Ella Happy View

It’s about a 7-minute walk to the city center, but the area around the hotel is the quietest nearby. The room was very clean, and the host was kind and helpful. The train tracks are just 10 meters from the room, which is great for photos. Trains pass around ten times a day, from 7 to 7, so you don’t need to worry about noise outside those hours. If you’re driving, it’s better to park about 100 meters before the hotel. There’s a huge parking area on the left. A perfect place to stay in Ella.

We were the first guests in their brand-new triangle house, with an amazing view. The Sri Lankan dinner and breakfast were both really good, and mild enough for people who don’t like spicy food. We only stayed one night at this magical place. What you see in person is hard to capture in my pictures.

The room was clean and the accommodation was reasonably decent, but it didn’t match the reviews I’d read. The road there is very difficult, especially the muddy downhill stretch to the entrance. Our driver struggled to get back out. It’s right beside the train tracks too, and when a train goes by the noise is deafening. We woke up at 6:30 a.m. At around 1,000 rupees per person, breakfast wasn’t anything special. The cut fruit didn’t look fresh, the baked bread wasn’t warm, and there was hardly any jam. I also couldn’t tell whether the food had been prepared just for us or was left over from other customers. The towels didn’t look clean or smell freshly washed. Ella is about 1,000 meters above sea level, so it rains a lot and nights are cold. There was no heating in the room, and there was only enough hot water for one person. I wouldn’t choose this place or recommend it to anyone unless they’re backpacking and don’t have a suitcase.

A pretty, very clean and new place to stay. The town center is lively, but there are quieter places to eat by the station. Some of the best Sri Lankan food is within walking distance along the railway track or road.