Sri Lanka's Tea Train
Described by rail enthusiasts as one of the world’s greatest train experiences, the hill country line is a winding, ascending railroad, slow and lovely. The soft rhythms of the train will lull you through the verdant hills, tiny rural stations, forest and precipitous views. Feel your senses stirring as you climb up through the highlands, surrounded by lush tea plantations and stunning scenery in every direction.
The line between Kandy and Badulla runs through the heart of Tea Country, the extraordinary scenery reaching a crescendo somewhere between Ella and Badulla.
Highlights of taking the tea train:
Traditional carriages
Cooling fresh air through open windows
Stunning scenery and rural life
Relaxing and cosseting
Some great photo opportunities, but be careful through the open windows!
Image gallery
Amazing scenery
The slightly ramshackle-looking tea train, click-clacking through the flourishing countryside of central Tea Country, is iconic Sri Lankan imagery. Though popular with many travellers, it’s still very much part of everyday life for locals. The scenery is captivating and varied. Wild green hills make way for forests clinging to steep hillsides, deep, cool tunnels and working tea fields. Trundle through tiny rural stations that look like the opening scene of an arthouse film. Vendors wait on platforms, ready to sell bags of fresh fruit and tubs of tempting snacks to passengers leaning through the windows. It’s something really special.
Not just about the destination
Much more than just a fun way to get from A to B, this is a glorious glimpse into a different type of travel; one that both hints at the grand journeys of yesteryear and demonstrates the everyday travel realities of modern Sri Lankan communities. 2nd or 3rd class tickets are the best way to enjoy the journey as they get you seats in the heart of the train with opening windows for a fresh, cool breeze.
Embrace the moment
The journey from Kandy to Badulla takes about 7 hours in total, but you can disembark at any stop that fits your wider journey along the way. The route consistently presents great photo opportunities, particularly as the train curves and ascends its way around the undulating landscape. Just make sure you remember to put the camera down occasionally and give yourself fully to the experience, as the fresh tropical air brushes your face and the scent of the tea fields floats through the open windows.
