This is the most popular hiking, climbing & trekking destination in the hill country apart from the numerous non touristy destinations. Ella is known as the 2nd Destination in the world for the highest concentration of Oxygen after Switzerland, so it is ‘the’ ideal place for endurance. There are numerous nature trails to endure to be fit & fiddle with fragrant flowers, to hear continuous chirping of birds, medicinal herbs & friendly animals on these awesome paths. Some of them lead to the popular hills such as, the easy to climb ‘Little Adam’s Peak’, Eagle Rock, ‘Mahmevnawa’ – Meditation hill, Illuk Pelessa (Reed Meadow), Makulu Ella (Spider Falls), Ambatanne (little Switzerland), Haabetigala (Rabbit Dung Rock), Kurulaangala (Bird Beside Rock with Prehistoric Paintings), Namunukula & the most exciting & adventurous hard to trek ‘Ella Rock’.

Ella Rock was found by foreign travelers in order to hike challenging hills in their short vacations. It is a 7 km hike from town, the last 2 of which is strenuous, at this ‘halfway’ point at approximately 1100 meters above sea level the climate changes to a nippy 18° C. All of a sudden the vegetation changes to an awesome light green, the sweat disappears & the trail takes one from 1 hill to another & on the way, on the right, one can see a similar view like that of ‘Kashmir Gardens’ & on the left side is the magnificent ‘Little Adam’s Peak’ in all its beauty. Foreign travelers claim that it appears somewhat like an image of ‘Machu Picchu’ in Peru. After the steep climb to the top, one arrives onto a flat meadow of about 2 acres, with clear streams, ancient flower beds, tall trees & a pond for bathing & freshwater creatures.

On the precipices of Ella Rock are the numerous rocks strategically placed to be easily toppled at any advancing adversaries below during wartime. Plenty of viewpoints, from which are the views of the town, all mountain ranges of the ‘Green Canyon’ & the awesome Ravana WaterFalls cascading down from 4 tiers. This flat peak top, like in Sigiriya, is believed to be an ancient palace garden. Locals have their story which indicates that ‘King Ravana lived there building his Aircraft with peacocks’ & flew to hills in the vicinity to test them.