Day Trip to Ella
Ella lies in one of the most scenic parts of the hill country, on the road south from Spring Acre, Nuwara Eliya, and just 8km away from the lesser-known hill station of Bandarawela.
Click below to get driving directions on Google Maps:
Click below to get driving directions on Google Maps:
Nestled in a valley at an elevation of 1,041 metres above sea-level, Ella is a quiet, sleepy mountain village, famous for its spectacular views. A day trip is recommended from Spring Acre to Ella and there are many things you can experience in Ella.
You can drive over to the Grand Ella Motel (formerly, the Ella Rest House) to experience the famed Ella Gap, where you can see between the green steep mountain-sides and down nearly 1,000 metres to the coastal plain below, and out towards the Indian Ocean, where, on a clear night, you can see the Great Basses lighthouse. And if the views weren’t enough, Ella is surrounded by hills perfect for walks through tea plantations to temples and waterfalls.
Little Adams Peak is a lovely trek that will take you one and half hours as you journey through tea plantations and take in spectacular views of Ella Rock and the valley below. On a clear sunny day you can see the south coast of Sri Lanka.
To experience some history in Ella, you could visit the mysterious Ravana Caves and the ancient Ravana rock temple near the village of Udunuwara on the Ella-Wellawaya Road. The Ravana temple is beautifully adorned with elephants, dragons and people carved into the rock in colours, and a statue of the Buddha in recumbent position. The Cave of Ravana is remarkable because it is associated with the romantic legend of Rama and Sita, from the Indian epic poem, the Ramayana. A "cave of gold" hidden behind the falls is believed to be one of several places where Rawana hid his lovely Indian Princess Sita after abducting her in the famous Hindu mythological story. The cave is also an archaeological site 10 skeletons of the cannibalistic Balangoda Man, homo sapiens balangodenis was discovered.
Among other attractions, Ravana Falls (also called Bambaragama Falls), 6km down the Wellawaya road from Ella, is perfect for a cool-down swim. The gushing waterfall gives an invigorating ice-cold shower and a good massage. The secluded upper pool is a great place to swim – with stunning views over the forest and cliff.
You can drive over to the Grand Ella Motel (formerly, the Ella Rest House) to experience the famed Ella Gap, where you can see between the green steep mountain-sides and down nearly 1,000 metres to the coastal plain below, and out towards the Indian Ocean, where, on a clear night, you can see the Great Basses lighthouse. And if the views weren’t enough, Ella is surrounded by hills perfect for walks through tea plantations to temples and waterfalls.
Little Adams Peak is a lovely trek that will take you one and half hours as you journey through tea plantations and take in spectacular views of Ella Rock and the valley below. On a clear sunny day you can see the south coast of Sri Lanka.
To experience some history in Ella, you could visit the mysterious Ravana Caves and the ancient Ravana rock temple near the village of Udunuwara on the Ella-Wellawaya Road. The Ravana temple is beautifully adorned with elephants, dragons and people carved into the rock in colours, and a statue of the Buddha in recumbent position. The Cave of Ravana is remarkable because it is associated with the romantic legend of Rama and Sita, from the Indian epic poem, the Ramayana. A "cave of gold" hidden behind the falls is believed to be one of several places where Rawana hid his lovely Indian Princess Sita after abducting her in the famous Hindu mythological story. The cave is also an archaeological site 10 skeletons of the cannibalistic Balangoda Man, homo sapiens balangodenis was discovered.
Among other attractions, Ravana Falls (also called Bambaragama Falls), 6km down the Wellawaya road from Ella, is perfect for a cool-down swim. The gushing waterfall gives an invigorating ice-cold shower and a good massage. The secluded upper pool is a great place to swim – with stunning views over the forest and cliff.