Visit Ella

ADMIRE THE RUSHING RAVANA FALLS

Just outside of Ella, on the road winding south towards Wellawaya, lies one of Sri Lanka’s most easily accessible attractions: Ravana Falls.

According to local legend, King Ravana is said to have kidnapped princess Sita and hidden her in the secrecy of the forest-protected caves behind the waterfall, to avenge the slicing off of his sister’s nose by Sita’s husband (Rama).

Today, the 25m high, multi-tiered waterfall is less hidden, given its location right next to the road into Ella from the south, but it’s no less impressive, particularly if you make the effort to hike further up to the second and third-tier falls. From the top of Ravana falls the views over the valley below are majestic, and worth the somewhat tough and precarious hike up.

To get to the top, follow the tracks to the right of the waterfall and slowly make your way up, following the well-trodden paths. Be warned though - due to the sheer volume of water this hike should only be completed during the dry months, and with the assistance of a local guide. During the wet months, the torrent that flows down this waterfall is a sight to behold, showering the road and local area in a spray.

We recommend visiting early morning or late afternoon, as the area can get pretty busy during the day. Also, be sure to grab a King Coconut (LKR 50) or boiled corn (LKR 50) at one of the street vendors before heading back to Ella!

PARTY, EAT, AND CHILL IN ELLA TOWN

If you’re coming to Sri Lanka looking for a full-on party destination like Thailand or Bali, we need to let you down now because this country is definitely NOT your place. That said, Ella is the one place in Sri Lanka where western food and a small, but a decent, night out exists for those who seek it.

Central to Ella’s backpacker scene is the main street, which has seen a radical transformation (for the worse, in our opinion) over the last few years. What was once a sleepy, quaint main street filled with local markets and restaurants is now a throbbing hub home to hip new cafes and bars, boutique shops, and a vibe that feels slightly more like that of an Asian backpacker town.

If you’re keen to get into the mix, the best place to take it all in is at Cafe Chill, located right in the centre of town. Serving delicious western-style food, cocktails and a decent soundtrack, Cafe Chill is where the cool kids hang out. At night, the upper deck becomes a bar/lounge, perfect for a few Lion Beers. We can highly recommend the vegetarian burger, which was our western-style treat during a month of eating rice and curry.

Further towards the train station are a number of relaxed bars serving beers and cocktails, some of which are open 24 hours, including the Bob Marley-inspired Cafe One Love.

ENJOY THE FAMOUS VIEWS FROM LIPTON SEAT

Tea is synonymous with Sri Lanka, and the name Lipton is synonymous with tea, so it was only natural that our Sri Lankan travels would eventually bring us to Lipton Seat. This is the famous viewpoint where entrepreneur and tea mogul, Sir Thomas Lipton, used to sit and contemplate his vast plantation and the magnificence of Sri Lanka's high country and sample some of the world's finest tea straight from the source.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to enjoy the panoramic views as we would have liked thanks to heavy rain and dense fog surrounding the summit upon our arrival, however, we’re told (by our tuk-tuk driver) that on a clear day, you can see as far as Udawalawe National park and beyond to Hambantota port.

Despite the inclement weather, we definitely enjoyed our fresh cup of Sri Lankan tea (LKR 50 per person) at the top, while watching the clouds roll by. The tea, we both agreed, was by far the best we've ever consumed. The drive from Haputale station through the verdant tea fields and colourful towns was also stunning, so if the weather’s looking a bit iffy, we’d still recommend venturing at least part of the way there just for the scenery.

If you're looking to visit Lipton Seat from Ella, we’d advise taking the 6 am Ella to Kandy train and jumping off at Haputale (let’s face it, any excuse to spend additional time on that train is well worth it - it's amazing!), and then pay a tuk-tuk driver to take you to Lipton Seat from the station (LKR 2000 - 3000 for a return trip).

A visit to Lipton Seat and tea plantation tour (more on that below) should take around four hours, providing you with enough time to return to the station for the 11 am return train to Ella.

Alternatively, book this best-selling day tour from Ella which includes Lipton Seat and a Dambatenne Tea Factory tour.