When most people think about visiting Sri Lanka, they think of the obvious places to visit. We’re talking about towns, cities and familiar tourist destinations you would be sharing with lots of other tourists from all over the world.

But Sri Lanka hides some real gems away from prying eyes and if you have the determination to go and find them, you will be rewarded with an experience you wouldn’t have believed was possible. It is perfectly possible to go and find the real side of Sri Lanka – a side you haven’t yet discovered or uncovered for yourself.

One of the ideal places to begin this journey of the real Sri Lanka is Ella. Ella is a village that isn’t even known to many tourists, and even less of them actually make the effort to go there. Perhaps this is because there isn’t much to see or entertain you – but then, that would be missing the point entirely.

Ella is situated up in hill country and that gives it one thing that many other locations in Sri Lanka simply don’t have – spectacular views. Many walkers choose it as a base because of the plethora of walks that can be undertaken from here. It may seem hard to believe at first that the village was without electricity until a little over twenty five years ago, but once you see it for yourself you can see how this could have occurred.

Not everyone coming to Sri Lanka is coming to see the masses of traditional tourist attractions and famous cities. Some are coming to see the real Sri Lanka, the one that pokes through in villages such as Ella. This is the real thing and the real reason why you should visit. Being able to explore the surrounding hills, valleys and countryside is the main attraction in Ella, and for many it will be more than enough. What else could you imagine than simply sitting and watching the sun come up and appreciating every moment? These are the moments you will remember long after you come home.