Ella Planters Bungalow

Lovely place. The views from both the breakfast/pool areas and from the room were amazing, with ability to watch the sunrise straight from the bed. The service was good, nothing to complain about. Temperature and weather was stable and good at this time, with potential for some rain during the day.

Firstly, the positives - the balcony & view was amazing. The staff, mainly young boys were very polite. Breakfast was really good ( coconut roti was the best! ). This place could be amazing but unfortunately it’s not being looked after & is really dirty - everything needs a deep clean. The bathroom in particular was really grotty with built up scum on shower walls & sinks. This was not just few days or eve months of build up,I’d say years. The toilet was badly stained, which could be removed with some cream cleanser or bicarbonate of soda. Same with the sinks, the ceramic has no shine due to te build up of scum. The cleaners seemed to have a spray but something more powerful is required. There was broken sunbeds lying outside our room - why not get rid of them. The look like they’ve been there forever. Given the price we paid £300 ( plus £25 bank charges as they insisted on deposit by bacs) for 2 nights, we expected at the very least a clean room. We raised our concerns with the manager when we left but the fact the room has been allowed to get this bad is beyond me. I’m sorry but cannot recommend this hotel.

We were at the planters bungalow for 2 nights but would have loved to stay longer. The whole hotel area is so beautiful and full of pretty flowers and plants. The room was also very pretty and clean. The breakfast and dinner were delicious and the setting where you eat was so quiet and peaceful. You could observe lots of animals in the trees. We enjoyed the pool area and discovered the waterfalls in the area around the Hotel. One day we rented Scooters from the Hotel for about 15 dollars and drove to the Diyaluma waterfalls which was great fun. The planters bungalow was the hotel with the best price/money ratio in our opinion and I can 100% recomment it!

I spent 3 nights, mid way into my Sri Lanka stay, at this little piece of 'heaven', high up in the beautiful hill country near Ella. Both food and service were excellent, and the manager - Jagath - more than helpful with advice and arrangements for making the most of my time there. Rooms are split between the original Planters Bungalow and 2 small newer blocks, each housing 4 rooms, built into the hillside. It was in one of these where I stayed, and the views were magnificent - most memorably the sights and sounds of nature during the early morning sunrise. Thank you, and I should one day love to return.

A beautiful place to stay with amazing views of the hills and mountains. The rooms were very comfortable with spectacular views. The staff were wonderful. So friendly and attentive. The food was great. Couldn’t fault it. It is a little way from Ella but that suited us as it was so peaceful. Thanks to all the staff for a wonderful experience.

A tranquil, beautiful place with spectacular views. Large comfortable rooms with balconies facing out over the valley below. The views are spectacular and the cries of peacocks fill the air. The enchanting and extensive grounds are full of gorgeous trees and flowers, and further down, the herb, spice and vegetable gardens provide ingredients for the freshly cooked meals. At night, we would sit over dinner watching the fireflies dance through the trees. The staff were friendly and helpful. It is difficult to tear yourself away from the beauty of the place but we found some interesting, off the beaten track, places to visit - notably, Buduruwagala rock carvings, boasting the second largest Buddha carving in Sri Lanka - and where you can also take a peaceful boat trip across the lake, with its varied bird life. I would definitely recommend popping into Sam’s Cafe - a lovely little cafe on the river, with a charismatic manager who made us refreshing milkshakes and arranged the boat trip for us. Would highly recommend Planter’s Bungalow if you are looking for peace and quiet, away from the busy Ella town centre.

Super tasty breakfast. The location is a bit outside of ella with beautiful views and well maintained bungalows and main house. Well managed by locals and the local staff went the extra mile to accomodste our special requets and made our stay a besutiful, relaxing experience.

A lovely experience in high elevation a**osphere. It’s approx 20 min ride to the hotel but once there it is sublime. The staff are friendly and nice amenities. I woke up to beautiful sunrise and chirping birds. All the staff were accommodating. The property has a nice layout to relax and enjoy peacefully.