Tissamaharama To Ella By Bus: Local Transport Is Cheap

The next place on our route through Ella. That meant that we had to figure out how to get there from Tissamaharama. With two journeys already in our backpack, we were much more confident about travelling through Sri Lanka and using the public transport. As usual there were a variety of options that were placed in front of us.

Actually, there were three: Rent a vehicle and drive, hire a cab or take a bus. We chose the later and that was how we landed up going from Tissamaharama to Ella by bus. Not only was it the cheapest option, it was also quite relaxing as far as public transport goes. If you plan on taking the bus to Ella, this post will probably help you out with the finer details.

Just a side note: If you choose to rent a vehicle and drive make sure that you get a temporary driving permit for foreigners in Colombo. The usual international driving license doesn’t work according to the Sri Lankan laws.

You may think that you will go with the flow  and not bother but you get stopped by the police at frequent intervals across the country (and not just in Colombo!). If you are caught without the temporary driving permit, be ready to pay a hefty fine!

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Tissamaharama To Ella: Bus Timings And Tickets

Inside the bus from Tissamaharama to Ella.

A lot of searches online came up with almost nothing. All that we were successful in finding was that the buses that leave from Tissamharama to Ella do not usually leave in the evening. It made us a tad bit nervous, so we made sure that our plans included a morning journey. Aside from that we headed to the bus stand to ask about the timings of the bus.

It was a little difficult to communicate but we did understand that there were three buses that left in the morning. The bus timings were 6:30 am, 7 am and 8:20 am. The 8:20 am bus is a deluxe bus and can be caught at a small stand next to the bus stand while the other two leave from the main stand.

We chose to take the 8:20 am bus. This bus starts out at Kataragama and makes a stop at Tissamaharama on its way. I don’t have details about the buses. Our bus reached the stop at 8:20 sharp and it was the typical intercity red bus that is seen in Sri Lanka.

The conductor helped us, and a few other travellers place our luggage in the trunk of the bus and we hopped in. The bus wasn’t too crowded, and we found a spot to sit immediately. The cost of the entire journey from Tissamaharama to Ella by bus was 184 LKR per person. Super cheap right? We thought so too!

On a side note, I think I should also mention that the route the bus took was from Kataragama to Kandy. Tissamaharama and Ella were just stops on the way.

The Journey

The view from our window in the bus from Tissamaharama to Ella.

The journey to Ella was pretty pleasant. After everyone entered the bus, we were quickly on our way. At first our seats were a little further away from our fellow travellers but as the bus emptied out, we found seats nearer to them, so the time passed pretty fast as we talked.

Mid-way through the journey, the bus stopped for a tea break. Everyone got down, stretched their legs and caught a snack. There was a restroom too for those who needed it. It was however one of those restrooms where you needed to roll up your trousers and hold your breath, if you know what I mean.

We kept our eye on Google maps as much as we could. From our experience travelling from Colombo to Unawatuna, we knew that is was easy enough to miss your stop when the bus was hurtling through your zone.

One of the noteworthy sites along the way was the Ravana falls. It is one of the popular attractions near Ella and it is right at the side of the main road. It also signals that you need to get ready to get off the bus.

The bus braked to a halt and we all jumped out. We managed to signal to the conductor that we wanted to get our bags out of the trunk. It was a bit of a hustle while everyone caught their bags, but it wasn’t too much of an issue.

Plus, the bus was stationary and not flying (like many people like to joke!). I checked the time just as we arrived. It was 10:30. It had taken us a little over two hours to reach Ella and that too with a break within.

Would I have done it any other way? Not really. I enjoyed the journey way too much and like I mentioned before, it was super cheap!

If you haven’t done your research on Ella yet, don’t worry! I have you covered. Check out my guide to things to do in Ella. Personally I loved Ella. It has such an amazing climate and the food is the best you will get in the entire country. There are loads of options when it comes to things to do there. I really want to visit Sri Lanka again and take the kids there. It is such a brilliant place.

Taxi Service From Tissamaharama To Ella

You could also choose to take a taxi from Tissamaharama to Ella. This is certainly less tedious but it does cost more. I probably would have chosen this option if I had young kids or old people with me. It is also great if you have a lot of luggage or are really tired after a long journey.

The best part about the taxi service from Tissamaharama to Ella is that while it is more expensive than the bus, it won’t break the bank. Make sure to book your taxi in advance though.

Have you travelled from Tissamaharama to Ella by bus? What was your experience like? We love to hear about it in the comments below.

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