There’s something to be said about train journeys!
Slowly trundling through naturally shifting landscapes, there is a sense of getting somewhere. As captivating frames unfold slowly, one after another, you could simply sit back and take in the beauty from your seat by the window. Sri Lanka, draped in its glorious lush blanket of greens, interspersed by idyllic shorelines, presents itself in a bewitching montage of hills, tea country and everything in between.
The Viceroy Experience
The one experience that deserves to be mentioned right at the top, is a sweet and soulful ride in this 75-year-old, vintage steam train, replete with old-school, period fittings and a charming look and feel to it which feels like a blast from the past. It includes a restaurant car, an observation car and a bar.
The most scenic train ride in the world is the one from Ella to Kandy or back from Kandy to Ella. What you’ll see from your train window? Rolling hills, mist covered, like the heavens above, and draped with emerald green tea plantations. A useful tip to remember while travelling from Kandy is to sit on the right side, as it would have the vantage point of the most scenic, ringside views. You may pass small villages where you will catch a glimpse of everyday life, greeted by a bunch of local kids running along the train tracks.
The Calypso Experience
The Calypso Train is another picturesque panorama, particularly between Badulla, Demodara, and Bandarawela. With musicians creating a live performance environment, open-air carriages, food and beverage, and stops at scenic locations like the Nine Arches Bridge, this is a train that plies daily, typically with morning and/or afternoon departures. As the train slowly rolls in towards the bridge, perch yourself towards the door, to take full advantage of the scenic views outside.
The Yal Devi Experience
The Yal Devi Express, also known as the “Queen of Jaffna” was inaugurated in 1956 and has a historic legacy. Originally created to connect Colombo, Jaffna, and Kankesanturai, it stopped operating past Vavuniya in 1990 but operations were restored to Jaffna in 2014 on the other side of the civil war. This train, apart from being a landmark of sorts in connecting Colombo with the Tamil heartland, served to minimise travel time considerably, and was a huge boon to the common masses.
The crisscross tapestry of railway tracks across the Emerald Isle
Colombo to Galle – Traversing through Colombo, Mt. Lavinia, Moratuwa and then, Galle this is a 3-hour long train ride. Expect breathtaking views of Indian Ocean, especially when approaching Galle. This is one of the best ways to reach the famous Galle Fort or the idyllic southern beaches of Sri Lanka like Welligama, Mirissa, Bentota etc.
Kandy to Ella – Threading across Kandy, Peradeniya, Nuwara Eliya, and onto Ella, this is the world’s most scenic ride (mentioned above) and spans around 7 hours. Sit back and watch a beautiful movie unfold outside your window, as you pass tea plantations, cascading waterfalls, mountains covered in mist and beautiful villages. Crossing the Nine Arches Bridge is a rite of passage and promises to be a mosaic of moments and memories.
Colombo to Kandy – Travel through Colombo, Nugegoda, Peradeniya and then reach Kandy within 2.5 to 3 hours. On this route, you will see the contrasting urban and rural landscapes. Small towns will pass you by, juxtaposed with the lushness of the hill country.
Colombo to Anuradhapura – This 5-hour ride will take you through Colombo, Kurunegala, and then Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its ancient Buddhist temples. You will also get a glimpse of Sri Lanka’s agricultural depths.
Colombo to Jaffna – In about 7 hours you could reach Jaffna from Colombo via Vavuniya. This Northen most part is rural, scenic and more traditionally Tamil, so you would certainly catch a deep insight into the history and culture through the many temples.
Badulla to Ella – This short, ride spanning 1.5 hours will take you from Badulla, Bandarawela, to Ella is equally beautiful with its vista of tea plantations, dense forests, and rolling hills.
All aboard the beautiful, new Ella Odyssey
Launched in 2022 by Sri Lankan Railways, the Ella Odyssey is a special tourist train that connects Colombo to Badulla, passing through the country’s most beautiful Hill Country scenery.
It halts through these beautiful stopovers, perfect for photo memories :
- Horsetail Waterfall view point – (2 minutes)
- Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) view point – (2 minutes)
- St Clair Waterfall view point – (2 minutes)
- Elgin Falls view point – (2 minutes)
- Summit Level – (2 minutes)
- No 18 Tunnel – (3 minutes)
- Kithal Ella Waterfall view point – (3 minutes)
- Nine Arches Bridge – (10 minutes)
The Ella Odyssey train can be booked online https://seatreservation.railway.gov.lk/mtktwebslr/ or through a travel agent in Sri Lanka. You can reserve your ticket 14 days prior to your travel date.
You might also consider downloading the Tuktukrental Travel App. It features offline maps, offbeat recommendations and even helps fellow tuktuk-ers on the road connect for information or just a few post drive beers – or the local Sri Lankan arrack if you are feeling adventurous!
