Ella

Ella (ඇල්ල) is a mountain village at around 1,040 metres in Sri Lanka's Uva region, set in a gap between green hills with views down to the southern lowlands. Tea gardens, waterfalls and easy hikes have made it one of the most popular stops in the hill country.

The stone Nine Arches Bridge, built without steel during British rule, curves across a jungle ravine, and watching a train cross it is one of the classic images of Sri Lanka. Short walks lead up Little Adam's Peak and, more steeply, to Ella Rock, both with wide views over the Ella Gap. Ravana Falls tumbles beside the road below the village, and the Ravana Cave is linked by legend with the Ramayana. Show more

The village has grown into a relaxed base with cafés, cooking classes and small guesthouses. Tea factories nearby explain the craft of Ceylon tea, and the railway loop at Demodara spirals around a hill. The rock carvings of Buduruwagala, the Dhowa rock temple and the Diyaluma waterfall make rewarding excursions, and a zipline crosses the valley for those seeking adventure.

Ella is the end point of many journeys on the scenic hill country railway from Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, and it is also reached by road from the south coast. Two or three days suit hikes and day trips. The driest weather is from January to March, while mist and showers can come at any time.