ELLA GLAMPING
Taste of adventure in Ella
The paradise highland village Ella is set on a mountain pass over 3,150 feet above sea level. Located on the centre of the Uva Mountain range, overlooking the famous Ella Gap and surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations, Ella is not a bustling town anymore like it used to be. Slowly coming back to ‘new normal status’ after the Covid 19 outbreak, ‘Reawakening Ella’ offers its traditional hospitality to the domestic markets.
Apart from the traditional accommodation, global cuisine and partycentric atmosphere, Ella is a popular destination for adventure travellers. ‘Ella Glamping’ is a unique place for adventure lovers. Glamping is a form
of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping.
Perched on a higher elevated ground close to the popular Ella Railway Station, bordering the state forest reservation on a steep mountain, ‘Ella Glamping’ paints a magnificent picture of the Ella Gap and the cloud forest as a backdrop.
Having started its operations in March 2018, ‘Ella Glamping’,
the first of its kind in Ella, offers a revolutionary and contemporary concept to the traditional warmth and hospitality that Sri Lanka is famous for.
Ella Glamping has permanently built luxury six tents lodges (rooms) on two ground levels including four family rooms and two double room tents, with all comfortable amenities on platforms on the ridge of the mountain.
‘This way we, not only preserved the elevated ground, but live in harmony with the surroundings. We offer totally unique glamping getaway with the freedom to enjoy more than 100 acres of natural woodland’ said Shalutha Kulathunga, the Managing Director of the ‘Ella Glamping’ project.
Each family lodge at the Ella Glamping can hold a maximum of 4 people and feature a front porch with views, comfortable king size bed, fully equipped bathroom, walk-in shower with hot and cold running water and a separate water closet.
‘All tents are made of high quality canvas. We have used all locally available materials to build these tents. Beds are made out of used wooden pallets and rough timber is used to build front porch furniture’ Shalutha said.
The rustic open air dining zone, a bar and the large garden offers facilities for bar-be-que and other outdoor activities.
The open air dining area located in the centre of the lodges is the top attraction at the Glamping Centre.
Most of the fruits, vegetables and herbs needed for the kitchen are home grown in the garden. This ensures freshness of the product. The rest of the food items are outsourced from the village thereby extending a helping hand to the local community as well.
‘The cuisine, we offer is all authentic Sri Lankan. Our kitchen team is led by cook Nirmal, who is a professional with years of experience behind him with Colonial estate cooking. Nirmal is capable of catering to any guest with their needs and culinary requirements. Sri Lankan cuisine is his favourite but the team is capable of catering global and fusion cuisine. Our main motto is quality and personalised service’ said MD Shalutha Kulathunga.
‘Glamping’ offers an à la carte or American breakfast and dinner is always prepared to guests’ choice including jungle BBQ, if requested.
‘The Ella Glamping’ is an absolute haven for honeymooners. With only the vast jungle reservation in the backyard and forest in foreground, absolute privacy and serenity is guaranteed. Even meals can be served directly to the guest’s tent’ said Shalutha.
Guests at ‘Ella Glamping’ can indulge in activities such as hiking, cycling and bird watching. Visits to popular Rawana Rock, Lipton's Seat, Punchi Siripade (Mini Adam’s Peak), Nine Arch Bridge, Demodara Railway Loop, Bogoda Bridge off Hali Ela, Dowa Rock temple, Adisham Monastery, Buduruwagala ancient monuments in Thanamalwila, Bambarakanda, Diyaluma, Dunhinda and Rawana waterfalls, Uda Walawe and Yala National Parks and Horton Plains (thro’ Ohiya and Non-perriyal Estate in Upper Belihul Oya) are some of the popular excursions on offer.
‘We are geared to provide true professional services, so that leisure or adventure vacations could start out from the luxuries of the Glamping to the outdoor activities’ Shalutha added.
Lipton's Seat in Dambetenna Estate off Haputale, Pilkington Point at Poonagala and St. Catherine' Seat in Nayabedda are top view points to see the Southern plains from the Central hills. Lipton Seat, with the elevation of about 5700 feet, is the only point in Sri Lanka from where you can view six districts.
Popular Maha Galbokka Rock, the Hambegamuwa Mountain Range, the Kotawehara Gala Mountain Range and the Bubula Kandha are some of the mountains that can be seen towards the sea and the horizon from the Ella Gap on a clear day.
We offer totally unique glamping getaways with the freedom to enjoy in natural woodland
The room charges for the ‘Ella Glamping’ stretch from Rs. 5500/- to Rs. 10,500/-(Bbdluxury room) and Rs 12,000/for family room. For more details log onto www.elleglamping.com