Train rides are available, and then there are train rides that are offered in Sri Lanka. Despite its little size, the teardrop island which is located in the Indian Ocean is home to some of the most exciting train excursions in the whole globe.
During your commute, you may find yourself rattling through the suburbs with a fellow commuter napping on your shoulder. Alternatively, you might find yourself weaving in and out of emerald-green tea gardens and thickets of tropical rainforest while nibbling on a packed-to-go supper consisting of curry and rice. Sometimes, you might even find yourself doing both for the same journey.
Although the steam trains that were previously used to carry tea and spices over these weaving rail lines have mostly disappeared, the colorful diesel locos that have replaced them create the same dramatic effect as they traverse the countryside of Sri Lanka.
In the event that you are a fan of traveling by locomotive, you should think about making reservations for one of these four incredible train adventures that go across Sri Lanka.
Colombo to Galle
The best train excursion along the coast.
During the journey south from Colombo to the city of Galle, which was built by the Portuguese, the Indian Ocean washes up practically to the train lines, bringing with it the invigorating winds and the aroma of sea salt directly into the transportation vehicles. As long as you ensure that you are seated on the right-hand side of the train, you will be able to enjoy views of the ocean as the train makes its way out of Colombo.
An extensive urban park in the nation’s capital, Galle Face Green, is located just south of where the train line joins the sea, and the rail line continues to follow the shore for practically the whole of the voyage. The passengers have the option of disembarking from the train at coastal villages such as Moragalla (via Hettimulla station), which offers snorkeling chances among coral reefs, or Hikkaduwa, where surfers ride the waves and drink smoothies in shorefront cafés. If the allure of the ocean becomes too much for them, they may alight at any of these beachside towns.
You should make it a point to try the items of the sellers that join the carriages at the small rural stops, regardless of whether you want to momentarily alight of the train or not. When you get to Galle, grab some buttered sweetcorn or packaged curry and rice and take in the picturesque images of coastal life. From children and dogs playing in the water to stilt fisherman sitting atop their wooden perch, you will see everything from children and dogs to stilt fishermen.
Colombo to Kandy
A train experience that is unparalleled in Sri Lanka.
The three-hour ride from Colombo to Kandy, which is the only train excursion that is included on practically every itinerary for Sri Lanka, will transport you away from the sprawl of the large metropolis and into the elegant greenery of Sri Lanka’s spiritual capital. A few of the trains on this route go on to Badulla (for more information, see below), but it is well worth taking a break from the trip to visit Kandy, which is the location of the renowned Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is said to house a tooth that is believed to be authentic and belonging to Buddha.
You will travel through rolling hills, rice fields, lush stands of tropical forest, palm palms waving like gigantic hands, and little village train stations with tin roofs and station personnel standing at attention in spotless uniforms. All of these sights will be encountered on the route there. As you go from the hot and humid coastal plain to the cooler and more pleasant temperature of the hills, you will also notice that the air is becoming cooler.
The first significant route created by the newly founded Ceylon Government Railway in the 1860s was the Colombo-to-Kandy line. This route cut through the wooded hills inland from the capital city in order to transport tea and coffee to the coast in order to promote the economic goals of the British Empire. Today, in order to reach the Hill Country from Colombo, passengers ride in the other direction, on a trip that is by far the most atmospheric and pleasurable way to get there.
Kandy to Badulla
Enjoy the most breathtaking vistas.
The train journey from Colombo to Kandy is simply a warm-up for the most magnificent train ride in Sri Lanka, which is the Main Line, which was created during the British period and was constructed as a conduit for tea, which is Sri Lanka’s most renowned export.
The trip from Kandy to Badulla takes between seven and eight hours and brings travelers through the tea heartland of Sri Lanka. Along the way, they pass through plantations that are twisted and curled, giving the impression that they have been hollowed out of the steep green terrain like the huge fingerprints of a giant. Tea pickers dressed in rainbow saris provide vibrant bursts of color amid the green sea, while tidy fringes of lemongrass and canna plants give an elegant trim along the perimeter of the garden.
There are some amazing feats of engineering that were accomplished in the 19th century to transport the train over valleys and ravines and around problem outcrops during the last leg of the route, which is from Ella to Badulla. This segment is undoubtedly the most dramatic aspect of the voyage.
Just to the north of Ella, the lines make a turn over the Nine Arch Bridge, which is made of brick and stone, before entering the Demodara Loop. This loop is where the line goes around a hilltop and then passes back under itself. A significant number of tourists finish their trip in Ella and then trek to overlooks around the bridge in order to take advantage of one of the most popular picture opportunities in Sri Lanka.
Anuradhapura to Jaffna
The most enjoyable train ride in the north.
The conflict between the Sinhalese and the Tamils that took place during Sri Lanka’s protracted civil war resulted in the destruction of the rail line that led to the extreme north of the country. Bombing occurred on June 13, 1990, as the final Yal Devi Express arrived in Jaffna. The train was unable to reach its destination. For the goal of constructing military bunkers, empty carriages were repurposed, rails were pulled up for scrap metal, and stations were left in ruins. Rail travel to the country’s north, which is mostly Tamil, was a thing of the past for twenty-five years.
The Yal Devi Express made its triumphant return to Jaffna in 2014, bringing with it the sharp whistle of locomotives. This was the first time in a generation that the Yal Devi Express had returned to Jaffna, along dazzling new tracks. In modern times, the journey from the historic Buddhist city of Anuradhapura to Jaffna, which takes around three and a half hours, provides a glimpse into a different Sri Lanka.
You will leave the glittering white stupas (dagobas) behind when you arrive at Anuradhapura. As you make your way toward the northern region of Sri Lanka, you will see that the landscape is beginning to be colored by the multicolored kovils (temples). As a result of the fact that foreign tourists who are pressed for time often bypass the splendors of the island’s northern shore, you will also be able to escape the huge tourist throngs that are present in Sri Lanka.
when the train makes its last approach to Jaffna, the terrain begins to flatten out, and areas of water and salt pans begin to emerge. This occurs when the train reaches Elephant Pass, which is a highly militarized bottleneck that guards the entry to the Jaffna peninsula. A landscape that still carries the wounds of battle but also green shoots of renewal, as communities and townships pick themselves up after decades of warfare, is dominated by tall palmyra trees that soar above the terrain. A lively Hindu city that serves as an ideal jumping-off point for some of Sri Lanka’s most picturesque, pristine islands and beaches, Jaffna itself is waiting toward the end of the line.
Suggestions for traveling by rail in Sri Lanka
Trains depart from Colombo to most of the most important places. Although they are somewhat more expensive than buses, trains provide a greater ambiance and better sights than buses. In addition to providing route information, Sri Lanka Railways also provides a travel planner.
What kind of ticket should I purchase?
In general, third class is a free-for-all, meaning that you have to purchase a ticket at the station on the day of travel and then compete with other passengers for space in a carriage that is as crowded as a sardine can.
There are often both unreserved and reserved seats available in second class. With the exception of some additional seat cushions, the unreserved cabins are quite similar to their third-class equivalents. On the other hand, reserved seats in second class are quite popular for a good reason: they provide you with windows that open, allowing you to take extraordinary images, as well as chairs that are relatively comfortable and fans that are located above you to keep you cool.
First class passengers enjoy increased comfort and air conditioning, but the fact that they are seated behind glass that is sealed and often dirty might make them feel as if they are somewhat cut off from the nation they are traveling through.
First class “observation saloon” carriages, which include a large window for passengers to look out through, are considered to be the most luxurious. In addition, these carriages are becoming more air-conditioned; nevertheless, once again, the sealed windows have the potential to dull the vividness of the ever-changing panorama.
How can I make reservations for trains in Sri Lanka?
All reserved first- and second-class seats and beds, as well as observation saloon carriages, may be booked up to thirty days in advance. Reservations can also be made for the observation saloon carriages. It is important to make reservations in advance if you are able to do so during the busy season, which runs from December to April.
The online ticketing system in Sri Lanka enables for bookings to be made up to two hours before departure and up to thirty days before the date of travel. The passengers have the ability to choose the class in which they want to fly; nevertheless, seats are assigned to them automatically.
It is important to keep in mind that you will still be required to pick up your actual tickets at a station that provides services for mobile ticketing. An exhaustive list of the stations that provide the service can be obtained on the internet, and this page includes all of the stations that are discussed in the aforementioned article.
You should make your reservation at least 32 days in advance if you are going to use an agency to secure seats on the famous Hill Country routes. This will provide the agent the opportunity to purchase the tickets as soon as they become available for purchase.
For carriages that are not reserved, you just need to show up, purchase a ticket, and take your chances in the crowd. Due to the fact that almost all tickets on the route from Colombo to Galle fall into this category, it is recommended that you arrive around one hour before the train departure in order to have the greatest possible opportunity of securing a seat.
