.
Currency Converter – 200Rs = €1/£0.90/$1.20
Getting In
You are most likely to be arriving in Ella by either train or bus, depending on your starting point. To travel by train you will need to be coming from either North of Sri Lanka or from Colombo. If you are travelling from the South or South West coast of the country then you will need to take the bus. Both are very convenient and cheap options to get to Ella. There is no need to pay huge money and use a private taxi service to get to Ella.
Where To Stay
Ella is not a huge town. Most of the action centres around one street. Once you are within walking distance of the road that runs through the centre of town then you are staying in a good, central location. There are hostels available with dorm rooms starting from 1200Rs. If you are travelling as a couple or a group then make use of the fact that you can get private rooms for the same price per person, once the cost is split. I stayed at Shadow Inn, a very nice hotel in a good location that was excellent value for money.
When To Go
Temperatures in Ella very rarely stray from anywhere between 20-28°C. It is this cooler temperature that gives Ella one of the best climates in the country. In the winter months, it can get slightly colder, but visiting Ella is recommended for any time of the year.
What To Do
Ella Rock
This will most certainly be on most travellers’ itineraries when they arrive in Ella. This steep climb is not easy though and you need to be aware of what you are getting into before you start. If you can make it to the top, you will be rewarded with the most amazing views of the surrounding landscape.
For my guide on How To Climb Ella Rock, click here
Halpewatte Tea Factory
Tea is big business in Sri Lanka, especially in this part of the country. Just outside of Ella town you can view and get a guided tour of one of the biggest tea factories in the country. It offers a great insight into the workings of a tea factory whilst having an amazing view of the surrounding landscape. Just remember they close on Sundays.
Tip – Take the bus from Ella town. Any bus going to Badulla will get you to the start of the road, then walk the 1km to the factory. This is considerably cheaper than taking a Tuk Tuk, which can cost more than 1,000Rs.
Nine Arch Bridge
Dating back to the colonial era, this bridge is now part of the Kandy to Ella train route. Make your way to one of the viewpoints in the surrounding hills for the best pictures. If you time it right you might even get the opportunity to see the track in use. You can walk here from town in about 20 minutes. The walk is a bit of a trek, but nothing too difficult. The bridge is a great way to spend a couple of hours and is not to be missed.
Little Adam’s Peak
This is an easier and quicker hike than Ella Rock. Most of the climb has steps and at no point is it ever too steep. At the top, you get rewarded with amazing views of the surrounding landscape. This climb includes the view of Ella Rock but doesn’t have spectacular views of the area (even it is still pretty awesome). It is said that on a clear day, you can even see the south coast in the distance. I would recommend taking on both Ella Rock and Little Adam’s Peak during your stay.
Go Waterfall Hunting
In the surrounding area of Ella, there are quite a few waterfalls. It can be a great way to spend a few hours searching for them as they are quite beautiful. You can locate them easily on any map and most are within walking distance.
Where To Eat
Café C
This small restaurant has a great atmosphere, friendly staff, cheap prices and amazing food. They serve a 4-vegetable curry and rice for 450Rs. The curries were Dhal, Jackfruit, Okra and Pumpkin, all of which were delicious. It is great value for money and they even give you free top-ups if you are still hungry. This was easily one of the best meals I had in Sri Lanka. We returned a second night and ordered the same dish. On this occasion, the curries were Mixed Veg, Cabbage and Melon, Aubergine and Dhal. Again, we thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic meal. For a tasty, light dessert try the Curd and Honey, for 250Rs, this is a delicious after-dinner treat to share.
Vimala Hotel
This is not actually a hotel, it is a shop that serves food at the back. Located right in the heart of Ella, Vimala gives you a chance to eat breakfast which the locals are more likely to eat, for a very good price. It offers something different, a local feel that the surrounding cafes and restaurants do not have. Hoppers here cost as little as 100Rs and are a tasty start to the day.
Art Café Umbrella
If you would rather have a more conventional café for breakfast, this is the place to go. Its location makes it a convenient place to stop before or after climbing Little Adam’s Peak. They serve the usual suspects for breakfast and have some amazing sweet options too. We treated ourselves to Banana Pancakes and Ice Cream, a delicious snack!
Adam’s Breeze
As its name suggests this restaurant is near the start of the trail to Little Adam’s Peak. It is a good option for lunch or dinner with great views from the terrace. The food is never going to win any awards, and I wouldn’t recommend coming here specifically, but it is a solid option in the area.
Mateys Hut
Unfortunately, despite two attempts I didn’t get to eat at Mateys. This small wooden building on the edge of town is said to do one of the best curries in Ella. The food here looked and smelled amazing, but there are only about ten seats here so you need to be lucky.
What To Avoid
Tuk Tuks/Taxis
Along the Main Street of Ella, there are at least a dozen vehicles trying to take you places. You don’t need them though. Most attractions in Ella are within walking distance. Anything that requires some travelling to get to is easily accessible by one of the many bus routes going through the town. Save yourself some money and ignore the constant calls of “Taxi” and “Tuk-Tuk”.
Ella is a nice, small town with a lot of appeal. I can’t think of any reason why you shouldn’t visit here during your time in Sri Lanka. It is the perfect place to either relax or do some hiking, all in a cooler climate. You don’t need ages to see everything here. A few nice, busy days are sure to suffice. Its landscape will stay long in your memory though and I’m sure you will leave Ella glad that you went.
To read more about my time in Sri Lanka click here. Alternatively, you can read my Sri Lanka Travel Guide by clicking here.
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The views certainly make the climb up to Ella Rock worth it! Beautiful shots of the landscape, and a well thought out guide to Ella.
Interesting guide and yummy food! Climbing up to the Rock is definitely something we’ll do next time we visit Sri Lanka!!
Marta & Max | https://www.connectedhorizons.co.uk
I really loved reading this – colonial architecture fascinates me so I’d love to see that Nine Arch Bridge – some wonderful insights here. Thanks for sharing!
Great post, would love to visit Sri Lanka, also that food looks lovely!
Heard so many good things about Sri Lanka. One more place to add to that ever growing list of places I haven’t been. Looks beautiful and good guide. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for your comment. It had been an amazing country to travel around and it is so cheap!!
Great post and guide on Ella, would really love to go here someday, looks absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing!
That view from Ella rock is just breathtaking. Never heard of Ella but thank you for sharing. Would love to try the banana pancakes and ice cream. Keep on exploring and sharing your experience.
Kaye – http://amalog.co
Very knowledgeable article and we loved visiting all of this in our visit to Daytona.. happening city it is.