Not every waterfall near Ella announces itself from the roadside. Kithal Ella is one that doesn't. Tucked away beyond the railway track and accessible only on foot, this cascade has long been known to locals but has only recently begun attracting curious travellers looking for something quieter than the area's better-publicised falls. The reward for the modest effort required is a genuinely secluded waterfall set within tea-estate hill country, with a Ramayana connection that adds an extra layer of interest.
How does Kithal Ella relate to Ravana Ella?
The waterfall most visitors photograph along the Ella–Wellawaya Road is commonly called Ravana Ella Falls. Local tradition, however, holds that Kithal Ella is the original Ravana Ella — the fall that genuinely sits in proximity to Ravana Cave, the site where, in the Ramayana epic, the Sri Lankan king Ravana is said to have sheltered Sita. The roadside waterfall, according to the same tradition, was originally known as Bambaragama Ella. Whether or not the naming dispute is settled to your satisfaction, the mythological association makes visiting Kithal Ella feel distinctly different from a standard waterfall walk.
Where exactly is Kithal Ella Waterfall?
The waterfall is in the village of Kithal Ella — a small settlement that most likely takes its name from the fall itself — situated between Heel Oya and Ella on the Colombo–Badulla railway line. There are two practical reference points:
- Kithal Ella Railway Station sits between Heel Oya station and Ella station. From the station, walk roughly 200 metres toward Ella along the rail track until you reach an old black-painted metal rail bridge. From that bridge, footpaths lead several hundred metres to the top of the waterfall, where a small footbridge crosses the stream before it drops.
- From Ella Railway Station, the same approach along the track covers about 2.6 km in total — an easy, flat walk through a landscape of tea estates and hill scenery.
Note that the railway line here is active. Walk single-file along the track edges, stay alert for trains, and move well off the track when one approaches. Walking the tracks is a common practice in the region, but it requires common sense and caution.
Is there a road route to Kithal Ella?
A partial road approach exists, though it delivers a distant view rather than a walk to the fall itself. Arriving in Ella from the Badulla–Bandarawela direction, turn right onto Kithal Ella Road a few hundred metres from the Ella junction — specifically around 150 metres before the railway tunnel where the track crosses above the main road. Follow Kithal Ella Road for roughly one to two kilometres and you will catch a view of the waterfall on the left across the valley. This vantage point is useful for photography or for travellers who are not able to walk the rail track, but it does not bring you to the water itself.
Can you reach the base of the waterfall?
Reaching the bottom of Kithal Ella is genuinely difficult. There is no established path to the base, and the terrain below the drop is steep and overgrown. Most visitors content themselves with the view from the top, where the footbridge across the stream gives a clear sense of the fall's height and the gorge below. If you are determined to reach the base, local guidance is strongly advisable — attempting it independently, particularly in wet conditions, carries real risk.
When is the best time to visit Kithal Ella Waterfall?
The waterfall is seasonal. During drier periods — roughly from June through to early September, and again in January and February — the stream feeding it can reduce to a thin trickle that barely hints at the full cascade. The most impressive flow coincides with the inter-monsoon and the northeast monsoon months, broadly October through January in this region of the hill country. The southwest monsoon (May–July) also brings heavy rain to the Ella slopes. Visiting between October and December generally offers the best combination of strong flow and manageable trail conditions.
What else is near Kithal Ella worth exploring?
The walk along the railway line from Ella passes through landscape that is itself the attraction in the hill country — terraced tea fields, small tunnels, and open views across the Ella Gap. The Nine Arch Bridge, one of Sri Lanka's most photographed railway structures, is within easy reach. Ravana Cave, with its Ramayana associations and cliff-face setting above the Ella–Wellawaya Road, makes a natural companion stop. For waterfall enthusiasts, the Ella area holds several other lesser-known cascades, each requiring varying degrees of walking and local knowledge to reach.
How do I get to Ella from Colombo?
The most enjoyable route is by train on the Colombo–Badulla line, widely regarded as one of the most scenic railway journeys in Asia. The ride from Colombo Fort to Ella takes around eight to nine hours depending on the service; booking a reserved seat in advance is recommended, particularly in peak season. By road, Ella is roughly five to six hours from Colombo via the Southern Expressway and A2 through Wellawaya, or via the Kandy–Nuwara Eliya–Bandarawela hill route. Ella town serves as the accommodation hub for the area, with a wide range of properties from guesthouses to boutique hotels.
