sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

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Ella

1 ights & ActivitiesS
Dowa Temple BUDDHiST TEmPlE
(map p184; Badulla Rd; admission Rs 100) The
hi ghlight of the charming Dowa Temple,
6k m east of town, is a 4m-high standing
Buddha cut into the rock face. The walls of
the adjacent cave shrine, carved from solid
rock, are covered with excellent Sri Lankan–
st yle Buddhist murals. It’s said that King
Valagamba (Vattajamini Ahhya) took refuge
here in the 1st century BC during his 14-year
exile from Anuradhapura. Legend also has it
th at a secret underground tunnel stretches
from this temple all the way to Kandy.
The temple, which is on the road to Badul-
la, is easy to miss (and the tunnel even easier)
if you’re coming by bus, so ask the bus conduc-
tor to tell you when to alight. A three-wheeler
or taxi from Bandarawela should cost Rs 500
return.

4 leeping & EatingS

oBandarawela Hotel HiSTORiC HOTEl $$$
(%222 2501; http://www.aitkenspencehotels.com; 14 Weli-
mada Rd; s/d incl breakfast US$90/106; W) Around
80 years ago they wisely stopped updating the
furniture at this venerable tea planters’ club.
No w, in the 21st century, this hotel is a jol-
ly fine show. So don your pith helmet, walk
sh orts, gloves and long socks and ease into
one of the relax-at-all-costs easy chairs.
There’s nothing forced about this place. It’s
a genuine time capsule and as such is high
on atmosphere but low on modern amen-
it ies. For colonial buffs it’s worth the trip to
Bandarawela alone.

Mlesna Tea Centre CAFE $
(W elimada Rd; tea Rs 70-100; h8.30am-5.30pm
mo n-Fri, to 6pm Sat & Sun) You’re deep in tea
country so buy some at this superb tea shop
and cafe, which has high-quality leaves from
across the hills and a selection of daily cakes.

8 Getting There & Away

BUS
Buses run to the following destinations:

DESTINATION FARE TIME

Badulla Rs 64 1¼hr

Ella Rs 34 30min

Haputale Rs 32 30min

Nuwara Eliya Rs 77 2¼hr

Welimada Rs 53 1hr

TRAIN

Bandarawela is on the Colombo–Badulla railway

line. First-class observation tickets through the

hills cost Rs 1000 for anywhere between Nanu

Oya and Badulla. From Nanu Oya to Kandy is Rs

1250. A reserved 2nd-class ticket is Rs 600.
      Trains heading east to Ella and Badulla leave at
      12.50pm and 2.45pm.
      Trains heading west towards Kandy leave at
      7.15am, 9.57am and 1.10pm.

DESTINATION FARE TIME

Badulla 2nd/3rd class Rs

60/30

1½hr

Colombo 2nd/3rd class Rs

340/185

8-9hr

Ella 2nd/3rd class Rs

30/15

30min

Haputale 2nd/3rd class Rs

20/15

25min

Kandy 2nd/3rd class Rs

230/125

6hr

Nanu Oya (for

Nuwara Eliya)

2nd/3rd class Rs

90/50

2-2½hr

Ella

% 057

Welcome to everyone’s favourite hill-country

vi llage and the place to ease off the travel

ac celerator with a few leisurely days resting

in your choice of some of the country’s best

gu esthouses. The views through Ella Gap

ar e stunning, and on a clear night you can

even spy the subtle glow of the Great Basses

li ghthouse on Sri Lanka’s south coast. Don’t

be too laid-back though; definitely make time

fo r easygoing walks through tea plantations

to temples, waterfalls and viewpoints. After

bu ilding up a hiking-inspired appetite, look

fo rward to Sri Lanka’s best home-cooked

fo od and the minisplurge of an extended

Ayurvedic treatment.

In recent years the popularity of Ella has

so ared and seemingly every month yet an-

ot her new guesthouse or hotel opens. Sadly,

some of these newer hotels have been built in

a hurry by people with little knowledge of the

desires and requirements of the average for-

ei gn tourist in Ella, resulting in some large,

mu ltistorey, cheaply made blots of ugliness

sc arring the hills of the village. Fortunately,

th e rumour of a cable-car running between

Li ttle Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock does (we

dearly hope) appear to be just a rumour.