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Explore Ella Like a Local Beyond Tourist Places
Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands leverages a Jade-like greenery of Peak Wilderness Protected Area, Horton Plains National Park, and Knuckles Conservation Forest, laying down a tentative expression that also touches upon Ella; teeming with backpackers for its familiar tourist street and a temperature dropped down below the condensed mountain fog.
Tourist Guides will tell you ‘the best places to visit in Ella’ are the selfie-spot Nine Arches Bridge, the overcrowded trail to Ella Rock and a meandering walk to Little Adam’s Peak. But what if I tell you that Ella can readily bunk the tourist queue to lodge more unique local experiences?
In this article, let’s draw a black curtain over these touristy places and discuss some locally immersive experiences that are bound to refuel your curiosity tank.
Local Experiences in Ella Beyond the Tourist Places
From choosing locally-run homestays to sniffing the aroma of Sri Lankan curries, from the festive hues to tying hiking shoelaces, let’s reveal the local experiences Ella has in store!
A Unique Village Hike Led by A Local Female Guide
A village woman’s initiative to pull the crowds away from Ella‘s overbearing tourism pressure and lead a day hike to her jungle-laden home village. The structure of the hike is restructured with learning how to make honey or the local alcohol ‘Toddy’, passing through an abandoned or oft-used temple, and a refreshing swim in a (literally) concealed pond.
“I used to walk for 10 km every day on this trail to go to school”, Ranjani’s stories of her adolescent necessary strolls through Sri Lanka‘s light-green tea plantations bespeak a local way of living in these uncomfortable mountainous parts. Ranjani would pluck leaves that smell of Tiger Balm or show off flowers flowering as a couple.
What to expect from this day hike:
- Learn about local plants & ways of living
- One night stay in a local village
- Delicious Sri Lankan food at a Sinhalese household
- Walking around a temple, other villages and through a forest
- Learn how to make honey and local alcohol
- Swim in a secluded pond
The hiking route can stretch up to 10 km, depending on how sturdy your feet are. For more details, contact Ranjani directly and customize your hike – (+94) 77 564 8152.
Learn How to Cook Sri Lankan Curries
A plateful of much-savored Sri Lankan Curries calls for learning Sinhalese recipes that use coconut milk and curry leaves to create that creamy and cohesive texture. Whether it’s Jackfruit Curry, Beetroot Curry, Mango Curry, or Banana Flower Sambol, food in Sri Lanka has a way of bringing outsiders to tickle more with traditions. Taking a Sri Lankan cooking class gives you hands-on experience in Ella; in some places, slow-cooked rice and curry vapor over a wood fire, like in the olden times.
Here are some locally-run cooking classes in Ella that you cannot miss.
Let’s look at what these classes offer. The menu may differ, but this is a standard sample from a cooking class. Rice, Dhal Curry, Pumpkin Curry/Beetroot Curry, Chicken Curry/Banana Flower Sambol. For a Traditional and authentic cooking experience over a woodfire in a makeshift bamboo hut, Chamathka Cooking Class is highly recommended. It may cost 4000-5000 NKR per person for two hours of cooking class and a hearty dinner.
Celebrate Vesak Festival around May
Swamped with local customs and lively interactions of tourists and those who call this land their home, festivals rooted in a country‘s backbone create an inviting space. One such festival is Sri Lanka’s Vesak Festival, also known as the ‘Lord Buddha’s Day’, on the full moon of the lunar month of May. What the Sinhalese break down as ‘A Celebration of Enlightenment & Peace’ is a blend of birth, enlightenment, and passing away (Parinirvana) of Gautam Buddha.
Countless lanterns and a sea of lights decorate the threshold of houses; the lanterns being known as ‘Vesak Kudu’ that are crafted using colorful papers and bamboo or plastic structures. ‘Dansalas’ are set up on the pavements – adhering to the Buddhist philosophy of doling out Rice and Curry, sweets or drinks, in symmetry with the charitable practice of generosity and compassion.
In Ella the festivities last up to three days with these ‘Damsalas’ working outside homes and temples, a procession of Sinhalese men and women showcasing Sinhalese dance and wearing traditional clothes, and ‘Thoranas’ lit up in artistry. The exact date varies every year as per the calendar, so ask the locals for the whereabouts of the procession in Ella.
Find A New Alternate Trail to Ella Rock If You Love Hiking
So the usual Ella Rock hiking route goes something like this:
- 15 minutes of walking on the rail tracks from Ella Town towards Kithal Ella Railway Station.
- 10 more minutes down the track and you turn left to a footbridge from where you get a view of Kithal Ella Waterfall on your left.
I will stop you right here. The alternate trail that I accidentally fell onto did not involve the rail tracks and also the waterfall appears on your right. The best part, not a single soul for three hours on the trail until it merged me with the main designated trail. Isn’t it a privilege to discover a trail that is no-trail, but a secluded passage through Sri Lanka‘s ‘mark and glory’, the verdant tea plantations? Especially since Ella Rock Hike is usually simply overcrowded.
Now I can only give you a rough idea about the route, and I’m sure the ‘explorers’ heart’ in you would figure out the rest. Instead of hitting the rail tracks, search ‘Ella Rock Trail Head’ on Google Maps and the directional change would pivot you towards Ravana cave, and make sure to ask a few locals for this inconspicuous trail not even taken by the locals anymore.
A quick tip: On Google Maps, the main trail is very well-defined. And when you take my sketchy trail, keep your agenda at bay to merge with the main trail somewhere. With a directional and navigational sense of adventure, trample over those leafy-green plantations and tough the wide-eyed mountain views out with your curious and languid eyes. Know that there is an entry fee of 900 LKR at the top for foreigners.
The ‘Kandy to Ella’ Train Ride is Incredible
The Ceylon Railway Network was a work-in-determination from the British Colonial era in 1864, as a means of transporting coffee and tea from the manicured hill plantations and little settlements of Tamil tea pickers to the capital, Colombo.
In the Cultural Capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy, the first train blew off steam in 1867. Coffee was the pretext; the initial engine of the plantation economy, but right after a sore blight, tea soon replaced coffee.
This spectacular and panoramic train route is originally from Colombo to Badulla, but the ‘Kandy to Ella’ segment has bagged ‘the most scenic train journey in the world’ laurel for the gradual incline from Kandy, which is nothing short of a ‘train-way to Heaven’.
Things to know about the ‘Kandy to Ella’ train:
- The first train from Colombo Fort Railway Station leaves at 5:55 am and reaches Ella around 4 pm.
- Four trains run daily on the Colombo-Badulla line from 5:55 am, 8:30 am, 9:45 am and 8:30 pm (timings from Colombo). Five trains also come back from Badulla to Colombo Fort.
- All these trains stop at Kandy, and an additional train leaves Kandy at 4 pm for Ella. For more details on the timetable, check out their website.
- Apart from Kandy and Ella, some of the worthy stops along the way are Hatton, Nanu-Oya and Haputale.
- The engineering feats closest to Ella include Nine Arches Bridge and Demodara Loop, which are the main tourist attractions in Ella.
Try Local Dishes at These Restaurants in Ella
Kottu Roti, Hoppers, Pol Sambol, or the Jackfruit delicacies, the melting-up Sri Lankan curries rank high on variety and health-quotient as well. The ingredients are either lentils, tomato, beetroot, raw mango, or my absolute favorite, Jackfruit. Here are some local restaurants in Ella that serve the best Sri Lankan food.
- Matey Hut, for the most ‘good-looking’ Curries (tasty too!)
- Roti Hut Restaurant, famous for Kottu Roti, a flatbread churned in pieces, and marinated with aromatic spices, crispy vegetables and optionally, meat.
- Little Restaurant, for a variety of Hoppers; Egg Hoppers or Coconut Hoppers.
Where to Stay in Ella
Wondering where to stay in Ella? Always opt for homestays over hotels for a deeper understanding of the culture. Here are some well-curated accommodation options for all budgets.
Locally-Run Homestays in Ella
Hostels for Budget-Friendly Backpackers
When is the Best Time to Visit Ella
If you are figuring out the best time to explore Ella, know that Ella maintains a moderately mountain-chill weather with fog and intermediate temperature-drop at night; periodically influenced highly by monsoon patterns leading to wet and dry periods.
- January to March: The dry weather in these sunny months makes up for summer hiking, sightseeing and exploring the region. The northeast monsoon doesn’t impact Ella, and it stays sunny all along, making it the best time to visit Ella.
- April to July: In this period, the Southwest monsoon invites a transitory period leading to increased rainfall of the wetter season.
- August to September: This window also calls for a break in the monsoon with lush green countryside vibrating in green after the previous month’s incessant rain.
- October to December: This is the leeches’ season; the inter-monsoon bracket with heavy rain. Surely not the most recommended.
How to Reach Ella from Colombo
Let’s look at how you can reach Ella right after you land at Colombo International Airport by road, air and train.
By Train
As mentioned earlier, the most scenic route in all of Sri Lanka is the ‘Kandy to Ella’ train ride. Take a local bus or a taxi to Colombo Fort Railway Station and book the 11-hour-long journey to Ella costing around LKR 1000-2500 depending on the class. Tickets can be booked beforehand, and the third-class Seater tickets can only be purchased at the ticket counter on a first-come-first-serve basis.
By Bus
The bus ride is definitely less time-consuming (8-9 hours) than the slow and steady train tempo. Comfortable AC buses can be booked. Local buses may either drop you at Kandy or Badulla. You may have to shift to another break journey.
By Air
Taking a domestic flight is never recommended. You will miss out on slowly moving within the magnificent Central Highlands. The closest airport to Ella is Manttala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) though, which is a 2-3 hours’ drive away from Ella.
By TukTuk
You can ride your own tuk-tuk and make a star entry to Ella. Yes, riding a tuktuk has been a hit among tourists lately. Rent it directly from Colombo and make your way through. Here are some reputable rentals in Colombo that offer fully insured and well-maintained vehicles.
- Tuktuk Sri Lanka, starting from $12 per day.
- TukTuk Rent Sri Lanka, starting from $13 per day.
- Tuktuk Rental, starting from $14 per day.
Local Experiences in Ella Sri Lanka
And with all that, don’t forget to explore the Central Highlands beyond Ella. Those small villages and pit-stops are dotted with old British relics and stories of the Tamil tea pickers who migrated generations back.
