Ella
Ella is a hill village in Sri Lanka's tea country, known for the Nine Arch Bridge and walks to nearby peaks.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Ella is a village in the hill country of Sri Lanka's Badulla District, at roughly 1,000 meters above sea level. Tea estates climb the slopes around it, and the village sits in a valley with hills on every side. Most visitors come to walk: Little Adam's Peak and Ella Rock both start close to the village.
The Nine Arch Bridge, a curved railway viaduct on the Kandy to Badulla line, is a short walk from town. Many travelers take the Kandy train for the scenery and then spend their days on foot in the tea hills. Ella suits anyone who wants slow days, walks and cool air more than beaches or nightlife. The drier months, roughly December to April, are better for walking than the monsoon season. Two or three nights leaves room for a couple of walks, the bridge and a train ride.
Ella in five
- Hike Little Adam's Peak earlyThe trail takes about an hour up through tea bushes. Mornings are clearer and cooler.
- Time Nine Arch Bridge with a trainTrains cross the viaduct a few times a day. Do not walk on the tracks as a train approaches.
- Book the train in both directionsReserved seats on the Kandy to Ella line sell out, so reserve as early as sales allow and check Sri Lanka Railways for the current booking window. Book the onward leg too.
- Pack a warm layerEvenings in the hills are cool, and mist can come in fast.
Need to know
- Airport
- Bandaranaike (CMB), about 5–6 hours by road
- Getting there
- Scenic train from Kandy about 6–7 hours
- Getting around
- On foot and by tuk-tuk
- Best base
- Ella village, or the hills just outside
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain17 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mostly dryJanuaryRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 159 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mostly dry
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°DryFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°DryMarchRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- AprilRain21 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°ShowersAprilRain
Good
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 198 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- MayRain27 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°ShowersMayRain
Poor
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 377 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- JuneRain24 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°DrierJuneRain
Good
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 159 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier
- JulyRain25 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°DrierJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 218 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier
- AugustRain24 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°DrierAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 251 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier
- SeptemberRain24 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°ShowersSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 215 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- OctoberRain28 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°WetOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 427 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- NovemberRain25 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°WetNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 488 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°WetDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 198 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
Average daily high and low in Ella (Bandarawela), 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ella
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 22°
- Humidity
- 97%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Ella
03:28 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today23°18°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 23°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed23°17°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 23°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu24°16°100%Thursday: Rain. High 24°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri24°16°100%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 24°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat24°16°100%Saturday: Rain. High 24°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun24°15°100%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 24°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 02:05 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 332.4 LKR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Udawalawe National Parkabout 2 hours by roadJeep safaris to see elephants.Read the guide
- Horton Plainsabout 2.5 hours by roadHigh plateau walk to World's End. Start at dawn.
Before you go to Ella
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Ella, checked
- Most nationalities need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival. Check whether yours is on the current list at the official ETA site.Source
- Remove shoes and cover shoulders and knees before entering a Buddhist temple. Do not point your feet at Buddha images.
- Alcohol sales are banned on full-moon Poya days, so check the calendar before you plan a drink or a meal out.
- Dial 119 for police, 110 for fire, and 1990 for an ambulance anywhere in Sri Lanka.
Plan around Ella
Where the scenic hill train begins
Read the guideGalleFort town and beaches, a day by road from Ella
Read the guideNuwara EliyaCool tea country up the scenic line
Read the guideAll of Sri LankaRoutes, seasons and entry rules
Read the guideConnectivityData options for hill-country days
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for hiking and delayed trains
Read the guideThe Hill CountryKandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ella together
Read the guideElla FAQ
How many days do I need in Ella?
Two or three. One for Little Adam's Peak and Nine Arch Bridge, one for Ella Rock or a tea factory.
Is Ella Rock hard?
It is a steeper, longer hike than Little Adam's Peak, about 4 hours round trip. Start early and take water.
When is the best time to visit Ella?
February, March and June to August tend to be driest. October to December brings more rain to the hills.
Is the Kandy to Ella train worth it?
Yes if you can get a reserved seat and accept delays: it climbs through tea country and is the reason many people come. If seats are gone, a driver with stops at viewpoints gives much of the same scenery.
How do I get from Ella to the south coast?
By road, usually via a driver or a bus change, and plan most of a day. There is no direct train to Galle, so check current bus and driver options and leave slack before a flight.