Day 7 – Ella Rock & Travel to Nuwara Eliya
Summary:
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Early morning hike to Ella Rock for views just after sunset (we didn’t get up in time) and then train journey from Demodara Railway station to Nanu oya Railway station.
Details:
After doing some research online we found a guide that showed us how to get from Ella Railway station to Ella Rock. In the guide it mentions walking from Ella Railway station until we find a Blue Rock a little after Kithaella Railway station (For example as per, https://www.atlasandboots.com/ella-rock-how-to-hike-it-yourself/ ) but during the walk along the tracks from Ella to Kithaella we had a train come down the line which we were able to jump out of the way. We warned a local and some tourists about 20 meters behind us, who did not hear the approaching train.
They were able to jump into the weeds along the side of the track and not be hit. It turned out that they were actually a homestay owner taking his customers on a walking tour of Ella. He told us to follow him…which we did.
The homestay owner made us turn off before the Kithaella station (so sorry I can not verify if the blue rock exists) beside a shop, which led to a path that went past a man made waterfall, into some long grass, through some tea fields, down some paths, up some rocks, etc etc and finally to the top. In short its very hard to give a description of how we went there with just words. I did take a video with my GoPro on the way down, but even then we got lost twice before making it back!!!
On the way up, we saw a handful of tourists coming down with some locals with large torches, and the homestay owner told us that they would have gone up to see the sunrise (which is meant to be spectacular from Ella Rock, but I assume would be difficult without a guide). Through the tea fields we got an entourage of dogs that decided to follow us to the top.
There is actually an interim view point around 10-20 minutes before the top. We rested and took some photos here. After this we went all the way to the top. We were exhausted and sat down on some benches and had a chat with the homestay owner while his tourists checked out the Rock.
There is actually a hut built on the top, which the homestay owner told us is to be used in the future to charge tickets for the final stage of Ella Rock, (Its quite genius to add it right at the end…I mean after almost an hour of climbing who will say no when you can see the end) so get in while its free.
After we finally made it back down to Ella station, we walked back to the guest house where we started packing to check out. It turned out the train was coming later in the evening so it was hung out at the guest house and had lunch. Later we caught a three wheel to Demodara Railway Station to avoid the crowds at Ella station.
At the station, we can only buy the tickets one hour before the train arrives so we had to wait a while until the conductor (I assume that’s what they are called…I am relying on my train knowledge from Thomas the tank engine) ran a bell. We purchased unreserved second class tickets.
Once the train arrived we were told we should have been waiting at the boom gates near the road (well after the platform ends) so we ran and managed to get onto the train which was unfortunately already full. However at Ella as people got off we were able to find two individual seats so we could sit apart. The train was once again full once people got on at the station also.
The train was actually the night train, so would arrive in Colombo early in the morning. Lucky for us, we only had to get off at Nanu oya station (despite being spelt this way, the pronunciation is Nan-nu-a) as this is the closest ride to Nuwara Eliya.
From the station we were able to catch one of the few three wheelers to our accommodation. The journey was not without its excitement though. We had the classic case of the actual location being wrong on google maps if you enter the address, so the struggle between what the owner was saying over the phone and what google maps was showing occurred and we travelled an extra 20 minutes back and forth.
We stayed at the Redwood Inn, which had a large room, TV, decent bathroom and excellent breakfast (best we have had in our entire trip to date). (Update 28/07/2019) It is currently no longer available on Booking.com.
Travelled in late August. Thanks for reading and as always feel free to contact us for more details.