Majentra Ella

The rough 2.25km stretch from the main road takes time to travel, though the hotel provides a shuttle. Once there, the mountain sunrise with all the birdsong was magical, and the setting at Majentra Ella is beautiful. Our family of five fit comfortably: the kids had the attic room and we used the main bedroom. The rooms were spacious, with enough room for four people, and the bathroom’s Jacuzzi spa had an incredible view. The food was delicious, and we loved the cozy dining experience. Chef Buddhika, Kavindu, and the whole team did their best to look after our group of eight, including four noisy kids. The fresh, authentic toddy was a real treat. Cyclone Ditwa meant we missed the Ella Nine Arch Bridge train ride and our planned hikes, but we still walked along the tracks and explored safely. Despite the weather, it was a memorable, relaxing stay close to nature. Highly recommended for families or couples.

A secluded hotel with lovely food and plenty of options. The staff were very supportive, and the room and facilities were splendid. The sunrise view was a really special way to wake up. Highly recommended.

The view is incredible, honestly the best we’ve ever seen, and if you plan to spend much of your time at the hotel, it’s a great setting. It has four rooms, so it feels intimate. On our first day we saw no other guests, just staff. There’s a decent pool area for a swim or a rest on a nice day, with beach towels provided. We enjoyed the food and thought half board was worth it, especially since the trip into Ella isn’t pleasant. Breakfast has three choices, continental, American, or Sri Lankan, and dinner is a set menu. One staff member was especially lovely, the one always dressed in black who had worked in Abu Dhabi. We came with high hopes, though we’re not demanding people and are usually happy with small things. Sadly, aside from that one staff member, we didn’t find the staff very good. At check-in nobody explained anything. We only learned at checkout that laundry was available, and that we could have had fresh water each day and our room cleaned. We travel a lot and have never had to ask for cleaning, water, or the minibar to be topped up. For the price, we expected those things to be explained. We knew it was outside Ella, but didn’t expect getting a taxi or tuk tuk to be so difficult. The road conditions put drivers off, and we got tired of waiting by the road in the rain for someone willing to take us. At other places we’ve stayed, there would have been a shuttle into town in the evening. Hot water wasn’t a huge issue at first, but given the price it became frustrating. You need to shower early, as the hot water runs out and can take a while to heat back up. It’s annoying to pay for a jacuzzi with a view and then be unable to use it. The layout has two standalone suites, plus a building with a double deluxe room and a suite above it. Having a family with small children in the connected unit above us was a bad idea. They were so loud and rude, with screaming, banging, and running around, that our final night was ruined. We’d planned to sit and relax on the balcony but couldn’t. As the owner or manager, I’d either ban young children or put families in the two standalone villas. We’d read previous complaints about children and loud parties in the suite above our room.

Majentra Ella gave us a great stay for two nights. The rooms are nicely designed, and I loved the terrace and the big window beside the bathtub. There’s good privacy, I think with only five groups at most at a time. The breakfast was generous, the views were amazing, and the service was excellent. Thanks to Kavindu for helping us out. A warning about getting there: it’s far from Ella, and the road is very broken, so a normal car can’t make it through right now. The hotel coordinates with your driver and helps arrange transport for the last 3km to the hotel. They can also arrange a tuk tuk into Ella for 2000 LKR one way, which takes about 40 minutes. We rented a scooter, but it was a VERY bumpy ride. Some people may see the remote location as a feature. We loved the place, but if this had been our first visit to Ella, we’d have wanted to stay closer. Once they fix the road, I think it’ll be a five star experience.