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.
The climb from Kandy to Nanu Oya is the stretch that made Sri Lanka’s hill-country railway famous. In a little under 100 km the Main Line hauls itself out of the Kandyan valley through a chain of British-era tunnels, cuttings and stone bridges, and emerges into open tea country roughly 1,100 m higher than it started — at the railhead for Nuwara Eliya.
You travel on Train № 1005, the Podi Menike, the daytime Colombo Fort–Badulla service and the train most people mean when they talk about riding into the hills. Seats are reserved and issued against passport details, so this is a journey worth booking well ahead.
The journey
Out of Kandy Railway Station the line runs south through Gampola and Nawalapitiya, where the serious climbing starts. Above Watawala the gradient stiffens and the train works its way past waterfalls, gorges and forested slopes to Hatton — the station for Adam’s Peak and the Castlereagh reservoir. From there it is tea all the way: Talawakele, then Great Western beneath its namesake mountain, and finally Nanu Oya, a short drive below Nuwara Eliya itself.
Allow about three and a half hours for the leg — № 1005 leaves Kandy late morning and reaches Nanu Oya in the early afternoon. Timings are set by Sri Lanka Railways and can change, so please confirm yours close to your travel date.
Highlights:
- One of the world’s great scenic rail journeys.
- Tea estates and factories from Nawalapitiya upwards, through the heart of Ceylon tea country.
- Waterfalls, gorges and forested slopes on the climb above Watawala.
- British-era tunnels, cuttings and stone bridges.
- Nanu Oya — the railhead for Nuwara Eliya and the tea highlands.
Includes:
- Scenic train ride from Kandy Railway Station to Nanu Oya Railway Station.
- All taxes & service charges.
Excludes:
- Hotel pickup & drop-off from/to Kandy or Nanu Oya.
- 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.
