This is why Sri Lanka’s Ella needs to be on your travel bucket list

It is time to get over Colombo, Sigiriya, Kandy and Galle, for Sri Lanka has a new star that is rising high and fast in the travellers’ list. Yes, we are talking about Ella, the new wonder of Sri Lanka. A tiny, picturesque village in the highlands of the country, it is a place for those seeking an offbeat experience. It can very well be Goa’s Susegad equivalent for Sri Lanka, a place where life hits the slow button, where you pause and are able to notice floating clouds, the rustling that arises from the nearby forests, steam rising off a slowly-chugging train, and all the colours that a butterfly brings.

Ella is for those, who like travelling without to-do lists, without itineraries, with no vacation goals, for you might land here, fall in love and have no intention of coming back to the other side of the world. If this setup has you fascinated enough, know that this is what awaits you in Ella.
Nine Arch Bridge
This one is hailed as an engineering marvel, and is more than a century old. It has a very distinct Harry Potter sort of feel about it and is considered to be one of the best train tours in the world. Legends have it that the bridge was built by the locals out of stone bricks and rocks without using iron or any other metal, supplies of which were cut off in the first World War.
Ravana Falls
Ravana falls are one of the widest in Sri Lanka and are utterly picturesque. A must-visit for all the water babies, it is perfect for some hours of quiet swims and solitude. There is a cave behind the falls, and is believed to be one of the places where Ravana confined Sita, as mentioned in the epic Ramayana. Monsoon is, of course, the best time to visit these waterfalls.

Dunhinda Falls
At a baffling height of 63m, Dunhinda Falls are one of the tallest in the country. While they lie at some 30 km from Ella, the stunning drive and what awaits you at the end of it, will make it worth it. You can very well imagine the stunning beauty and awe of this place with the fact that dun in Sinhalese translates to ‘smoke’, a reference to the mist that surrounds the fall! The month of June is the best time to visit the falls.

Lipton’s Seat
If you are a seeker of vantage points or are into photography, there is no skipping a trip to Ella’s Lipton’s Seat. It is the best viewpoint in the village, and sits aptly at 1970m above sea level in the Haputale Mountains. From here, you will have uninterrupted views of Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Handapanagala Lake, Chandrika Lake and the picturesque Wedihiti Kanda range of mountains. The viewpoint is where Sir Thomas Lipton would often sit, contemplating or perhaps getting a bird’s eye-view of his tea plantations.

Other than these, Ella is also home to Adisham Bungalow, Dowa Rock Temple, Dambethenne Tea Factory and Demodara Loop, all open to tourists. If you wish to skip the customary sights, Ella has much in store with its trails, short hikes, some wonderful eateries, a famous shopping street, tea plantations and some stunning views from the Ella Gap.

Ella does read like some major travel goals, right?