The train journey from
Ella to Kandy is known to be one of the most scenic, adventurous train rides in
the world. If you do the full distance from Badulla to Colombo it would take
about 10 hours (7 hours to Kandy). I took the first place train and it was only
$8 (Rs.1250) for the full distance and if you travel 2nd or 3rd class it will
be only about $3/4 per person.
Taking the train in Sri
Lanka is the most comfortable way to travel. You don’t have to deal with the
traffic on the main roads, can walk around whenever you want, go to the toilet,
have some food, meet other travelers, read, listen to music, relax and watch
the landscape go by peacefully outside (hoping on the foot board is the
gives the best feeling but it is very risky at the same time, so don’t do it
unless you are a pro).
How to get tickets for
the Train
There are few options:
You can prebook online through your mobile service providers (local) or go to
the station on an early date and get your tickets. If you are not too worries
about standing in the train just walk into the train before the train arrives
and get your ticket, you are good to go! You won’t feel
left out as a
tourist but if you are a local there is a high possibility of you being
the only local in the Ella station. You can walk and hop from carriage to
carriage, eat local food and talk to people who are always very nice and
helpful. I usually spend most of the time in the open doorways and enjoy the
beautiful landscape and the cold wind. Don’t look down if you are afraid of
heights 😉 There is a blue train
and a red train. If you want to take cool pictures i would recommend the blue
train.
You can check the train
schedule here and it’s pretty accurate:
The scenes from the train on both the sides are breathtaking!
The
train cuts through the mountains and it may look like a green carpet of tea
bushes rolling in the sky with the mist, with colorful sari-dressed tea pickers
waving and smiling at you. Suddenly if you here children screaming in the
front carriages should you be scared? Answer is no, it’s just a tunnel and kids
love the echo.
Like I mentioned earlier hanging on the door gives you the best feeling
and the best view but be really careful. Not only you can fall but if you lean
out at the wrong time you can get hit by trees and tunnels that come very close
to the train.
Night Mail
Do you have a hectic schedule but still want to do the train to Ella and also spend a night there and visit all the places? In that case you can take the night mail from Colombo to Ella so that you travel at
night and will reach there by morning. The night mail doesn't go via Kandy so in my case i went to Peradeniya (15 mins from Kandy) to catch the night mail. Train left the Peradeniya Junction at 11 pm and reached Ella around 6.30 am. You wont be able to see anything so sleeping would be the best option, and also make you sure you take a hoodie or a blanket as it gets really cold. This way you can go around Ella all day, then spend the night and early next morning before you take the scenic blue train back to Kandy.
Following link would give you a better idea about the night mail:
Tourist Opinions on the Train Ride
Cindy Ribaucourt (Belgium) - I was travelling with my friend Thaïssa Moonen from home. It was amazing. A little bit of danger travelling on the foot board but the best thing to do in Sri Lanka. Open doors and beautiful people who became friends for life. Sri Lanka was so amazing, we are here in Bangkok saying that we wanna go back! 😢
Diala Sayed (Lebanon) - Well my friend and I booed the 2nd class tickets, however we mistakenly hopped on the 3rd class cabin and we can to realize that when we reached destination. However that turned to be the best mistake ever as we got to meet locals who were very friendly and offered us there seats to rest a bit every now and then during the 7 hour train ride. They also shared the local food they brought on board. Not to mention the breathtaking sceneries and vibes. Time actually flied because there was so much going on!
Júlia Mendonca ( Brazil) - The train ride is insane full of
people. Never think that possible to fit many people in a single space - and i am only talking about the door way. I took it on a weekend so that's one reason why it was packed with locals, and i was very happy to be next to 3 little girls. This was their first train ride! This was a great experience
Anne Sofie Lillienskjold Olsen (Denmark) - It was an amazing train ride! The view was incredible! I personally think its cheaper and a way bigger experience to travel on 3rd class rather than 2nd class.
Like I mentioned earlier hanging on the door gives you the best feeling
and the best view but be really careful. Not only you can fall but if you lean
out at the wrong time you can get hit by trees and tunnels that come very close
to the train. 
Diala Sayed (Lebanon) - Well my friend and I booed the 2nd class tickets, however we mistakenly hopped on the 3rd class cabin and we can to realize that when we reached destination. However that turned to be the best mistake ever as we got to meet locals who were very friendly and offered us there seats to rest a bit every now and then during the 7 hour train ride. They also shared the local food they brought on board. Not to mention the breathtaking sceneries and vibes. Time actually flied because there was so much going on! 
Júlia Mendonca ( Brazil) - The train ride is insane full of
people. Never think that possible to fit many people in a single space - and i am only talking about the door way. I took it on a weekend so that's one reason why it was packed with locals, and i was very happy to be next to 3 little girls. This was their first train ride! This was a great experience
Anne Sofie Lillienskjold Olsen (Denmark) - It was an amazing train ride! The view was incredible! I personally think its cheaper and a way bigger experience to travel on 3rd class rather than 2nd class.
Jordan Thomas (USA) - haha I really enjoyed it. We connected with some people from France who were heading to Nuwara Eliya . The most beautiful part was once we were riding along the river and then saw some waterfalls. The rolling hills of the country side was amazing and the temperature was most dope haha
Jessica Chaplin (England) - Since we visited Horton Planes and other places we didnt do the train all the way from Ella to Kandy, we only did smaller ones. The trains were great and looking forward to come back! So different to anywhere else i have ever been in the world..... everyone seems to play instruments on the train. People are so friendly, unlike in London where we just have people with miserable faces to look at. 😂The temptation to lean out of the door is too much to resist. Do you get many people dying from falling out?
Jessica Chaplin (England) - Since we visited Horton Planes and other places we didnt do the train all the way from Ella to Kandy, we only did smaller ones. The trains were great and looking forward to come back! So different to anywhere else i have ever been in the world..... everyone seems to play instruments on the train. People are so friendly, unlike in London where we just have people with miserable faces to look at. 😂The temptation to lean out of the door is too much to resist. Do you get many people dying from falling out?
Lesley Murphy (USA) - That ‘holy shit I’m hanging out of a
moving train’ face😅 The ride from Ella to Kandy has been dubbed the most beautiful train ride in the world
🚂
🌏I put that claim to the test as I rode like this, hanging outside like a crazy person, the entire 7 hour journey watching the landscapes pass me by...suspended between two places
✨The best part? It cost me $2."
Follow me on Instagram: chamalthecamel
Enjoy the Photos! :)
