Ella

From Yala we headed to Ella on 16th January, stopping off en route for a free Smoothie Bun curtesy of Ajeet's facebook networking :) Cute place with beautiful wall art inside. The smoothies were a bit rich and too thick, better as smoothie bowls than drinks.

We stayed at the 3 arch eco cottage (which we do not recommend as it was not clean, mouldy pillows, dead flies, dirty floors - eww!). We packed quite a lot into our two days - Ella town, Adisham Hall, the train from Haputale to Ella, Nine Arches Bridge, and Little Adam's Peak.

ELLA TOWN - The first evening we took a walk along the railways tracks to explore the vibrant little town, very much an up and coming backpacker destination with lots of modern cafes and quaint shops. It felt very adventurous walking along a railway track. Health and safety not enforced around here!

Ella Railway Station

A much welcome hungry meal at the Rainbow Cafe.

Couldn't fault the views from our B&B. Very atmospheric misty mountains.

ADISHAM HALL - We had hoped to go to Lipton's Seat in Haputale but the weather was miserable and no chance of seeing the views, so Ajeet suggested the old Benedictine monastery, Adisham Hall. It supposedly has a relic (chip of a bone) of St Sylvester in the chapel. The house was built in 1931 by an English aristocrat and planter Sir Thomas Villiers, former Chairman of George Steuart Co, a trading and estate agency based in Colombo. It was designed by R. Booth and F. Webster in Tudor and Jacobean style. Adisham Hall played host to many prominent personalities of the colony until the retirement of Sir Thomas, after which it was purchased by Don Charles Wijewardene and his daughter Rukmini Wijewardene, owners of Sedawatte Estates, in 1950. In 1961 Rukmini Beligammana (née Wijewardene) sold it to an Italian Benedictan monk. Upon purchasing the house and property the Italian monk removed silver cutlery and a few items of furniture in order to recover his investment and also make a profit. After leaving it unoccupied for two years he subsequently donated the house and property to the Ampitiya Benedictine Monastery in 1963. The house is well preserved along with its period fittings and furniture, and is open to visitors. Nowadays people visit the house, purchase homemade jams from the little shop and enjoy the gardens. It is also possible to stay overnight for a period of relaxation.

TRAIN RIDE FROM HAPUTALE TO ELLA - On the way back to Ella we fortuitiously arrived at Haputale station just in time to make the Ella train. Ajeet quickly sorted us out with tickets and we were on board (after scrambling across the track in order to get onto the train). Despite some trepidation at what a train experience might be like, it turned out to be fine. The first part of the journey was positively pleasant. We enjoyed the views, the breeze, the weirdness of people sitting by the open train door with their legs dangling out, chatting to the nice French tourists opposite us etc.

But then at one stop hoards of people got on and it became a bit of a squish. No sense of western decorum here. Despite there already being 4 of us on a seat, one lady had no qualms about shoving us along so that she too could get some seat!

Indio had his Zoomwriters class so we trundled in the rain to a nice cafe (barn by Sunbeam). He was staaarving (as usual) so had a delicious pad thai and a nice mocha milkshake. We liked it so much that we returned here for dinner after our visit to the Nine Arches Bridge.

NINE ARCHES BRIDGE - Despite arriving early by tuk tuk to find the best spot for a photo, the train was about an hour late. Nine Arches Bridge is all about the photos... So here goes - a selection of the Sundarams attempting to get the best picture! And an arty tuk tuk thrown in for good measure :)

LITTLE ADAM'S PEAK -

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