ELLA, Sri Lanka

 ELLA

After exploring the dry zone, I decided to move on to the montane forest ELLA – 1041 asl. Ella literally means waterfall. It's famous waterfalls is RAWANA waterfalls. Ella is a laid back village for relaxing to escape the searing heat. Ella is smaller compares to NUWARA ELIYA. All year round temperature range from 11 celcius to 20 celcius, with certains months have more rainfalls . It is very comfortable to walk around in Ella town and to explore the Demodara nine arch bridge, Ella Rock and little Adam peak. Ella is the town that constantly changing to match with the growth popularity of tourist spot. The villagers taking advantage of this, they convert or renovate their own home to do guesthouse. It is really eyesore to see concrete wall every corner, half finishing or in the midst of construction of a structure that are slowly changing the quite and peaceful village. They takes bank loan for this, if their man in the household is a three-wheeler, they will wait for any potential customer at the bus stop or train station.

It is a norm that this guesthouse that they offer out for rental , the furnishing, facilities, the level of cleanliness is a total apposite of their own home.

My journey from Katagarama to Ella are in the following order.
Bus to Buttala 104SLR at 8am ---> Bus to Wellawaya 50SLR @9.15am ---> Bus to Ella 75SLR @11.55am. I overnight at Hill View Home Stay. Food is walking distance in the town, there are a lot of bar and pub to hang out in this town to cater for the tourist demand. As I prefer local food in a budget price, so I bus to Bandarawella for my dinner. Bandarawella to ELLA is only 15KM away . Bus journey each way is about 30 mins for 40SLR.

What to see and do at ELLA.

Everyone that touch ELLA is a must to go walk up to Little Adam Peak and walk along the railway track to Demodara nine arches bridge. It is doable walking within reach from your accommodation.

spectacular scenic view as you walk up little Adam peak.

For birding walk along the train track that leads to Demodara very early in the morning and before dusk. There is no birds during the midday.

Another attraction for tourist is Rawana Falls

Ravana Falls are situated in Ella town on a tributary of Kirindi Oya. It stands at a height of 25 meters. Its elevation is 1050 m above sea level. The falls have been named after the famous King Ravana who appears in the Indian epic, the Ramayana. It’s one of the widest waterfalls of Sri Lanka.

The Ravana Fall cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. The waterfall resembles an areca flower with withering petals during the wet season. However, the flow of water reduces dramatically during the dry season. The Ravana Falls forms part of the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary which is located about 6 km away from the local railway station at Ella. ~~source rawana Falls