Introduction to a train journey in SL
Trains are arguably the most enriching way to experience the idyllic charms of this teardrop shaped island country. In Sri Lanka, trains are only a bit more higher priced than buses but are much more comfortable and a preferred way of travelling for the locals as well. Train journeys mean passing small dreamy hamlets in the lush countryside, misty tea plantations amid mountain valleys and waterfalls and the chance to interact with locals. Train stations in Sri Lanka are charming old colonial buildings and train timetables are still denoted on a wooden board with analogue clocks for time.
The Kandy to Badulla train journey is featured in the prestigious Lonely Planet list of 25 top train journeys in the world for 2025.
History of trains in SL
In the mid-19th Century, the British established the train network in Sri Lanka with the aim of transporting tea, coffee, rubber and coconut from the plantations around Kandy to Colombo.
Recent expansions of the railway lines mean that it is possible to travel across all corners of Sri Lanka by train. The railway network in Sri Lanka is a lifeline of the country and transports about 3.5 to 4 million people everyday.
Colombo to Kandy: 125 km / 3 hours
The Colombo to Kandy train journey is one that is a must-do since it takes you from Sri Lanka’s bustling coastal capital to enter the central highlands of Kandy. It was one of the first routes built in Sri Lanka (in 1864) to transport tea and coffee from the hills to the coast to enable it for exports. The train chugs to cross the bustling suburbs of Sri Lanka’s capital to cross the rice paddies in the countryside before entering hilly terrain around Kandy, characterised by rolling hills. The best views are from the seats on the right side.
Kandy is the cultural and spiritual capital of SL with the temple of the sacred tooth relic.
Timings: From Colombo Fort 0555, 0700, 0830, 1035, 1240, 1535, 1710 hrs
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya) / Ella : 90 km / 4 hours
The train ride from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is among the prettiest in the entire world. The most popular train journey in Sri Lanka for tourists and for good reason. The British planned this line and started working on this in the 1920s. It is often crowded and difficult to get a good seat on this train so it makes sense to reserve a right side seat in advance for the best views. Greenery is the default setting on this ride as the train winds through mountains, valleys and misty tea estates to cross numerous tunnels. As you near Nanu Oya train station (Nuwara Eliya does not have a station), the breeze gets cooler as you are firmly in hill station country.
Timings : From Kandy 0813, 0847, 1103, 1720 hrs.
Kandy to Ella : 145 km / 7 hours
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and Kandy to Ella are the same train (part of the Kandy-Badulla line). Tourists who get down in Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya) may be a tad disappointed missing out on the scenic landscapes of Ella. Hence it makes sense to reach Ella via the train to enjoy one of the best train rides in the world, not only in Sri Lanka.
Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya) to Badulla : 85 km / 4.5 hours
The train ride meanders through the colonial hill towns of Nuwara Eliya to Ella and crosses Sri Lanka’s glorious mountains and rolling tea gardens. Nuwara Eliya has charming colonial architecture. Keep an eye out for the dense greenery of the Horton’s Plains National Park after Nanu Oya. As the train crosses Ella, which is Sri Lanka’s highest hill station; keep an eye out to see a number of cascading waterfalls on the journey. In tea gardens, you may see tea plucking in progress while the train is on the move. It is nice if you can sneak a left side seat for the best views over the incredible Nine Arch Bridge.
Timings : From Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya train station) 0854, 1202, 1233, 1433, 1541 hrs
Colombo to Galle : 120 km / 3 hours
This coastal line train journey takes you from Sri Lanka’s bustling capital to the enigmatic Portuguese – Dutch Fort town of Galle. This train ride is a route regularly used by locals who come to Colombo for work. Grab a seat on the right side for epic views of the Indian Ocean as the train passes through stunning beaches ringed with palm trees and picturesque fishing villages. The quintessential charm of this train ride is the bucolic offerings of seeing life as close quarters on the stunningly blue Indian Ocean.
Timings : From Colombo, 0650, 1030, 1440, 1550 hrs
Colombo to Jaffna via Anuradhapura : 390 kms / 8 hours
From Sri Lanka’s capital to the northern capital of Jaffna, this train route is a classic journey across the country as it crosses the sacred Buddhist city of Anuradhapura which is a UNESCO heritage site. It is an ancient town with history dating back to 10th Century BC. The scenery across the long journey is varied; from flat lands, salt pans to dense tropical forests, crossing the white stupas as the train nears Anuradhapura. You are unlikely to encounter a lot of tourists on the journey to Jaffna; but the lesser visited northern areas have a lot of potential with hidden beaches and dreamy coastal villages.
Timings : 0545, 2000 hrs
Colombo to Trincomalee : 296 kms / 7 hours
An offbeat train ride, the Colombo to Trincomalee journey leads you to the fishing port city of Trincomalee on the coast. You will encounter a lesser number of tourists on this train and that makes it a purely local experience. The fort in this strategically located town on the East coast was built by the Dutch and was later the subject of interest for the Portuguese and the British. The beaches around Trincomalee are pristine and it is a much more value for money destination than the popular southern beaches around Galle.
Timings : 0605, 2130 hrs
Special tourist trains :
The Calipso train : 3-4 hour round-trip from train on the Badulla to Bandarawela, specifically aimed at tourists. Makes five stops along the way at scenic locations.
Ella Odyssey train : Colombo to Badulla tourist train from 05.30 to 15.53 hrs. Makes photography/sightseeing stops at sights like waterfall viewpoints, Nine Arches bridge.
1st Class Air Conditioned – Comfortable. Glasses don’t open.
2nd Class Reserved – Comfortable and less crowded than 1st class. Windows open so best.
3rd Class Reserved – Might be more crowded than 2nd class.
Tips : Food and water. Toilet roll and soap/sanitizer for use in the train restrooms.
Best to book tickets in advance as they tend to get sold out in the high season. Tickets can be booked online (with 5 % surcharge) and also at the stations 30 days in advance.
Trains can be delayed, so keep a buffer.
No hanging out of the carriages for the perfect instagram shot – it’s not worth the risk.
2nd class / 3rd class have open windows.
As per the season, vendors on the train offer fresh fruits like mango, corn, rice with curry, samosas and other fried snacks. Keep loose change.
Some long distance trains have a pantry car – which means you can have fresh food if you don’t want the spicy snacks.
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