Your Guide to taking the Ella to Kandy Train
- margauxgathy6
- Jan 12
- 4 min read
The blue train between Ella and Kandy in Sri Lanka is often hailed as one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world, and it did not disappoint. The scenery exceeded all of my expectations, and the photos don’t do it justice. However, there is a lot of conflicting information on how to get a ticket and top tips for the best experience. Hopefully this guide clears it up a bit.
If you want a full guide to Sri Lanka, check out my other post here.
Contents
Which Direction Should I Go?
I took the train from Ella to Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya) and then from Nanu Oya to Kandy. This direction is less crowded than the Kandy to Ella direction. I took the train at 6:37am, which was the first of the day, which also made it less busy.
I recommend making the stop in Nuwara Eliya to visit the town and break up the journey into two 4 hour parts. The town is very pretty with some great walks and tea plantation views. You can get a bus to the town from right outside the Nanu Oya train station.
How to Buy Tickets
There are several options to buy tickets for the Ella - Kandy train:
Reserve tickets at the train station three or so days in advance. These will only be for reserved seats.
Reserve a ticket on the Sri Lanka Railways website a few days in advance. This will also be for reserved seats.
Buy a ticket on the day of the train. This is what I did for both legs of the journey. I bought a second class unreserved seat ticket at the station around 30-45 minutes before the train departed. It doesn’t guarantee you a seat, but it guarantees you’ll get on the train. Because it was the first train of the day, I had no problem getting a seat, but I didn’t use it! I was up in the open door the whole way looking at the scenery.
How Much are the Tickets?
The tickets cost 300 LKR (approx. 83p) for second class unreserved Ella to Nanu Oya and 450 LKR (approx. £1.24) for second class unreserved from Nanu Oya to Kandy. Reserved seat prices vary depending on the day but are around 1500 to 2000 LKR (£4.15 - £5.50). Third class is about half of the second class price.
Don’t buy a ticket through a third party like 12Go Asia, as these tickets will have wildly inflated prices. I heard some people spent $20+ on a ticket.
What Class Should I Travel in?
I recommend travelling in second class. There is more space and the windows and doors open, so you can hang out of the train, get good photos, and have a breeze. Because of the high altitude, you don’t need air conditioning.
First class seats are all reserved, but the doors and windows don’t open, so in my opinion it’s not worth it at all. Third class is much like second class, just more crowded and you’re less likely to get a seat if you choose the unreserved option.
If you have an unreserved ticket and find yourself wanting a seat, be ready to nab one in Nanu Oya when people get off. A lot of people also get off in Talawakelle. I strongly recommend trying to get a seat at this point, as the train becomes a lot more crowded with locals, and it gets quite a bit hotter, so standing in the doorway with a lot of people isn’t as pleasant.
Which Side of the Train Should I be on?
From Ella to Kandy, the best side to be on is the right hand side. It does change a bit as you go through the mountains, and I recommend heading over to the left about an hour before and after you reach Nanu Oya if you can. After that, you’ll reach Talawakelle, and you’ll want to hop over to the right to see a waterfall. From that point (after Hatton station), it becomes a lot more urban, and it won’t matter as much.
How Easy is it to Hang out of the Train?
You’ve definitely seen pictures of people hanging out of the train for photos. It looks scary, but the train goes so slowly that it’s really not that bad. Hold on tight (obviously), and beware of branches and tunnels, as this is where most accidents happen.
People are generally quite nice about sharing the doorways so that everyone can get the views and their photos. Don’t hog them!
Is there Food and Drink/ Toilets on the Train?
The train has a place where they sell some food and drinks, but it is expensive. I recommend getting something in Ella before you go to make sure you aren’t hungry or thirsty, especially if you’re doing all 8 hours in one go.
There are toilets on the train. Given that this train tailors mostly for tourists, these are generally western style and in good condition. Make sure you bring toilet paper and hand sanitiser, though.
I hope this helps plan your train journey! I can’t express how much I loved this experience, and it wasn’t nearly as stressful as people made it out to be. Please look after the scenery you go through: don’t throw anything out of the train. As always, leave only your footprints behind :)
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