Grab a fresh cup of Ceylon from one of the famous tea plantations around town and settle down into the rhythms of laid-back Ella, set between the misty hills of south-central Sri Lanka. This high-perched town of mountain breezes is served by one winding, clattering railway line that cuts right through the ridges of Uva Province, bringing with it crowds of dreadlocked backpackers and eager hill walkers throughout the high season. Thanks to this connection to Colombo and Kandy in the west, Ella is now one of the island’s more upbeat and lively hill stations, touting some great guesthouses and even some cosy welcoming cafes where Irish coffees rub shoulders with home cooked meals of curries and rice. But chilled-out vibes aside, Ella also comes up trumps as an outdoorsy gateway to some of Sri Lanka’s most accessible mountains and breath-taking vistas. Ella tour guides offer planned excursions out to Little Adam's Peak to the south, or trips to the roaring and mystical reaches of Ravana Falls, wrapped up in the legends of the great Indian epic, the Ramayana.