Elle is located in a
scenic area surrounded by tea estates
Ells is 3415 feet above sea level, the climate is cool and fresh.
From Ella it is easy to access the famous Nine Arch bridge, Liptons seat, Flying Ravana Zip Line and if you like hiking there is the challenging Ella rock to explore.
Ella is a tourist spot and accommodation is easy to find. Cafes and other places to eat are plentiful. Ella night life pulsates with music, at night it magically turns into a place to eat, romance, dance and enjoy. It is the place to be in to be entertained.
There are many transport options and tours. You can hire a tuk tuk to go around.
Nine Arch Bridge
The Nine Arch Bridge is know as the “Bridge in the Sky” and was first commissioned in 1921 by the British. The bridge was constructed between two huge mountains and is 300 feet long and is 100 feet high (approx.) On it runs the trains going from Colombo to Badulla. It is said to be an “engineering and architectural brilliance of the early 20 th Century”.
It is situated between Ella and Demodara. There is a Calypso train which runs from Ella to the Nine Arch Bridge, it stops at the bridge for you to see the bridge and to take photos. Capture the train coming on to the bridge and post it on Instagram.
Reaching there:
By car leave from the Halpe Textile Center on the Badulla – Bandarawella road or travel 2 km on the Gotuwala Road.
From the Ella town you can take a tuk tuk there as well.
Check the trains schedule as well.
Liptons Seat
At this spot a Scottish Baron known as Sir Thomas Lipton, would sit on the bench and survey his tea plantation. It is 1970m above sea level and gives you a spectacular view of all the land around it. On a clear day, you can see three lakes – the Handpangala lake, Chandrika Lake and the Udawalawe Lake. You can also see the famous Knuckles Mountain range from here.
Facts:
It is about 2 ½ hour treck to this point.
From Ella it is an hours drivr.
In a tuk tuk it will lake 30 min from Haputale.
Its best to go before 10 am in the morning as it gets cloudy thereafter.
Entrance – there is a fee per person as well as a Vehicle fee.
Hiking – Ella Rock
If you like hiking, then this is the place to go. It is 8 km from Ella town. It is a 4 hour trek. Best time to go is early morning.
To get there:
From the Ella Railway station, go to the left and at the end of the platform you keep walking down along the railway track.
Go over the bridge and into Kithaella trail station. Walk past the Buddhist statues and go past the bench. Do not turn anywhere despite the boards and people saying wrong way.
Once you pass the Kithaella station walk for about 10 minutes, and you will see a sign saying “Ella Rock”.
Turn here and cross the river, you will then come to a fork in the road, take the left road, and continue straight upwards. It will take you through the tea plantation.
When you reach a forest of Eucalyptus trees keep going straight. You will then reach the top.
Learn how Tea is made at then
Dambetenna tea factory
You can visit this factory and see how the tea is processed and packeted.
They have a tour which takes 30 minutes and there is a small fee charged for this.
No photos are allowed inside the factory.