Ultimate Train Ride from Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka

Photo by Yves Alarie on Unsplash

In Sri Lanka, you can experience one of the world's most stunning train trips. The train ride between Kandy and Ella is a lovely 7-hour journey through tea plantations, beautiful mountain views, with locals laughing and chattering. Getting a train ticket for this train journey as a tourist is demanding because, in addition to visitors, people use the train to return home or work.

Kandy to Ella train

The British colonial authority constructed the Sri Lankan rail network in 1864. Building the railway network was to transport tea and coffee from hill country to Colombo port for exporting.

The network is now one of the most cost-effective methods to travel around Sri Lanka and an essential transportation link for locals.

The Kandy to Ella train begins in Colombo Pettah railway station, but the highlights are the 6-7 hour ride from Kandy to Ella. The train stops in Hill country towns like Nuwara Eliya, Hatton, Ohiya, Idalgashinna, and Haputale are worth visiting. You can get down at any railway stations in between to explore the villages, waterfalls, and other attractions.

Read: Things to Do in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka 2021

Sit on the right side of the train.

If you are starting from Kandy, sitting on the right side of the train is better. This side is substantially more scenic than the other on the segment between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. You can enjoy the endless open views and beautiful tea plantations. 

Hop to the left side of the train in Nuwara Eliya. Here, you can enjoy close-up tea plantations that give way to endless, open scenes.

Kandy to Ella Train Time Table

From Kandy To Ella

Departure from Kandy: 08:47 – Arrives in Ella: 15:14 (1st, 2nd, and 3rd class)

Departure from Kandy: 11:10 – Arrives in Ella: 17:16 (1st, 2nd, and 3rd class)

From Ella To Kandy

Departure from Ella: 06:40 – Arrives in Kandy: 12:38 (1st, 2nd, and 3rd class)

Departure from Ella: 09:24 – Arrives in Kandy: 15:51 (1st, 2nd, and 3rd class)

Photo by Farhath Firows on Unsplash

Train ticket classes

Purchase your tickets ahead of time at the Kandy train station. The train ride is quite popular, and on weekends it is even busier due to locals returning home. If you want to hang out the train door, try to purchase a ticket in the third or second class.

First-class: Air-conditioned cabin, which means no open windows or doors to hang out to get that amazing image.

Second class: You can reserve seats between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya or Ella in advance. You'll probably spend most of your time with your feet dangling out the door. Of course, this isn't the most comfortable option, but the view from here is breathtaking.

Third-class: People and things such as poultry and vegetables carried in the third class.

Kandy to Ella Train Tickets

A ticket from Kandy to Ella costs approximately $2.50 / 500 LKR. The first-class costs 19.18 USD (about 4000 LKR) per person. The second class costs 13.67 USD (2700 LKR).