Summit Level

Summit Level is the highest point on the Sri Lanka Railways network. It lies on the Main Line a short distance beyond Pattipola, the highest station in the country, where the track tops out close to 1,900 metres before plunging into Tunnel No. 18 and beginning its long descent into Uva Province. The Dunhinda Odyssey and Ella Odyssey tourist trains pause here for about two minutes so passengers can photograph the spot.

Where the Line Crosses the Hills

From Nanu Oya the railway climbs steadily through tea estates and open grassland past Ambewela and Pattipola. At Summit Level it reaches the crest of the central massif. Immediately beyond is the Pattipola Tunnel, officially Tunnel No. 18, whose highest point is recorded at 1,897 metres (6,224 feet). It straddles the boundary between Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts, so trains enter it in one district and leave in the other.

From there the line falls towards Ohiya, the station for Horton Plains National Park, then along the ridge to Idalgashinna and Haputale.

What to Expect

• Cold and cloud. This is the coldest part of the journey. Mist can roll over the track in minutes, so the view ranges from wide grassland panoramas to a white-out. Carry a warm layer.
• The stop. On the Odyssey trains the pause is short and on open track; photograph from the doorways or windows.
• Regular trains do not stop at Summit Level. Watch for the cutting and the tunnel portal a few minutes after leaving Pattipola.