By train in Sri Lanka. Trains in Sri Lanka. Colombo-Kandy: historical and architectural monuments

Railways in Sri Lanka were built by British colonialists in the 19th century. (and have not undergone significant modernization since then), but this does not prevent them from remaining one of the most inexpensive and convenient types transport on the island.

Railway communication in Sri Lanka is carried out on several lines ():

Coastal line(Coast line) - runs along the western coast of the country from Puttalam in the north, through cities such as Negombo, Colombo, Kalutara, Bentota, Beruwela, Alusgama, Ambalangoda, Hikkaduwa and Galle to the southern tip of Sri Lanka (Weligama and Matara).
Mountain line(Hill country line) - runs from the capital Colombo to Kandy and further to such settlements, like Hatton (), Manu Oya (), Haputale, Bandarawela, Eliya and Badulla.
Northern line(Northern line) - goes from Colombo, through Kurunegala to Anuradhapura and Vavuniya, ending at Omanthai. Two additional branches of this line go to Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa, as well as to Trincomalee.

Types of trains and carriages in Sri Lanka

Passenger carriages on trains in Sri Lanka are divided into 3 classes, depending on the level of comfort, additional services and travel prices. Second and third class carriages differ slightly. In the first case there is a possibility advance reservation(though not always), softly padded seats and less chance of crowding due to lack of seats.

First class carriages are equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and power sockets. Places are available for advance reservation. Many of them have chic vintage interiors that transport passengers to the beginning of the 20th century. The so-called observation cars (which are located at the rear of some trains) have a large rear window allowing for panoramic views.

The class or type of carriages on Sri Lankan trains is indicated by letter markings:

A - second and third class carriages, not reserved
B - restaurant or dining car
C - second class carriages, reserved
D - second and third class carriages with reclining seats, reserved
E - first class observation car, reserved
F - first class sleeping car, reserved
G - air-conditioned first class carriage, reserved

Depending on the distance and the equipment of different classes of carriages, trains in Sri Lanka are also divided into several types. In addition to Intercity Trains and Express Trains, there are several private trains (Special Trains) equipped with carriages on the island increased comfort and intended to commit train tours around the country.

If you are planning to book Railway tickets for travel
in Sri Lanka before arriving in the country, this can be done by agreement with
one of the local travel agencies or with the help of your hotel.

Trains in Sri Lanka: schedule, map

To travel long distances, the local population actively uses mainly two types of transport - buses and railways. Total length railway tracks in the country - 1447 km.

The railway, like buses, in Sri Lanka are very inexpensive and popular view transport. There are only three species in the country public transport: railway, public and private buses.

Sri Lanka train schedule

The current train schedule can be found online on the Sri Lanka Railways website. Pay attention to the type indicated in the schedule: it may be express or local- the speeds of these types of trains are different and a short journey covered by an express train in 1.5 hours can take 3 hours by a local train. But there are also advantages - local trains stop at all stations, and express trains often pass by small railway stations.

Map of railway lines of Sri Lanka

Full scheme railway lines islands of Sri Lanka. The railway service covers a number of popular tourist destinations: all southwest coast to Matara, Kandy, Peradeniya (Royal Botanical Garden), Nuwara Eliya (the railway station is called Nanu Oya), Pinnawela (Rambukkana railway station), Hatton, Ella and further to Badulla, Jaffna, Mannar, Kalpitiya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, etc. From the main transport hub countries - the city of Colombo, you can reach most of them by rail major cities countries. Unfortunately, the railway branch to Hambantota has not yet been completed; only its first section to Beliatta was opened in 2019.

Resolution: 2000*3000.

Open the map of Sri Lanka railway lines in a new tab.

Online map of railways of Sri Lanka

When planning a trip to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, remember that the train connection is through Colombo, i.e. It is impossible to get from the resort town on the coast to Kandy without a transfer to Colombo.

Also be careful with the departure times of trains at peripheral stations: trains may not only be late, but also arrive 15-20 minutes earlier than scheduled. Allow this waiting time to avoid unpleasant situations.

Sri Lanka railway routes

Colombo - Matara (southwest), runs along the entire popular tourist resort southwest coast to Matara. A branch to Kataragama (near Yala Park), covering resorts such as Dickwella and Tangalle, is planned but not yet built. In 2019, the Matara - Beliatta (south) section was opened, which runs along the southern coast of the island and is the first segment of the Matara - Kataragama road.
Colombo - Puttalam (northwest), the branch goes along northwest coast Sri Lanka, passing through the resort towns of Negombo, Marawila, Chilaw. There is a kitesurfing center close to Puttalam resort village Kalpitiya.
Colombo - Avissawella (centre) relatively short railway line towards the center of the island.
Colombo - Jaffna (north) runs all the way to the north of the country, ending in Jaffna. The line was badly damaged during civil war, were destroyed, but have now been restored, in the areas of the cities of Vavuniya and Killinochchi.
Colombo - Mannar (north) goes to the northwestern part of the country, along the Mannar Peninsula, from which Adam's Bridge begins (a chain of islands to the Indian city of Rameswaram).
Colombo - Mihintale (north-central part) towards the north of the island, through the city of Anuradhapura, which is part of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. The city of Mihintale is the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Colombo - Badulla (centre) goes in central highlands countries. Extremely popular with tourists because... passes through many attractions of the mountainous part: the Peradeniya-Nuwara Eliya section of the route is famous for its landscapes (mountains, tea plantations), Hatton (Adam's Peak), part of the route runs through National Park Horton Plains, Bandarawella, Ella (mountains, waterfalls, plantations), Demodara (Ella-Demodara bridge), to Badulla.
Colombo - Matali (centre) The railway branch goes to the center of the country, a popular destination among tourists, passes through the city of Kandy, which is one of the cities of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka and the Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya, passes through the Pinnavelu elephant nursery (Rambukkana).
Colombo - Trincomalee (east) goes through the center of the country to the northeast. Resort town Trincomalee is popular with tourists from May to September, during the season. The railway line is taking over tourist city Avukana, where the attraction of Avukana and Habarana (tree houses) is located.
Colombo - Batticaloa (east) passes through the center of the country, to the north-east of the island, splits off from a line to Trincomalee at Gal Oye and ends at Batticaloa. Popular with tourists traveling to the resort towns of Kalkuda and Passikuda.

Train interchange stations

Junction stations connecting railway branches are mostly completely small towns, this should be taken into account when planning your route.

To plan ahead a tourist route around the island, find out the exact train schedule in Sri Lanka. Where to change trains, train departure and arrival times, travel time, etc. helpful information for travelers.

The bulk of the local population travels around the island either by train or bus. Traveling by train takes longer than by bus. But more budget friendly.

It is better to buy tickets for first and second class in advance. To get into first class, purchase tickets 30 days before your trip.

You should try to enter third class carriages first in order to be able to sit down or stand up comfortably.

Trains to or from Colombo are usually crowded. It takes a lot of effort to get into a carriage during rush hour. Someone from the locals will have time to take free places, the rest will stand closely in the aisle or near the toilet. Tourists, as a rule, do not have the skill to pave the way to the seats. You have to stand for several hours at a time.

Train schedule on the official website

Train schedules in Sri Lanka are usually unchanged, but before buying a ticket, it is better to check the information on the official website of the Ceylon Railway.

Website at English language. The table indicates the type of train - high-speed, night, etc. Then the place of departure (From) and final destination(To). Time of departure (Departure) and arrival (Arrival).

First of all, the Sri Lanka train schedule on the main line: Colombo, Badulla, Matale, Kandy, Matara. Further intercity express services, coastline, eastern, northern, Puttalam side, Kelani valley line.

How to buy a train ticket in Sri Lanka

The carriages are divided into first, second and third class.

You need to buy a first class train ticket in Sri Lanka in advance.

A month or several weeks before the intended trip. The sooner you do, the better your chances of getting a ticket. First class is selling out at lightning speed. For same-day travel, it is only possible to get into second and third class.

Not all trains have first class carriages.

How to book a ticket

You can only buy tickets while in Sri Lanka. And only through “live” cash registers. Online bookings No. It is also not possible to book by phone. This applies to tickets for carriages of each class and any direction.

Railway map

The map shows the main stations railway (big cities and resorts). As well as the train schedule for Sri Lanka.

Train travel: which resorts to visit

Aluthgama

During the tsunami in 2004, the main part of the railway was washed away by the wave. The southern side of the coast has been awaiting renovation for about 10 years. Trains partially ran to the central and eastern part countries. On this moment The Sri Lankan railway has been fully restored.

You can get to most of the resorts and attractions of Ceylon by train.

This is all South coast islands - gorgeous beaches and the Indian Ocean.
You can visit the highlands and - Kandy, Nuwara Eliya (center of the country).
Take the train to Jaffna (north).
Get to know the historical part of Sri Lanka - ancient cities, ruins, temples - the city of Polonnaruwa.
Visit the beach resorts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the east.

Route Nuwara Eliya - Ella - a landmark of the island

A pleasant way to get to know the mountainous part of the island is to buy tickets for the Nuwara Eliya - Ella train.

According to National Geographik, the views along this route are some of the most beautiful in the world!

Travel time is 3 hours.

The tracks are laid through mountains, hills planted with tea bushes, the train passes through the jungle. Anyone who has time on vacation should definitely visit this part of the island!

Detailed route from different points of Sri Lanka.

To get from the airport to Nuwara Eliya, you must first get to Colombo. At the Colombo Fort railway station, purchase tickets for the Colombo - Kandy - Badulla train. This train passes through Nuwara Eliya and Ella.

By train to the beach

It is possible to take a train to (all ocean resorts are marked on the map). If you are going on a trip in the autumn and winter months (from November to April), then you should go by. This is high season time.

Kilometer-long beaches of Hikkaduwa and swimming with turtles, cozy beach Unawatuna without waves, whale safari in Mirissa, calm Koggala, the famous fort in Galle. There are about 30 beaches that can be reached by train.

In the summer months it is better to visit the east - Batticaloa, Trincomalee.

Colombo-Kandy: historical and architectural monuments

The Colombo-Kandy route will allow you to get acquainted with a huge amount attractions of Sri Lanka. Just like on the way to Kandy, there is something to see in the outskirts of the city:

Before reaching Kandy - Pinnawella station. There is an elephant nursery in Pinavella.
Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy.
Spice garden.
Museum of the History of Buddhism and National Museum Kandy.
The Alagalla mountain range is 26 km from the city.
Botanical Garden in Peradeniya - 6.5 km from Kandy.

There is a direct train from Colombo to Kandy. Travel time is 3 hours. The Colombo-Matali train stops at Kandy.

Colombo-Putallam - north-west of the country

You can also get to the northwestern side of the island by train. Beach resorts Marawila, Negombo and Chilaw. In the vicinity of Putallam there is the village of Kalpitiya, where you can go surfing and kiting.

Pollonaruwa, Batticaloa, Trincomalee - east

Pollonaruwa is the medieval capital of Sri Lanka. You can visit the ruins here royal palace and the Hall of Councils, see the statue of King Parakramabahu, the remains of the royal library. Visit the 11th century Hindu temple of Shiva Devale, see the ancient pond in the shape of a lotus, the home of Tivanka frescoes. And much more.

The beach resorts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee are worth visiting in the summer months - June, July, August. This is the season in the eastern part of the island.

Buy first class tickets 30 days before your intended travel date.
Combine all types of transport to get to the resort faster and with greater comfort: taxi, tuk-tuk, bus, train.
Try to avoid rush hour - the carriages will be crowded.
Buy tickets for the express train so as not to waste time on the road. Local (local) train makes a stop in each village, unlike express.

Sri Lanka's railway routes are not particularly diverse; it is much faster and more comfortable to travel around the country by bus. But there is one case when it is worth sacrificing comfort and using the services of the ShRW, don’t worry, they are fascinating mountain landscapes They won’t let you regret it for a minute.

Of course, you shouldn’t be too much of a fan of trains, unless you’re traveling first class, otherwise you risk tiring your body quite a lot. We will start our journey from Bandarawela station and will move towards Nuwara Eliya, after a short stop we will go further to Kandy.

This is what a typical railway station looks like, reminiscent of the station of some nameless town in the Wild West, except that the lush vegetation and the absence of Clint Eastwood are a little confusing:

The interior is very ascetic: ticket offices (open half an hour to an hour before the train arrives), a controller and a board with a schedule:

Carefully placed handrails will prevent you from getting lost on the way to the ticket office:

After each train departure, a new schedule is manually posted on the board and the departure time is set:

Each station has a boss; he can be recognized by his white uniform and concentrated look:

Well, let's go look at this very mountainous Sri Lanka:

Our train is gaining altitude:

The number of tea plantations increases in direct proportion to this:

Waterfalls are often found in the mountains:

Sri Lanka is an agricultural country, and if the coast of the island is an all-Lankan health resort, then mountainous areas can safely be called a granary, all food is grown here:

Cabbage, carrots, potatoes...

Small reservoirs are built to irrigate fields:

There is also a place for landscape design in the mountains; for ease of cultivation, the following terraces are cut:

The considerable number of tunnels adds a special charm to the route:

And the carbon monoxide spreading in them:

There are beautiful narrow tunnels, but control yourself and don’t lose your head:

Don't deny the pleasure of feeling like a hare:

The truth is that all the places are occupied by other people:

By the way, speaking of hares, they are caught by conductors in the uniform of people's commissars, who check the availability of a ticket and its compliance with social class.

After checking your ticket, do not rush to get rid of it; there is one more level of protection; the ticket must be returned at the exit from the station:

If it is lost, you will need to pay a fine for the loss of inventory:

Trains are very often late, especially in the mountains, this is due to the wear and tear of the railway deck, which is in a state of permanent repair. So you can drive and drive, and then stand for about 30 minutes and wait until the repair work on this section is completed, although, most likely, they will simply lay down the rails for you so that they can be immediately dismantled later:

The beautiful floor of Sri Lankan trains:

It is very difficult to stay hungry on the train; food vendors run regularly.

Almost everything railway routes- single track:

Therefore, at stations you often have to wait for an oncoming train to miss each other:

Specific arrow translation:

Road to Kandy:

By the way, there is no direct train to Kandy; you will need to change trains at Peradeniya station; the same ticket is used.

Now let's talk a little about classes, on long-haul flights There are three classes: 3, 1, 2. On different trains, first class can be: a sleeping compartment (for two people), a seating compartment, with air conditioning in the carriage or with a preliminary seat reservation. Second class is usually seated, with fans and without prior reservation (recommended for short trips, no more than 2-3 hours). Third class - seats with a huge number of local people in the carriage.

The cost of each class is almost double the previous one.

This is what the second class carriage of the Colombo-Kandy train looks like:

And this is a second class carriage from Negombo to Colombo:

Have a good trip and smooth rails!

Sri Lanka has excellent public transport!

The most common and inexpensive are Trains, Tuk-Tuks and Buses.

Of course, no one canceled the opportunity to rent a car or motorcycle.
Motorcycles are very popular here.

But driving yourself in Sri Lanka is very difficult due to the local driving culture.
Everyone goes as they want and where they want.

The site is quite confusing.
Therefore, I will try to tell you briefly what’s what.

Here is the railway station in the city of Kandy.

Inside, like in any other station, there is a ticket office. There you can find out about any train and tariffs for every taste.

Everyone is waiting for the train on the platform

From the center of Sri Lanka, Colombo, you can get to any destination for no more than 380 rupees.
This is equal to approximately 95 Russian rubles.

Passengers have the opportunity to choose a carriage class with a suitable level of comfort.

The closer to the end of the train, the better and more comfortable the cars.
Below is a table with fares based on the class of carriage.

As well as a map of train routes between cities.

There is only one track going to the mountains where I went, i.e. There is practically no chance of crossing paths with an oncoming train. Only if at stations.

I had purchased the most comfortable seats in advance. Their cost was 1250 rupees, or about 300 rubles.

Only one such carriage was located at the very end of the train.

Everything in the carriage was simply gorgeous!

1) Comfortable seats with all kinds of adjustments, a footrest and a table.
The seat can be turned in the direction of the train by pressing a special lever.

2) Air conditioning
3) Several LCD TVs
4) Nice LED ceiling lighting
5) 220 volt sockets

In general, we had everything we needed in terms of comfort!

My final station was the small town of Ella, located high in the mountains.

The length of the route is 180-200 km. It took about 7 hours to cover this distance.
Yes for so long.

All because the road passes among picturesque mountains, tunnels and plains of Sri Lanka.
The maximum speed of the train was 20-30 km/h. And in some places 5-10 km/h.

But I was not at all tired on the way.

Not only was the carriage comfortable, but the view outside the window was incredibly beautiful!
Sometimes the view from the window amazed my imagination!

At first it rained a little and it was cloudy.

Trains stop briefly at stations.
You have a maximum of 5 minutes to enter the carriage. Or even less.

Along the way, every 5 minutes you could see small waterfalls.

And also mountain rivers.

Tea plantations accompanied me all the way!

Sometimes the train passed along picturesque highways.

Slowly rising above the clouds, the train was enveloped in fog!

Then the bright sun came out! There was no end to the plantations!

The train continually climbed the mountain, descended, and went around them from the side. It was like some kind of attraction!

In places it felt like I was on a cliff. And the train is about to fall into the abyss. But no. All OK.

Periodically, the train passed through mountain tunnels!
Insanely cool!

I suggest you just look at this incredible beauty of nature!

We passed very beautiful waterfall in the distance.

There are controllers on the train who keep order so that no one breaks the rules or tries to move from a cheaper carriage to a more expensive and comfortable one.

In general, like in any other country.

So, having reached the town of Ella, it was already completely dark. It was about 7 pm.

That's the end of my train journey! It was comfortable and incredibly beautiful!
I can safely say that this is the most amazing train journey of my life!!!

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