Sunnyside Holiday Bungalow Ella Sri Lanka


Ella Sri Lanka: Day Tours from Sunnyside Bungalow

Sunnyside is centrally located to the following day tours:

Ella Gap: 3-5 minutes drive from Sunnyside. Overlooks a spectacular gap in the southern mountain wall where the land falls away in a scenic drop of 3,000 feet to the southern plains and the sea. On a clear night, you can see the Great Basses lighthouse. You can drive over to the Grand Ella Motel (formerly, the Ella Rest House) or Ambiente which is situated in a commanding location in Ella, Sri Lanka. For a well written essay on the Ella Gap, visit 'Elle Gap', a place to reconnect with nature by Daniel R. Rauchman

Rawana Ella: 10 minutes drive from Sunnyside. A beautiful natural wonder associated with legend is the Rawana Ella (Ravana Falls) located near the village of Udunuwara on the Ella-Wellawaya Road. A cave ("cave of gold") hidden behind the falls is believed to be one of several places where Rawana hid his lovely Indian Princess Sita after abducting her. 

  
Hiking and Mountaineering
Hiking and Mountaineering: 
Ella is surrounded with beautiful rocks and mountains, including the towering Ella Rock (2-3 hours trek each way). So if you are into hiking and mountaineering, you can enjoy some of the most spectacular views of Sri Lanka.


Bandarawela Town: 15 minutes drive from Sunnyside. Like the town of Ella, Bandarawela is also reputed as a health resort in Sri Lanka due to its mild, dry and cool climate.

Diyaluma Falls: Sri Lanka's second highest perennial waterfall at 560 ft. Situated near Koslanda, beside the main highway to Wellawaya.

Bogoda Bridge: 40 minutes drive from Sunnyside. The only roofed 16th century Kandyan bridge left in Sri Lanka. Constructed entirely of wood with massive tree trunks for buttresses. No nails have been used in the construction.

Namunukula Peak: 6,617 feet in height. This is Sri Lanka's 6th highest peak. Its distinctive nine peaked silhouette dominates Badulla and is visible from many parts of the district.

  
Amy and Athaiah in front of Bogoda Bridge

Demodara Nine Arch Bridge by Harsha HerathDemodara Nine Arch Bridge: 20 minutes drive from Sunnyside. This beautiful and amazing bridge was built between the two railway stations - Ella and Demodara during the British Colonial period. The 99.6ft high bridge is known in Sinhala as "Ahas namaye palama" (Nine skies bridge). Read more, in Sri Lankan English, an interesting article on the Demodera nine arch bridge.

Demodara Railway Loop: 15 minutes drive from Sunnyside. The railway loop was designed and built during the British Colonial period in the shape of a turban, this railroad loop is a unique feature in the hill country. The rail track goes around the mountain in a loop and through a tunnel beneath the Demodara Railway Station.

Dunhinda Falls: 60 minutes drive from Sunnyside. One of the country’s most renowned waterfalls is Dunhinda, on the Mahiyanganaya Road, about 5 km from Badulla. Flowing from Badulu Oya, the 210 feet high Dunhinda, is surrounded by mountains and jungle. It is truly an enchanting sight from a distance. Note: the walk to the site may be unpleasant on certain days of the year!

Horton Plains National Park: 2 hours drive from Sunnyside. Alternatively, you could travel by train to the Ohiya railway station and trek from there. The Horton Plains National Park is the only National Park situated in the Hill Country. Nature lovers would love this wide, Patna-grass covered plain. The grassy plains, which are interspersed with small patches of forest, are home to many wild animals including, leopards, sambur and monkeys. This is also one of the top destinations for birders who can observe an impressive bird life, including some endemic species. The most dramatic feature of the National Park is 'World’s End' where the plateau comes to an abrupt end and drops nearly 1000m vertically. The view is magnificent on a clear day. Get some superb information and photos of the Horton Plains from the Lakdasun website.

Udawalawe National Park: Udawalawe is a great place to watch elephants. It is estimated that around 400 elephants in herds to up to 100 live here. The park is 30,821 hectares of protected area and was established in 1972. Crocodiles, water buffalo, spotted and barking deer, leopard (sightings are rare), wild boar, sambur, jackal and ruddy, grey and striped necked mongoose are also found in this park.

Tea gardens: Sunnyside is surrounded by a tea estate in Ella named Kinellan. You can also visit the Halpewatte Tea Factory and see for yourself the manufacturing process of tea. Here’s a chance to see and buy fresh “Ceylon Tea”.

Lipton's Seat, St. Catherine's Seat and Pilkinton Point: Situated in the Poonagala hills with breathtaking and panoramic views.

Mini World's End: Similar to the World's End situated in Horton Plains. The access is via Passara and about 42 kms on the highway through the Madhowa and Kokagala tea plantations.

  
Here’s a chance to see and buy fresh “Ceylon Tea”

Yala National Park: 3 hours drive from Sunnyside. Yala is a vast protected area on the south-east coast of Sri Lanka. The park is classical safari terrain, Yala National Park Photo Gallery 2009with open areas of dry scrub, interspersed with wooded lagoons. The park has a large elephant population. One may also see Leopard, Bear, Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Wild Boar, Water Buffaloes, Crocodiles, Soft Terrapins and Land Monitors. Among the birds: Painted Stork, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Indian Peafowl, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Pintail Snipe, Pied Cuckoo, Common Hoopoe, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, White-browed Fantail, Crested Treeswift, Baya Weaver etc.

  
See elephants at Yala

Arugam Bay: 4 hours drive from Sunnyside. Arugambay is renowned as the Arugambay Galleryworld's top ten surf locations, situated on the east coast of Sri Lanka. If you are into wind-surfing, rafting, fishing and swimming, Arugambay is the place for you. 

The closest town is Pottuvil, and it is within easy reach to the Yala and Lahugala National Parks.

 

  

Few hours from the beach