RAVANA FALLS SRI LANKA – The Complete Guide
The Ravana Falls are located in the misty mountains of Ella, Sri Lanka along the road. The water gushes down a height of 25 meters fallen from an oval concave rock. Ravana Falls is a 3-tier cascading waterfall, creating rock pools along its way down. During the wet season the Ravana Falls takes the form of a drooping areca flower, but its wide size is reduced dramatically during the dry season. Although it is always worth it to check this waterfall when you’re Ella as it’s one of the most easiest accessible waterfalls in Sri Lanka. So here is all the information you need before you visit Ravana Falls Ella.
Best tours in and around Ella
If you’re planning to explore the best of what Ella has to offer, then these are the best guided tours. All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch and the entrance fees. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.
- Ella Rock & 9 Arch Bridge, Little Adams Peak with transfer. Take a guided hike to the famous Ella Rock, 9 Arches Bridge, and Little Adam’s Peak. Hike through beautiful tea plantations and enjoy sweeping views of the island’s hill country on this private tour.
- 1-Hour Mega Zip Line Adventure in Ella. Get the adrenaline pumping with this 1 hour mega dual zip line at Flying Ravana located amidst the luscious green estates of Ella.
- Private guided sunrike hike Ella rock. Take an early morning hike up Ella Rock to meet the sunrise with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
- Diyaluma Falls Full-Day Tour with Lunch from Ella. Take a trip to Sri Lanka’s second-highest water fall and experience the natural beauty of Diyaluma falls, enjoying a small hike, lunch, and a refreshing dip in pristine waters along your journey.
- Safari to Udawalawe National Park from Ella. Enjoy an unforgettable safari tour at Udawalawe National Park, a sanctuary for many Sri Lankan wild animals. See the beautiful elephants and a diverse range of species with the assistance of an expert guide.
- 2 day tour to a Tea factory in Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda falls, Horton Plains and more. Visit the scenic hill country, surrounded by the evergreen valleys and tea estates. Witness the beautiful Ramboda waterfall and Horton Plains National Park.
- Ella & Little Adam’s Peak All-Inclusive Tour. Discover the mountain village and stunning scenery on a full day hiking tour to Ella. Experience Ella Gap from the top of both Ella Rock and Little Adams Peak and visit 9 Arch Bridge, one of the iconic bridges in Sri Lanka.
- Tuk-Tuk Safari Day Trip and Tea Fields Hike with Lunch from Ella. Drive through the Sir Lankan countryside on a tuk-tuk safari on this day trip from Ella. Take a guided hike on a tea plantation and stop for a picnic lunch before visiting the Dambatenne Tea Factory.
- Haputale: Tea Plantation, Safari, & Lipton’s Seat Day Tour. Discover Sri Lanka’s historic tea plantations and imagine life as a tea farmer, on this tour of the most prominent sites in Haputala and Kandy. Ride a trusty tuk-tuk rickshaw through the well-kept farms and wild mountainsides.
- Ella: Lipton’s Seat tour with Dambetanna Tea Factory visit. Enjoy the panoramic views of Lipton’s Seat in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Enjoy a Sri Lankan lunch before you wander through tea plantations and see the full process of tea making at the Dambetanna tea factory.
How to get to Ravana Falls Sri Lanka
Via a winding road down through the stunning green valley of Ella you will arrive at the Ravana Falls in only 10 minutes. There are several options to get to the Falls. The cheapest option is to take the local bus from the Ella bus stop which goes to Wallawaya and will cost you 50 rupees. Another option is to go with a TukTuk for 300-500 rupees depending the amount of people. But in our opinion the best option which gives you the most freedom is to go with a rental motorbike. This will give you the opportunity to visit the Diyaluma Falls as well which are another 45 min drive further than the Ravana Falls.
Best time to visit Ravana Falls Sri Lanka
If you want to beat the crowds, the best time to go to the Ravana Falls is during the early morning. Because the waterfall is located right next to the road, you can expect lots of people stopping to take a picture. In terms of the best season to go, the wet season will result in a more powerful and impressive waterfall. Although, it is always worth to visit a waterfall which you don’t even have to hike to!
History of the Ravana Falls
The Ravana falls have been named after the Sri Lankan king Ravana who lived over 5000 years ago. According to legend, it is said that Ravana had kidnapped princess Sita, and had hidden her in the Ravana Cave behind this waterfall At that time, the cave was surrounded with thick forest in the middle of the wilderness. The waterfall was used for her bathing purposes and is therefore an Excavations in the cave have even revealed evidence of human habitation dating back to over 25,000 years ago.
What to expect at Ravana Falls Sri Lanka
With the height of 25 meter and tucked away in the beautiful valley of Ella, this picturesque waterfall is absolutely worth a visit. Although you can’t do that much at the waterfall itself, it’s a nice stop on your way to the Diyaluma Falls for example. There are some local shacks at the parking lot, and you can make some nice pictures from the platform with the waterfall behind you. Another thing to do in the near area is exploring the Ravana Cave.
What NOT to do at the Ravana Falls Sri Lanka
You maybe read somewhere that it’s possible to climb to the top of the waterfall. Well, I can assure you, don’t try this as there are very clear signs at the beginning of the waterfall which says: “No climbing” and “Don’t climb the rocks”. There is also police checking, and we’ve heard stories of tourists who ignored the signs, climbed up the waterfall, but then got chased by the police with large stick. They were forced to go down and pay a fine. It’s the same with flying a drone. We tried it at this place, but it wasn’t allowed. The police officer came to us to say it in a friendly way which we of course respected.
Weather in Ella Sri Lanka
Ella has an average temperature comparing to Colombo where it is very warm most of the time, and Nuwara Eliya where it can become very cold. Towards the end of the year, it will get colder in Ella. Especially in December when the temperatures will drop to around 10 degrees. There is also more change of rain in Ella than the South coast. On average, October is the wettest month in Ella and March is the driest month. But rain can fall anytime, so be prepared! That’s also the reason why it’s so beautifully green in the valley of Ella.
More Sri Lanka travel inspiration
We hope you enjoyed our blog post about Ravana Falls in Ella Sri Lanka.
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Hi Ilse, also this time your info about the Ravana falls is very helpfull. We liked to read about the history of this fall and your info about NOT trying to climb it. Thanks.