Ella
ඇල්ල
The terminus town of the mountain train, with three easy hiking routes: Nine Arches Bridge, Little Adam's Peak, and Ella Rock. It is the most popular base for tea country trips.
Ella is a mountain town on the Kandy–Badulla railway line, at an altitude of about 1,000 meters. Its climate is milder than Nuwara Eliya's, and it attracts backpackers and cafés.
Three classic hikes: Little Adam's Peak (about 1 hour on foot from the town center to the summit, with 360-degree views of the tea hills and Ella Gap, ideal for sunrise); Nine Arches Bridge (a 30-meter-high stone-arch railway bridge built by the British in 1921, about 40 minutes on foot from town via tea-garden paths; most photogenic when a train passes, with about 6–8 trains a day, so check times at the station; coordinates 6.8767, 81.0611); and Ella Rock (walk along the railway tracks and then uphill, 4 hours round trip, a guide is recommended).
Nearby are Ravana Falls, visible right from the road, and the Flying Ravana zipline at the 98 Acres Resort & Tea Estate.
Getting there: From Kandy, the train takes about 6–7 hours. The route passes tea gardens, waterfalls, and tunnels, and is Sri Lanka's signature experience. Book second- or third-class seats in advance, and sit on the right side for more scenery. From Ella, a hired car to Yala takes about 2.5 hours.
Notes: Accommodation in town is tight in peak season. Start hikes early to avoid the heat. Do not stand on the tracks to take photos when a train passes Nine Arches Bridge.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Ella Rock
- Little Adam's Peak
- Nine Arches Bridge
- Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory
- Ravana Falls
- Demodara Railway Loop
- Lipton's Seat
- Dambatenne Tea Factory