The Nirwana cottage

Amazing stay in Ella! Sanjeewa and his mother are super kind and helped us with everything from getting into the city, to bringing delicious dinner! Sadly, we were both sick, but they took great care of us, brought us tea, Lemon leaves for steaming and much more! So so thankful to them! The place was clean, great view, and the hot shower is a game changer in my opinion! My highest recommendation to check his place out!!

The property is high in the mountains with the most incredible jungle feel. We loved waking up to the sounds of the birds and the monkeys swinging through the trees, it really felt magical. The property itself is quite basic but had everything we needed and we appreciated having a kettle in the room. Sanjeewa the host is just the nicest man! So genuinely friendly, helpful in every way and made our stay so comfortable. He picked us up and took us back into Ella on our travel days, and gave us great recommendations for things to do during the day. We also had the most delicious Sri Lankan breakfast here, I think our favourite from our month in Sri Lanka

The property is about a 20 minute walk from the main town, lots of steps, quite steep and not lit up at night. This didn’t bother us in the daytime as we enjoy the exercise, but it did mean that in the evenings we stayed near to the accomodation and options for dinner were quite limited.

Sanjeewa is the best host we ever had. He is super helpful and friendly, without trying to sell stuff like other hosts do. He picked us up from the train station and gave us great advice for Ella. His stay is in a beautiful location in the forrest, but there are still restaurants nearby and you can walk into town in about 20 minutes.

Great location with a great view, the room is nice with a comfy bed, the food is excellent and the owner is very nice, the best place to stay in Ella

Nothing

This place is heaven! The cottage is nice, cozy and spacious with amazing view. Great water pressure and hot water. Comfortable weather in day and night, moderate sunlight to dry clothes. The nature is so nice, we even saw some fireflies near our cottage. The host Sanjeewa, his mother and family are the nicest people we met. They provide delicious breakfast, we ordered Sri Lankan and had the best black tea ever. Sanjeewa also gave us great advice for bus and tips for hiking Ella Rock. Walkable distance to Ella city center and Kithal Ella station. We walked to Ella Rock trail from the cottage. Can take bus on the main road nearby. We also went on a day trip to Haputale by bus from here.

Beautiful place to stay when you are in Ella! We can only recommend this place, everything was clean, the breakfast was superb and you live right in the forest. You even see the waterfall from the terrace. But as always, the hosts is what makes a great stay awesome and sanjeewa (and his supercute, always laughing mom) are super super sweet! They help out with everything and make your stay comfortable! Can only recommend :)

Sanjeewa and family were great hosts. The cottage was comfortable. The breakfast and the view were great. Little Adams peak, 9 arches and Ella's.rock were all in walking distance. Ella town as well, but I rather say 25 minutes walk instead of 15. Some great places to eat around the corner like dream lounge

Nothing

Comfortable cottage in the heart of nature. Hosted by an amazing family that simply can not do enough to make your stay comfortable and memorable. Sanjeewa really goes that extra mile for his guests.

Nothing

The privacy, the quiet, the peace and Sanjeewa. The overall feel is cozy and can be done so much better with simple touches and attention to detail.

The restroom. The tiles and the prints just threw me off. The fact that it has a lot more potential is what is great though.

Very nice host, amazing breakfast - location is great, not in crazy city center but you can still walk to the center and easy to take tuk tuk

A very nice, clean room with a nice balcony to have breakfast on. Beautiful view into the mountains

Sajeewa and his mum are absolutely lovely people and took care of us very well. We loved our stay with them and can only recommend this place. It’s on the top of the hill but walking or getting a tuktuk is easy enough.

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Everything was perfect, I really help the personalized help I got from sanjeewna. He gave us pick and drop from the station, even book the bus for us to Colombo and literally saved us 25k LKR which we were going to spend on Uber. I highly recommend this place. Hope to stay there again next year

Nothing, everything was perfect as I wanted.

The place was very comfortable and we especially enjoyed the great experience with our host. Sanjeewa was making sure we had all the comfort during our stay that we needed and the food that was provided was delicious !

We really enjoyed staying at Nirvana cottage. The place is located on beautiful hills of Ella, surrounded by jackfruit and banana trees, with squirrels and fireflies. Breakfests were really big and delicious. Sanjeewa (The host) is trully caring and helpful, he helped us every day and gave lots of recommendations and tips what to see around. 10/10 experience

Sanjeewa is an amazing host! Made us feel very welcome and helped us with any questions, scooter rental and tuktuks. He even picked us up from Ella station which was so kind. Beautiful location in the mountains, you even have a couple good restaurants in walking distance. We rented a scooter for 3 days from his friend and this made our days in Ella even more fun and comfortable. The room was good, had everything you needed! Most of all: the breakfast was so delicous (special thanks to Sanjeewa’s mama who greeted us on our way out). Definitely recommend!

We had such a lovely stay! It was a cute little cottage with an amazing view and sunrise above the mountains. Breakfast was amazing and plenty and the host was such a sweet person and always made sure we had everything and helped with al lot of stuff. Would 100% recommend :)

Just be cautious of leeches if it’s raining and get hand sanitizer! (That will get them off)

Nice little cottage in the woods on the hill. Comfy bed, there's everything you need. The host is amazing, drove us around for free sometimes or arranged a Tuktuk at low prices. The highlight was the delicious breakfast.

It's out of town, so you need a tuk tuk or walk up the hill to get there. It's not directly accessed by a road, so you need to walk the last 3 minutes, wasn't a big deal however. The view is a little bit blocked by some trees.

Firstly the owner Sanjeewa and his family are some of the kindest and most welcoming people you can hope to meet. They instantly made us feel at home and no request was too much. For example, we wanted to rent a scooter for our time there and he organised it for us straight away. The breakfast sitting out on the gorgeous terrace brought straight to you was a highlight every morning. This was made even better by the neighbours dogs coming to say hi every morning! The bed was comfy, the room clean and tidy on arrival and both were large in size. The value for money here is excellent!

We had an amazing stay here with Sanjeewa and his family. The cottage is very private and surrounded by forest. The bed and facilities of the room were perfect. Nice hot shower, and thick blanket. Sanjeewa always made sure our needs were met. We were driving our own tuk tuk, and he helped us drive it up to the cottage every morning and every night. The breakfast was UNREAL. We could not believe how much food was prepared every morning, and brought to the cottage. We chose the Sri Lankan breakfast, but there is a Western breakfast choice too. The value for money at Nirwana is unbelievable. If you're searching for a cabin-like, foresty, quiet getaway, this is the place for you. We spent Christmas here, and Sanjeewa and his family prepared a dinner for us and brought it to the cottage - completely free of charge. This just shows how much they prioritise the comfortability and happiness of guests. You will not regret booking your stay here.

Nothing

If you enjoy beauty, tranquility, and feeling like a cherished guest - this is the place for you! We had the most beautiful 3-night stay here. The room is spacious, the bed is very comfortable, and the setting is wonderful - lush and green, with a view of Rawana Falls in the distance. What makes Nirwana Cottage even more special is the host. We were attentively but unobtrusively cared for throughout our stay. We chose to eat both breakfasts and dinners at the property and the home-cooked meals were exceptional. Remarkably, the coffee and many of the delicious fruits and vegetables we were served came from the host's garden. It is also of note that the hosts were easily able to accommodate us with fully vegan meals. We recommend this place wholeheartedly and would happily return.

Sanjeewa was an outstanding host! We really enjoyed our time at the nirwana cottage, especially breakfast time, after watching the sun rise above the mountains and drinking coffee and tea grown in the familiy garden. The sri lankan breakfast made by Sanjeewas mother was a true feast. Thank you again for your hospitality! We will definetly come back.

The host Sanjeewa and his mom made our stay unforgettable, they are the best host you can find. They know how to make the guests feel comfortable and at home, they helped us with everything we needed. The cottage is just amazing , spacious and clean with a stunning view, which you will enjoy with the breakfast , one of the best we had in our trip. The location is in a quite place away from the crowds, and he can organise a pick up from the station for you. We just loved it here and wish to come back. Highly recommended, definitely the place to stay in Ella. We will miss this lovely place, Sanjeewa and his family!

Everything perfect!

Based on previous feedbacks I decided to stay at Nirwana cottage and cannot be more satisfied with my decision. Everything was great. Communication with Sanjeewa about my arrival was smooth, he waited on me upon my arrival and helped with luggage as to reach to cottage takes a bit of stairs. Service was great, Sanjeewa is very friendly and customer oriented. In room you will find everything you need. Bed was very comfortable. Wi-fi is working perfectly even its in the middle of mountains. Possibility of hot shower after hiking was very appreciated. Breakfast was delicious as Sanjeewa also use fruits and vegetables from his own garden. Stunning view during breakfast secured too. Truly hidden gem as someone mentioned before in feedbacks. If once in Ella and choosing to stay in Nirwana cottage you will not be disappointed!!!

We stayed for three nights and felt very comfortable and welcome. The host Sanjeewa was great and helped us with everything we needed. He gave us recommodations for the area, organised transports and even came for a hike to Ella Rock with us. It felt like our own little place on the top of a mountain (a few stairs are definitely worth to walk) and we really enjoyed our stay and the lovely breakfasts at Nirwana cottage. We highly recommend this place when you come to Ella.

This was my most pleasant stay in Sri Lanka so far. The owner is so kind and helpful. If you would like to stick to local traditions and have contact with locals, this is the place to stay. When I travel a country I don’t really like to stay in like westernish premium Resorts with pool and sauna. Why traveling than? So I can recommend the Cottage to my fullest. Thanks for having me

The location up in the hills gives a beautiful view over Ella, and with the delicious breakfast provided every morning by sanjeewa, it is an unforgettable way to start the day. He was the friendliest most helpful man we have encountered in Sri Lanka and you can tell he really wants you to enjoy your time. The bed is super comfy with a full mosquito net and he even provided some leech repellent for our shoes during the rain (you can’t avoid leeches anywhere in Ella). Good hot shower and super Wi-Fi too so a perfect stay all round

Nothing, it was brilliant

We felt very comfortable in the accommodation. The bed was really comfy and big, the bathroom was clean and there was hot water. The breakfast was very delicious and is also suitable for vegetarians / vegans. The cottage itself is located in the jungle and you can watch the fireflies at night. :) Sanjeewa even accompanied us to Ella Rock for a day and told us a lot about the area, that was a really cool experience! Thanks a lot for that! We can highly recommend the accommodation and want to come back if we have the chance. :)

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After three months in Sri Lanka, I found the most peaceful place here. Surrounded by the sounds of nature and all the Ella mountains (you can even see the Little Adam’s Peak from the balcony), this cabin has all you need for connecting with the beauty of nature and with yourself (I even asked if it was possible to have a yoga mat & when I arrived it was already in the room; you can’t imagine how lovely it was to start the day practicing with this view that makes you speechless and the silence, just the birdsongs & me). It was awesome because I could have both sides of the experience: there’s a lot of life going on in Ella (you can be there in a nice 15 min walk or just get a TukTuk for 400 rupees if you don’t feel like walking), but The Nirwana Cottage is truly a heaven for you alone (I rarely saw tourist in the area, just local people). Sanjeewa lives there with his family, so you will always be supported (even if you get lost at night as I did, they will come and rescue you, haha). He gives you a lot of space and intimacy while at the same time he asks you about your day plan and suggests you what’s best to do or even better you go together hiking and he shows you the best spots (and a hidden beautiful waterfall). I was there just for two and a half days and I really feel I have a friend to come back to. He definitely knows how to make your stay special AND INCREDIBLE BREAKFAST too. Thank you my friend, you really made the end of my stay in this magical island. :-) <3

The room was very nice and clean, had a amazing view over the mountains. The owner was super super friendly and really helpful to recommend things to see and do. A very good experience that we really can recommend to any other tourist visiting Ella.

Nothing, everything was nice.

amazing place in the top of the Mountain. the owner Was really kind and has free tuk tuk service.

they don' t have coffee

Really enjoyed our stay at the cottage, sanjeewa is a very nice host and is happy to advise you on what to do in Ella, he also makes a nice breakfast. Comfortable bed and hot shower if your looking for value for your money this is the place for you!

The Nirwana Cottage is the best experience you can have in Ella. The views from the balcony are stunning. The room in huge, with a king size bed, is so clean and pretty new. It has nice details as a yoga mat and a water kettle with Tea. The balcony is amazing, we had the most delicious food we had in Sri Lanka by far. There is a 5 min walk to the main road, we’re you will cross tea plantations and a exuberant vegetation. Sanjeewa (the owner) will arrange the tuk-tuk, motorbike renting, and any excursion you want at best prices. From the main road to Ella center you can also go walking (nice local area) or in a 7 min tuk-tuk. These is by far the best place to stay in Ella to have the real sense of this beautiful place.

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I loved my stay at Nirwana cottage! It was exactly what I was looking for! It’s tucked away in beautiful nature, green surroundings with just locals around - since there’s just one cottage. Everyday you’ll get a delicious breakfast to your balcony. The facilities are new and there’s everything you’ll need (kettle, hot water, ..) The bed is big and very very comfy! I slept so well! :) Also the owner is very attentive & caring without disturbing your privacy. If you’re concerned about the location - it’s really worth staying up on the hill and not in touristy and busy Ella. You can always take a walk down or take a tuktuk. Highly recommend staying here! :)

If you are a solo travel or someone on backpacking trip this is and ideal place to stay. The host Sanjeewa treated us very well and he was very helpful. The home cooked Sri Lankan breakfast was quite nice as well. I did had a comfortable stay. Highly recommended.

The nirvana cottage is one of the most beautiful accommodations I've experienced on my trip through Asia. It's in the middle of the forest at the highest point in Ella. You have your own house built from natural materials with plenty of space and all the comforts that a traveler could wish for. A hot shower, a very comfortable double bed with a mosquito net, a kettle, a shelf, a clothes rack and your own router with very fast internet. You don't even need to turn on the fan because it's pleasantly cool. On the covered balcony you have a wonderful view of Ella Rock, the waterfall and Adams Piek. It's very quiet, away from the city. You can hear so many exotic birds chirping and observe squirrel. The host family lives 20 meters away and will organize your stay at its finest. I was picked up from the train station and greeted with coffee made from home-roasted beans, water and fresh fruit. Breakfast is brought to the balcony at the time you want, and because everything is so delicious, I also ordered dinner for little money. Some of the ingredients are home-grown vegetables and it's simply delicious. When it's dark you can see tons of fireflies, adding a magical touch to the whole atmosphere. You can walk into town and Sanjeewa will organize a tuktuk for you at any time. He fulfills your every wish and takes care of all concerns immediately. I felt like a forest queen here and really enjoyed being so close to nature. It is a special place and I would call it an insider tip. For this price you will probably not find a comparable alternative so quickly. I sincerely thank Sanjeewa and his family for making me feel at home away from home. I wish that many more guests will come here.

Everything is good

Beautiful place with an amazing mountain view to Ella Rock from the balcony. It was super clean and comfy. The owner Sanjeewa and his family were very friendly and helpful and the local breakfast with fresh fruits on the balcony was absolutely delicious. Sanjeewa picked me up at the railway station and organized some great trips to a waterfall and some other places around Ella. I definitely recommand staying there. Thank you, Sanjeewa!

Nothing, everything was great!

A wonderful place in Ella! Not busy and calm, I could sleep like a baby. The only sound is pure nature. Very clean and comfortable room. The breakfast is very good! The host is very nice and helpful. I would go there everytime again.

Sanjeewa, the host, is a phantastic guy who will run an extra mile for his guests to fulfill all wishes. Together with his mother he runs the beautiful hidden spot in Ella. The local breakfast is very nice. Room and patio are spacious. Excellent bed and beautiful bathroom. Stunning view over rocks, mountains and valleys. From my eyes the best place in Ella. Very close to Nirvana..... Thank you so much for your heart, your inspiration and great hospitality See you again soon ! Buddhu Saranai.

Completely happy !

Calm and beautiful place close to Ella. Comfortable bed and clean room. Nice and very helpful owner. He can help you manage trips, tuk tuk, etc. What ever you want. Definitely we will came back again. Highly recommend. Thank you Sanjeewa :)