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A blue train crossing the Nine Arch Bridge near Ella

Hill country

Ella

A small hill town in a gap between mountains, reached by one of the world's most scenic train rides and surrounded by easy walks and tea country.

Plan a trip with Ella
Time to spend
2 nights
Best months
January to April, and July to September. November and December can be very wet.
Getting around
On foot or by tuk-tuk. The town is small.
Good to know
Start the popular walks early. By mid-morning there are crowds, and cloud often comes in after midday.

Ella sits at about 1,000 metres at the edge of the hill country, where the land drops away towards the southern plains. The views through Ella Gap are the reason most people come.

The walking is the main event. Little Adam's Peak is an easy hike for almost anyone; Ella Rock is a longer half-day. The Nine Arch Bridge, a stone viaduct of the Badulla line completed in the early 1920s, is a short walk through tea gardens from the town.

Many travellers arrive on the train from Kandy or Nanu Oya. The journey is slow but spectacular, and reserved seats sell out quickly.

What to see and do

  • Nine Arch Bridge Must see

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    The stone railway viaduct at Demodara, in a valley of tea and forest. Check the timetable if you want to see a train cross.

    1 hr 15 min · MorningFree entry

  • Little Adam's Peak

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    An easy, well-trodden walk of about 45 minutes each way through a tea estate to a grassy summit with views across Ella Gap.

    2 hr · MorningFree entry

  • Ella Rock

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    A steeper half-day hike to a cliff top above the valley. Go early with a guide or good offline map, as the paths split.

    4 hr · MorningFree entry

  • Ravana Falls

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    A tall waterfall beside the main road below Ella, at its best after rain.

    30 min · Any timeFree entry

Also consider

Nearby places to stay

Photos

Ella Rock seen from the trail to Little Adam's Peak
Ella Rock seen from the trail to Little Adam's Peak
The grassy ridge of Little Adam's Peak above Ella
The grassy ridge of Little Adam's Peak above Ella
The stone arches of the Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara, near Ella
The stone arches of the Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara, near Ella

Ready-made trips that include Ella

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