Ravana Falls, Ella: The Legend of Sita and How to Visit
Ravana Falls tumbles down a wide rock face right beside the road from Ella to Wellawaya, a short drive below town. It is around 25 metres high, falling in stages over dark rock, and it is one of the easiest waterfalls in Sri Lanka to see: you can see the whole fall from the viewpoint by the road. Its Sinhala name, Ravana Ella, simply means Ravana's waterfall.
Ravana Falls at a glance
- Where: beside the Ella to Wellawaya road, about 6 km below Ella town
- Height: around 25 metres; published figures range from about 23 to 27 metres
- Also called: Ravana Ella, and Bambaragama Ella
- Best flow: during the rains and just after them
- Time needed: 20 to 30 minutes is enough for photos
The legend of Ravana and Sita
The name comes from the Ramayana, the ancient epic traditionally attributed to the sage Valmiki. In it, Ravana, king of Lanka, carries off Sita, the wife of Rama. In Valmiki's telling Sita is kept in a grove of Ashoka trees. Sri Lankan tradition adds its own places to the story: it says Ravana hid her in a cave in the hills above Ella, now called the Ravana Cave, and that she bathed in the pool beneath these falls.
In Sri Lanka, Ravana is not always the villain. Many people here honour him as a great king, and in 2019 the country named its first satellite Raavana-1. The Ramayana is scripture for Hindus, and the places linked to it, from the falls to the cave, are visited with respect.
When the falls look their best
Ravana Falls is fed by the rains, so it changes a lot through the year. During and just after the rainy months it fills the whole rock face, and locals say its shape then looks like an areca flower with drooping petals. In a long dry spell it can shrink to a few thin streams. If waterfalls are high on your list, plan for the green months; the drive down is beautiful either way.
Visiting safely
The viewpoint by the road gives you the full view, and that is where to take your photos. Stay off the rocks on the falls themselves. They are wet, smooth and steeper than they look, and people have died falling here. Take care with traffic on the road while you stop.
On the Heart of Ella tour
Ravana Falls is the last stop on our Heart of Ella day tour, after the Nine Arches Bridge, a tea factory and Little Adam's Peak. Your guide drives you down from Ella, so you can relax by the viewpoint at the end of the day before we take you back to your hotel.
Combine the falls with the Ravana Cave above them, or see the rest of the area in our Ella travel guide.
Questions travellers ask
How far is Ravana Falls from Ella?
About 6 km, a short drive down the road from Ella to Wellawaya. The falls are right beside the road, with a viewpoint where you can stop.
How high is Ravana Falls?
Around 25 metres. Published figures range from about 23 to 27 metres. The water falls in stages over a wide rock face.
What is the legend of Ravana Falls?
Sri Lankan tradition links the falls to the Ramayana: it says Ravana, king of Lanka, hid Sita in a cave above Ella and that she bathed in the pool beneath the falls. Valmiki's Ramayana itself places Sita in an Ashoka grove and does not mention Ella.
Can you swim at Ravana Falls?
It is best enjoyed from the viewpoint by the road. Stay off the rocks on the falls, which are wet, smooth and steep; people have died falling there.
When is the best time to see Ravana Falls?
During and just after the rainy months, when the falls fill the whole rock face. In a long dry spell the flow drops to a few thin streams.
Is there a tour that includes Ravana Falls?
Yes. Ravana Falls is the last stop on the Alpine Activities Heart of Ella tour, which also visits the Nine Arches Bridge, a tea factory and Little Adam's Peak. It takes about 6 hours with hotel pickup and costs $30 per person, plus $6 for the tea factory tour, paid on the day.