A scenic train journey is one of the must-do experiences for anyone visiting Sri Lanka. However, due to extremely high demand and limited seat availability, securing train tickets can be very challenging.
Sri Lanka Railways releases tickets to the general public only 30 days before the travel date, and popular routes often sell out within minutes.
As a Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) accredited tour operator, we maintain a limited allocation of train tickets for guests who have booked holidays with us where a scenic train journey forms part of their itinerary. From time to time, we may also have additional tickets available due to last-minute cancellations or itinerary changes, and we are pleased to offer these to other travellers whenever possible.
Please note the following conditions before making a reservation:
- Payment does not guarantee a confirmed ticket. Your reservation will be processed based on ticket availability. If we are unable to secure your requested seats, we will make every reasonable effort to obtain suitable alternatives. If we are ultimately unsuccessful, your payment will be refunded in full.
- Accurate passport details are required. We require either clear passport copies or accurate passport numbers for all passengers, as tickets must be issued under the correct passport details. Incorrect information may result in passengers being denied boarding by Sri Lanka Railways.
- The requested travel class is subject to availability. While you may reserve a specific class (e.g. First Class), availability cannot be guaranteed. If we are only able to secure a lower class than the one you paid for, we will automatically refund the applicable fare difference.
- E-tickets will be issued approximately six (6) hours before departure. We continue working until the last possible moment to secure the best available seats for our customers. For this reason, your e-ticket will only be released shortly before your scheduled departure.
By proceeding with your reservation, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the above terms and conditions.
Ella to Kandy on Train № 1016, the Udarata Menike is the hill-country line ridden in the descending direction — about 163 km of track and six and a half hours, from the tea ridges above Ella down to the old royal capital. Seats are reserved and issued against passport details, so this is a journey worth booking well ahead.
The journey
Out of Ella the line climbs first, threading the small halts of Kital Ella and Heel Oya to Bandarawela, the market town where the high estates begin. Diyatalawa and Haputale follow — the latter on a ridge where, on a clear morning, the land falls away toward the southern lowlands.
Beyond Haputale comes the finest stretch of the run. The train works along the Idalgasinna ridge with the highlands on one side and the Uva plains on the other, reaches Ohiya — the railhead for Horton Plains National Park and World’s End — then burrows through the summit tunnel to Pattipola, at roughly 1,890 m the highest station on the Sri Lankan network. The country changes on the spot: the drier southern escarpment gives way to wet, misty upland. Ambewela’s dairy pastures roll past — the stretch people call Little New Zealand — and the train eases down into Nanu Oya, the railhead for Nuwara Eliya.
From there it is Ceylon tea most of the way. Great Western, Talawakele and Kotagala pass in quick succession, then Hatton, the alighting point for Adam’s Peak, and Watawala below the Kelani valley’s wettest slopes. At Nawalapitiya the gradient slackens; Gampola follows, and the train turns up the branch into Kandy — one of the few hill-country expresses that runs into the city itself rather than passing it at Peradeniya Junction.
A note on the Nine Arch Bridge: it is not on this leg. The bridge sits between Demodara and Ella, and № 1016 is Colombo-bound — it has already crossed it before it calls at Ella. Board here and you travel away from it. See it before you leave: most visitors walk out to the bridge from Ella town, or ride the short leg down to Demodara and back.
Highlights:
- One of the world’s great scenic rail journeys, ridden from the tea ridges down to Kandy.
- The Idalgasinna ridge, with the highlands on one side and the Uva plains on the other.
- Ohiya, the rail gateway to Horton Plains and World’s End.
- The summit tunnel and Pattipola — the highest station on the Sri Lankan network.
- Ambewela’s high dairy pastures on the run down to Nanu Oya.
- A direct arrival into Kandy station, not a change at Peradeniya.
Includes:
- Scenic train ride from Ella Railway Station to Kandy Railway Station.
- All taxes & service charges.
Excludes:
- Hotel pickup & drop-off from/to Ella or Kandy.
- Food or drinks.
- Expenses of a personal nature.
Choosing your class: 1st Class seats are in an air-conditioned saloon with numbered seats; because the cabin is sealed, the windows do not open. 2nd Class seats are in a non-air-conditioned saloon where the windows open and fans improve ventilation — worth knowing if you plan to shoot through an open window.
Timings are set by Sri Lanka Railways and can change, so please confirm yours close to your travel date.
