In the heart of Sri Lanka, you’ll find one of the world’s most scenic train trip. Spend time in a country of epic, pristine beauty and take a train journey from Kandy to Ella through the stupendously scenic central mountains, waves of virgin mountain forests and waterfalls. The train from Kandy to Ella is a beautiful 7-hour ride through lush tea plantations, and endless mountain views.
Kandy
Rising around a scenic lake, UNESCO-listed Kandy is home to sacred landmarks, landscaped gardens, and cultural museums.
Kandy is one of Sri Lanka’s main tourist destinations and is considered one of the most sacred places in the world amongst the Buddhist community. Home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic and famous botanical gardens, Kandy has been hailed as one of the top destinations in Sri Lanka thanks to its historical value.
The Kandy city was the capital of last Sinhala kingdom. The kingdom of Kandy resisted European takeover for more than 300 years until it fell to the British in 1815.
Kandy is a large city in central Sri Lanka. It’s set on a plateau surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and bio-diverse rain forest. The city’s heart is scenic Kandy Lake (Bogambara Lake), which is popular for strolling. Kandy is famed for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) shrine, celebrated with the grand Esala Perahera annual procession.
Beyond the city, a cloudy forest and tropical plantations roll across the mountain slopes providing plenty of hiking and wildlife-watching opportunities, while upscale resorts line the Mahaweli River.
One of the most beautiful places in Kandy, Hanthana Mountain Range is every nature lover’s paradise. The mountain ranges are located on the outskirts of Kandy city and appeal to tourists as an amazing picnic and hiking spot. One can even enjoy the exhilarating views of the city from top. Declared as environmentally protected areas, the range consists of seven peaks, Uuara Kanda being the highest one. This is also one of the best visiting places in Kandy.
Ella
Ella is simply a Paradise with beauty.
Ella is a small village in the highlands of Sri Lanka which is filled with tea estates, mountains, waterfalls and of course with some good air to breath.
Lots of people make Ella as one of their must visit destination just to witness the breath-taking views it creates. It is a dream place for many trekkers with some of the best hikes the Island provides. This hidden village got vastly popular among the tourists lately.
Views of mist and clouds covering the summits of the mountain range and the morning sun rise in Ella are spectacular scenes to witness and captured. After a fresh hike in the morning, hit a waterfall, grab some tasty Sri Lankan foods from somewhere with a beer, rest for a while and go for a railwalk to famous Nine Arch Bridge in the evening, you would sure love the all experience.
Ella got its own historic values with the link to the Legendary Ravana stories too. Visit the Ravana waterfalls, simply a beauty. You can explore all of them while you are here.
Ella certainly a place with plenty of things to do which will keep you busy and happy.
If you are looking for a place to unwind from your busy lifestyle and to spend some peaceful, relaxed time with the nature, this is the place and you will leave Ella with some fond memories to last a life time!
Pics courtesy: Dereklow
Ella Odyssey – The New Scenic Train in Sri Lanka
The Ella Odyssey is a new luxury train service that runs daily from Kandy to Ella. This is a quite new addition to the Sri Lankan railway system, launched on 05th March 2022. Ella Odyssey stops in several spectacular viewpoints on the way to its final destination, Demodara station. Particularly, this special train stops at the 9 popular tourist attractions other than main railway stations. Travelers are allowed to get off the train at these viewpoints and capture the scenic beauty of the surrounding.
It is a good idea to book tickets for Ella Odyssey in advance. Train tickets can be bought from the ticket reservation office in Kandy or any other station. As well, you can reserve them using an online platform too. This e-ticketing service is run by the Sri Lanka railway to reserve tickets. You can see a detailed guide for getting train tickets at Sri Lanka Railways.
Kandy to Ella main train stops
Although this train calls as Kandy- Ella train, the last stop is Demodara station. Therefore, you shouldn’t get off at Ella station. Ella Odyssey stops at multiple photogenic locations other than train stations in between Kandy and Demodara. At each location, it will stop for 2 – 10 minutes to capture the lovely sceneries in the surroundings. Below are the main attractions on Kandy to Demodara train route.
1. Galboda waterfall
The Galboda waterfall locates between Inguru Oya and Galboda stations. The Galboda waterfall can be seen when the train is emerging from the two close tunnels No.12 and No.13. Since it is visible from the railway line, the train will stop there for 2 minutes. You can take some lovely snaps of the fall.
3. St. Clair’s waterfall
Setting in between Kotagala and Talawakele railway stations, this lovely waterfall is called as the “Little Niagara of Sri Lanka”. This fall is a cascading one, with two falls. The large one is 80 m high and 50 m wide, while the small one is 50 m high. It cascades over rocky outcrops into a large pool and then runs through the tea estate. St. Clair’s Fall locates close to the main railway line and it is clearly visible from the train. The train will stop there for 2 minutes to allow passengers to take photographs. This waterfall is so beautiful during the rainy season with a huge flow of water.
5. Summit Level
Pattipola is the highest railway station in Sri Lanka with an elevation of 1,891 m high above sea level. You’ll meet one of the most unique places here. This is the Summit Level locates between Pattipola and Ohiya stations. Summit Level is the highest point of Railway tracks in Sri Lanka. Summit level is located at 1898.1 m above the mean sea level. Once passed the topmost spot of the route, the train begins its descending journey towards the lowlands of the country.
7. Idalgashinna Sulan Kapolla (Windbreak)
Idalgashinna Railway Station is popular as the most picturesque railway station in Sri Lanka. Constructed in 1893, this small station dates back to the colonial era. Idalgashinna Station is a tiny station that looks even smaller by the pine-forest-covered hill towering behind it. There is only one platform for the station. There is a Windbreak between Idalgashinna and Haputale stations. The train will stop there for 3 minutes to enjoy the scenery. Usually, this area is always enveloped in a thick cloud of mist. However, it is magical scenery to watch the mist roll in and cover everything in a blanket of white.
9. Nine Arch Bridge
Nine Arch Bridge locates between Ella and Demodara is one of the major photogenic spots in Sri Lanka. This beautiful bridge has built in the British Colonial era with stone bricks and cement without steel reinforcement. It is one of the ancient Sri Lankan engineering marvels, constructed more than 100 years ago. This is a highly popular place among foreigners to catch the lovely sight of a train passing the bridge. The Picturesque sight of the train passing Nine Arch Bridge is an iconic sight of Sri Lanka. The Ella Odyssey will stop there for 10 minutes to capture some wonderful shots of this beautiful place.
The most scenic train ride in the world – Kandy to Ella
The Ella Odyssey is a new luxury train service that runs daily from Kandy to Ella. This is a quite new addition to the Sri Lankan railway system, launched on 05th March 2022. This special train stops at the 9 popular tourist attractions other than main railway stations. Travelers are allowed to get off the train at these viewpoints and capture the scenic beauty of the surrounding.
2. Adam’s Peak viewpoint
Sri Pada or Adam’s Peak is a sacred mountain in Sri Lanka. Hatton is the closest train station to reach there. This is a pilgrimage destination popular among all Sri Lankan communities. During the pilgrimage season, around 1 million passengers travel to Adam’s Peak through Hatton station. Adam’s Peak is one of the top breathtaking hiking trails in Sri Lanka, perfect to see the spectacular view of sunrise. You can get a glimpse of the conical shape peak of 2243 m high Adam’s Peak Mountain during the train ride. There is a good viewpoint of Adam’s Peak between Rozella and Hatton stations. You can capture the beauty of Adam’s Peak from this viewpoint.
4. Elgin Falls
After passing Nanu Oya train station, you’ll meet another picturesque waterfall. 25 m tall Elgin Falls locates in the Elgin tea estate in between Nanu Oya and Ambewela. Elgin Falls is named after Elgin, a major town of Moray in Scotland. The fall locates at about 1,500 m above sea level. Ella Odyssey train will stop there for 2 minutes and you can take some photogenic shots of the Fall.
6. Tunnel No 18
After the summit level, the train continues through tunnel No 18 locates around 3 km away from the Pattipola railway station. Call as Pattipola Railway Tunnel or the Summit Tunnel, this is the highest railway tunnel in Sri Lanka. It has an altitude of 1897.5 m height above mean sea level. Moreover, this is the third-longest tunnel 321.95 m long. It is also the darkest tunnel in the country, as one end is quite narrow. This is an extraordinary place in Sri Lanka, that locates at the boundary of the wet and dry zones. The tunnel is straddling the boundary of the Badulla and Nuwara Eliya Districts. The special feature is that both sides of this 18th tunnel are quite different. One side of the tunnel is filled with misty and rainy weather, while the other side is completely sunny with dry weather. You can witness this magical experience is at Tunnel 18 in Sri Lanka.
8. Kithal Ella Falls
Kithal Ella Falls locates between Heel Oya and Ella, about 100 m from Kithal Ella railway station. 23 m tall Kithal Ella is a stunning waterfall to witness. During the rainy season, the waterfall is beautiful as a queen. It is marvelous scenery to see as it cascades lusciously down in a charming rhythm. Kithal Ella falls are one of the widest waterfalls and look jaw-droppingly beautiful in the monsoon.
Pics courtesy Magnificentsrilanka