Uva Province · Sri Lanka
Ella Gap
A23Ella to Wellawaya
Sri Lanka’s most concentrated scenic descent drops from the hill-country town of Ella through the dramatic Ella Gap, past Ravana Falls, nearly 900 m to the plains at Wellawaya.
From Ella the A23 descends through the Ella Gap, a famous cleft with panoramic views south over the lowlands, Ella Rock looming alongside. After a few kilometres it crosses a bridge above the Ravana Ella Falls before steepening down the escarpment through jungle to the market town of Wellawaya. Short enough to drive in under an hour but rewarding a leisurely pace.
Scenery
Best seasons
In these collections
Ella Gap on the map15.8 mi · point to point
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Character
Corners
busiest around mile 1Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%187.7 – 901.9 mPoints of interest1 stop
- Sunrise viewpointViewpoint0.9 mi in
Hazards
- Steep drops
- Sharp bends
- Slow buses
- Road damage after monsoon
Sources
“treacherously twisting highway to Wellawaya, which descends into the sheer-sided valley below.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
Driving the Ella Gap: quick answers
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Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Ella Gap.
