Ella and Little Adam's Peak

Ella is a small sleepy village on the southern hills of the Upcountry. With lush tea plantations on the hills, forests on the peaks and vegetable gardens in the valleys it is a beautiful area to spend a relaxing time. The famous train disgorges tourists from all countries on a daily basis while regular buses bring budget tourists from the South Coast to spend a couple of days on their way to Kandy and beyond. There are two main activities that most people do, climbing Ella Rock and taking a leisurely stroll up Little Adam's Peak.

Ella Rock

Climbing Ella Rock is not for everyone, especially anyone plus aged, however people told me that it is a really great experience and that only the last part was a bit difficult. It's a great walk, I was told, about 1.5km along the railway line, watching out for trains, through tea plantations and taking about two hours each way. That was too much for us so we opted for the amble up Little Adam's Peak.

Climbing Little Adam's Peak

The real Adam's Peak is a physical challenge of great proportions for most people with sometimes menacing steps winding around and around it's conical shape until you think that they will never end. Little Adam's Peak, however, is an easy walk of only forty five minutes from Ella village and it is possible to go up without climbing any steps.

On a beautiful day we made an early morning start, taking a slow walk through the tea plantations where a few women were picking tea and men were weeding. We soon came to a a gate just beyond which was a young woman selling necklaces and bracelets all made of hand painted seeds. Naturally we stopped to look and chat and although we knew we could not bring these back into Australia, something she knew herself, we ended up buying a couple on our return from the top.

There are now two ways to get to the top of Little Adam's Peak - up some flights of stairs or around the original track to the left of the stairs. We took the track and were rewarded with breathtaking views far into the distant plains beyond. I was once again having problems with my Canon G12 - I have now given up on it and looking for a replacement - so I didn't have enough zoom on my little handbag camera to capture the real beauty before me.

Taking the side path up Little Adam's Peak

We took time to stop and enjoy the vistas as well as the abundant bird life around us and, again, my camera wasn't up to the task of snapping these lovely creatures.

Tea Factory, Ella

There was a path to this tea factory with a sign inviting visitors to take a tour. The view from it would be spectacular as it is right in the Gap.

Resort 98 acres, Ella

Take the side track up Little Adam's Peak for this view

We arrived at the top to see a terrified young man pleading with his partner not to go down to the edge of the mountain for a photo. Wise, she was not.

Unwise tourist.

On top of Little Adam's Peak

It was an almost breathless day on the top and the views were quite clear.

From Little Adam's Peak, Ella

From Little Adam's Peak, Ella

Looking down to Ella village we could see the roof of our guest house, Rawana Heights. It's the red one in the centre of the picture.

Ella village from Little Adam's Peak

We could also see the distant Rawana Waterfall on the opposite side of the Gap. Look hard in the centre bottom of the photo below!

Distant Rawana Falls

 The photo below of these famous falls was taken was taken from the road.

Rawana Falls, near Ella

Coming down the steps was quicker but hotter and the views not so inspiring as the track route. We passed a steady stream of people climbing up, many of whom were neither carrying water nor wearing hats.

Rest and recovery from the now blazing sun

We had spotted an outdoor restaurant at the car park so we ordered a refreshing cup of tea with an ice cold drink to follow.  This restaurant was really restful with lovely views of Ella Rock and a small plant nursery and bird aviaries add to the attractiveness of the place. With a new guesthouse Ella Flower Garden Resort, being almost completed it would be an ideal place to stay. Later, we enjoyed an excellent lunch there.

Ella Flower Garden Resort

As we sat there chatting and planing the rest of our day, we were so comfortable that we decided to pre order lunch. In the meantime we would go for a walk around the village and then Sue and I would have a massage. This we did at Suwamedura, which advertises itself as an Ayurvedic Health and Beauty Spa. The hour long neck, shoulders and back massage was excellent however Sue's masseuse spoiled the effect by immediately asking for a tip before Sue was ready to even leave the treatment room.

The Ice cream man at Ella

All around Sri lanka creative mobile vehicles ply the streets blaring out either It's a Small World After All or Greensleeves and selling ice cream, bread and fish. This converted tuk tuk was really cute!

The rest of our time in Ella was devoted to just relaxing on our balcony chatting, reading, in holiday mode. We were reminded just how climate at that altitude can change when bright sunlight suddenly gave way to a clammy mist followed by heavy rain. Fortunately it stopped and the sun returned before we needed to descend the fifty six steps on the outside of the building to dinner at the restaurant at road level!

Tomorrow we leave for the East Coast at Pottuvil. It will be the first time we have been to that part of the country so we are quite excited!