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

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Around Ella

TA XI
Private minibus taxis gather on the roadside
close to the Dream Cafe and charge the
following:
Galle Rs 14,500
Horton Plains Rs 8500
Mirissa Rs 12,500
Nuwara Eliya Rs 7500
Tangalla Rs 9500
Tissamaharama Rs 6500
i f you’re heading to Horton Plains you’re much
better off taking a van from Haputale or Nuwara
Eliya instead, both of which are considerably
closer.

TRAIN
Ella is an hour from Haputale and Badulla on the
Colombo–Badulla line. The stretch from Haputale
(through Bandarawela) has particularly lovely
scenery. Roughly 10km north of Ella, at Demod-
ara, the line performs a complete loop around
a hillside and tunnels under itself at a level 30m
lower.
Ella’s train station is so quaint it won the ‘Best
Kept Station’ award in 2013. The station manager,
m r Ashendria Disanayake, deserves mention
for winning the ‘most Helpful Station manager’
award. it’s like Thomas the Tank Engine come to
life. Fares and timetables are well posted. You’ll
probably be met by a few touts spinning fictional
tales; Ella’s guesthouse fraternity is perhaps the
most competitive in all of Sri lanka. Touts some-
times board the train a few stops before Ella. Ob-
servation class is Rs 1000 for anywhere between
Nanu Oya and Badulla and Rs 1250 to Kandy and
Colombo. A 2nd-class advance reservation is Rs
600 to any of the following destinations.
Eastbound trains to Badulla leave at 6.05am,
1.25pm and 3.15pm. Westbound trains to all other
stations are at 6.40am, 9.25am, 10.55am and
12.05pm.
Sample train fares:

DESTINATION FARE TIME
Badulla 2nd/3rd class,
Rs 40/20

1hr

Bandarawela 2nd/3rd class,
Rs 30/15

35min

Colombo 2nd/3rd class,
Rs 350/190

9hr

Haputale 2nd/3rd class,
Rs 50/25

1-1½hr

Kandy 2nd/3rd class,
Rs 240/130

6-10hr

Nanu Oya (for
Nuwara Eliya)

2nd/3rd class,
Rs 110/60

2½-3hr

Around Ella

There are a number of interesting sights and
activities in the vicinity of Ella. You can also
easily visit the Dowa Temple from Ella.

Uva Halpewaththa
Tea Factory TEA FACTORY
(adult/child Rs 200/100; htours 8am-4pm) The
Uva Halpewaththa Tea Factory, not far from
Ella, runs very informative tours. After you’ve
enriched yourself with knowledge, enrich
your taste buds by trying a sample of the es-
tate’s different teas. There’s also a small shop
(7.30am to 5pm) selling leaves and tea-related
paraphernalia. Tours take place throughout
the day but tour frequency times vary slightly

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Little
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Ella

Demodara

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Kumbawela
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Halpe
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Around Ella

Badulla D
(11km)

DBandarawela
(6km)

WellawayaD
(20.5km)

e#^0201 milekm


Around Ella

æ Sights
1 Dowa Temple.........................................A3
2 Newburgh Green Tea Factory.............B2
3 Ravanna Ella Temple ............................B2

ÿ Sleeping
4 98 Acres Resort ....................................B2
5 Chamodya Homestay..........................A 2
6 Ella Flower Garden Resort...................B2
7 Planters Bungalow................................B3
8 View Point Villa......................................B2
9 Waterfall Homestay..............................A 2
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