How to travel from Kandy to Ella – maximize your time on one of Sri Lanka’s most traversed train routes

 A train ride in Sri Lanka can snake its way through verdant hills, past free-flowing rivers & stunning coastlines. However, one particular trip which moves through two delightfully appealing locales is the trip that runs from Kandy to Ella and vice versa. Ideal for ardent travellers and leisure seekers thinking of covering Sri Lanka's beautiful countryside - waste no time in booking your ticket as soon as possible! Mentioned below is how you can set about making the most of your time here.

About the Kandy to Ella train journey

                                                    Img via Pixabay


The route features an integral portion of the Main Line which covers the cities of Colombo, Kandy, and Badulla which by fare are the most scenic to explore and fall in love with when holidaying in the Emerald Isle. Some of the most talked-about places of appeal in the country can be located when travelling through these cities which in turn, make for pleasant, awe-inspiring, and memorable moments. The journey itself takes around 7 hours to complete but does factor in the possibility of there being train delays on the odd occasion.

Train times

It is very important that you take note of the train times so that you avoid disappointment and the chance to enjoy one of the best excursions, either in a somewhat crowded compartment or a spacious observation carriage where your every whim will be attended to. The first train for the day leaves Kandy at 8.47 am with another train the following suit at approximately 11.10 a.m. There is also a train available at 5.00 pm for those of you more inclined to travel during the night but do not forget that night travel would mean travellers like you missing out on the sublime scenery. However, the 'early bird' in you may also be interested in knowing that a train from Kandy to Ella does leave the latter station at 3.30 am which can also be factored into your itinerary should you be wanting to cover other regions in the hill country but yearn for a bright and early beginning.

Which type of ticket should you purchase?

Third class tickets are the cheapest available and can be either pre-booked or purchased at the station but do come with the caveat of there being crowded compartments to deal with a fair chance of one having to stand and travel for a certain part of the journey. Although such rides will have you treated to the melodies of flutists and light-drum beats with the sight of vendors selling fried, tasty snacks all but completing the experience. On the other hand, second-class journeys though being marginally pricier than the aforementioned do offer some degree of flexibility and comfort for travellers. Peak season travel can mean that the ability to reserve a ticket will be slim which is why reserving your seat at the earliest is recommended practice in this part of the world when it comes to commuting via public transport. While these serve as the gateway of how train travel generally occurs and is partaken of, a first-class ride will be far more inviting, luxurious, and enjoyable with air-conditioned surrounds and comfy seats a mere prelude to what lies in store. As an add-on, choosing to reserve a seat in the observation carriage which more or less is a value-addition to travelling in first class can also be considered in the event you yearn to be pampered throughout the duration of the 7-hour trip. However, in this way, you will not be able to open any train window which can be quite a dampener when it comes to delighting in the passing scenery.

Things to take

Regardless if you are residing at a Kandy city hotel the likes of Hotel Topaz, carrying your own snacks and beverages is highly recommended and especially, if you aren't up for munching on any of the items sold on the train. Drinking water is essential but should you want to give a hot, steaming cuppa tea a go, then you will only have to pocket out anything ranging from LKR 40 – 50 per cup. Further, little deep-fried dhal balls fondly reefed to as 'wadey' and pronounced 'wah-deh' can be tried as this is one of the most sought after varieties of street food in Sri Lanka that must be snacked on before your time in the country draws to a close. Also, some hand sanitizer is a must given that you will be spending 7 hours on public transport which is accessed by those arriving from all corners of Sri Lanka.

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