The Kandy to Ella by train
Duration
Half-day
Overview
This train journey is said to be one of the most scenic train journeys, not only just in Sri Lanka, but in the world. It is time to find out for yourself.
Kandy is the capital city of the Upcountry, where the rail route rises slowly from 1,680 ft from the sea level here to 6,225 ft at the highest elevation of the railway line before it reaches Ella railway station over the “Nine-Arch Viaduct”, probably the most Instagrammed viaduct in the world?
Board the train at Kandy towards Ella and about an hour into the journey and start to experience breathtaking views of lush green tea plantations, mountains, viaducts, waterfalls, and valleys all the way to Ella. The travelling time between these two stations is just under 6 hrs and the time would be well spent.
The railway lines were initially built to transport tea from the plantations to the ports, bear a thought for the marvel of a piece of British civil engineering, and more importantly, the “indentured” labour force who would have toiled in those harsh conditions to build this marvelous piece of infrastructure.
Look out for Adam's Peak, a conical-shaped mountain that is revered as a holy site by Buddhists, Hindus, some Muslims, and Christians in the distance on the left. After about three and a half hours, you will arrive at Nanu Oya station, and from here there is a 15-minute drive uphill to Nuwara Eliya. During the colonial period, Nuwara Eliya was a place where the British Tea Planters would come for recreation and especially for hunting, which is now a pleasant retreat to spend a night or two to appreciate the surroundings and its history.
Another two and a half hours travelling time from Nanu Oya to Ella is even more scenic, one will remember these views for a long time after their visit to Sri Lanka.
