Ella

Nestled in the mountainous interior of the south-central part of the country, exists the
small town of Ella (pronounced al-luh, with the ‘a’ pronounced as in ‘cat’), with its hospital
people and climate. As it is located just over 1000 meters above sea level, you can come
prepared to enjoy a balanced climate, with tolerable days and cool nights. There is no lack of
facilities for the comfort-seeking tourist in these parts, and on many days, you can spot more
foreigners than locals in the streets. Ella can be via several main roads, and it has its own
little railway station for train-lovers.
Ella serves as a hub to see more than just misty hills and tea plantations—several
tourist attractions in the Badulla district are located in close proximity to this hillside town.
The most famous is the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, which is a well known railway bridge
among tourists visiting the country as a captivating selfie destination. Situated between the
Ella and Demodara railway stations, it is a striking colonial-era gem surrounded by lush
greenery. When there is no train passing through, the train tracks are frequented by many
human visitors, in their impassioned efforts to snap a good photo. For those of you who are
into hiking, the Ella Rock serves as a great lookout point reached through a rewarding trail.
The Ravana Ella waterfall is also a notable attraction one can spot without putting in
much extra effort. Located right by the Ella-Wellawaya main road, It would be criminal for
any tourist to pass it without paying it some due respect by spending a few minutes admiring
its beauty. The Ravana Cave is also an attraction in the vicinity, albeit a less visited one.
There is rich folklore connecting the entire region with the ancient Indian myth of the
Ramayana. Apparently, king Ravana had hidden the kidnapped princess Sita in this cave
(whether you believe that story or not, is entirely up to you though). Moving towards
Bandarawela, another (much bigger) hillside town, from Ella, you’d find the Dowa Rock
Temple housing a number of Buddha images, which was first built over 2000 years ago.
That just about covers the main sights worth seeing here, and combined with a
refreshing hotel stay, visiting those locations would complete your ‘Ella Experience’.

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