Colombo → Sigiriya → Kandy → Ella
Example · Sigiriya, Kandy and Ella — 7 Days with a Local Guide
7 days · 6 nightsEnglish, German
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Researched by Sarisara, with sources.
Ravana Falls drops about 25 metres down a wide, oval-shaped rock face right beside the main road out of Ella, about 6 kilometres from the town. Because it sits so close to the road, almost every visitor passing through Ella sees it, even from a moving vehicle, and it ranks among the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka.
Local legend ties the falls to the Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic. People say the demon king Ravana hid the princess Sita in caves behind the waterfall after taking her from her home, and that she bathed in the pool the falling water created below. Historians treat this as folklore rather than verified fact, but it gave the falls their name and their place in local storytelling. A separate cave higher up the hillside, called Ravana Ella Cave, is a different site with its own entrance and is not part of this roadside stop.
How much water falls changes a great deal with the season. During the wet months the curtain of water spreads wide and dramatic, said to resemble an areca flower in bloom. In the dry season the flow eases and the pool at the base becomes calm enough for some visitors to swim, though the rock around it turns slippery and needs care.
A paved path leads from the road straight to a viewing platform, so most visitors do not need to climb or walk far. Standing on the left side of the platform gives a close view of the main drop; the right side shows the whole width of the cascade.
Free entry.
There is no entrance ticket for Ravana Falls. Some local operators run paid photo spots or viewing platforms nearby — these are an optional charge from that operator, not part of your Sarisara price.
Casual, practical clothing. Bring a swimsuit if you plan to get in the water, and something dry to change into afterwards.
Not dressed right? This is a free roadside stop with no gate and no dress check, so there is nothing to arrange in advance — just dress for a short walk and possibly wet rock.
There is no ticket counter and no fixed opening or closing time. Visibility and water flow change with the season and the time of day, not with any schedule.
No single managing body confirmed — the falls lie within the Ravana Ella area; this research did not independently confirm which authority maintains the roadside path and platform
Ella, Badulla District, Sri Lanka (on the Colombo-Badulla highway, about 6 km from Ella town)
Trips, experiences and stays in and around Ella.
Trips
Colombo → Sigiriya → Kandy → Ella
Experiences
It means “may you live long”. It is how we say hello in Sinhala, and how we greet you every time you come back.
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Fire dancers light the road before the elephants of the Esala Perahera.
