Trains Through The Hill Country Of Sri Lanka

The Hill Country Express

 By travelling by train through the Hill Country of Sri Lanka you truly experience one of The Great Railway Journeys Of The World.

Most visitors will start their journey from Peradeniya Junction, a railway station near Kandy and travel to either Nanu Oya, Haputale, Bandarawela or Ella, journeys that lasts between 4 and 7 hours depending on where you get off. Nanu Oya is the railway station that serves the Hill Station of Nuwara Eliya, which is about 6 km away.

There are two express trains that ply this route on a daily basis. Both have Observation Cars attached to the rear of the train. The Podi Menike has the luxury Expo Carriage in addition.

Podi Menike (translated as - The Little Maiden)

Udarata Menike (translated as – The Hill Country Maiden)

The Podi Menike is the morning train, and leaves Kandy (Peradeniya) at 8:40 AM, so is clearly the best option if seats are available on either the Expo Carriage or the Observation Car. Getting on board this train means you get to spend some time to relax at your end destination in the hills – assuming the train is on time.

The Udarata Menike is the afternoon train, with the Observation Car only, and leaves Kandy (Peradeniya) at 1:15 PM so will take up most of your day.

The Expo Rail Carriage

The Expo Carriage is a privately operated luxury carriage operated on most express trains in Sri Lanka. It is located immediately behind the locomotive at the front of the train. The carriage features comfortable airline style seats, a flatscreen TV with the latest feature films and most important of all – great bathrooms that are kept spotlessly clean. A free meal and unlimited tea / coffee are also served during your journey.

First preference is given to booking this carriage for our clients. The carriage tends to be very popular and reservation is on first come first served basis. Therefore seats cannot always be guaranteed.

*The Expo Carriage may also only be available on certain days of the week depending on availability.

 

The Observation Car

Interior Of The Observation Car

 

The second option is the Observation Car, which is located at the end of the train (last carriage). The seats at the end give great views down the track. This carriage is operated by the Sri Lanka Railways.

This is the second option we look at for our clients if the Expo Carriage is fully booked or unavailable. There are however some important points to remember if you are booked onto the Observation Car:

▪ Take a pack lunch, and plenty of refreshments especially if you are travelling between Kandy and Haputale, Bandarawela or Ella – as this journey lasts up to 6 hours. There are no proper dining cars on the Hill Country trains.

▪ Take a pack of wet-wipes and a personal stack of toilet paper in a small ziplock bag. The toilets on this carriage are reasonable, but not up to foreign standards.

Important Issues To Remember About The Hill Country Train

▪ Trains on the Up-Country line are highly unreliable, so do not expect your train to arrive on time. Delays of a few hours are quite common – which makes it important that you take refreshments on board. Trains are also liable to be cancelled at short notice – so be mentally prepared for this!

▪ Seats on both the Expo Carriage and The Observation Car tend to be very popular and reservation is on first come first served basis. It is also not possible for anyone to book seats on the Observation Car more than 10 days ahead of departure, so on occasions, obtaining seats may not be possible. In this instance, you will be notified upon arrival in Sri Lanka of alternatives, which may include the option of travelling by 2^nd Class, if the carriages do not look too crowded. Given the choice, many may actually prefer to travel in the 2^nd Class carriages with open windows that give better views than the Observation Car itself!

▪ If you only wish do part of this journey by train, it is possible for your vehicle to pick you up at Nanu Oya Station and to continue by road to Haputale, Bandarawela or Ella. This may be a good idea for families with small children as the journey time is about 4 hours to Nanu Oya. However remember that the most scenic and breathtaking part of the journey is actually the high altitude section that lies beyond Nanu Oya!

The Podi Menike Emerging From A Tunnel

 

Description Of The Journey

Peradeniya Junction is situated at about 1500 ft in altitude. From here the train runs on a single track at a reasonable speed (30mph) to Nawalapitiya - a railway town where it starts to get noticeably cooler.

The climb then begins in earnest over 1 in 44 gradients through Watawela, Rozella and Hatton to Talawakele. This takes a long time as the train travels at 10 miles per hour. Tea plantations can be seen for miles around which has a very soothing effect on the senses and groups of Tamil plantation women can be seen picking the leaves.

Soon after leaving Talawakele two spectacular waterfalls come into view. The high and narrow Devon Falls and the short and wide St Clair Falls. An almost complete spiral follows as the train struggles to ascend to Nanu-Oya. This is the stop to get off for those travelling to Nuwara Eliya.

Past Nanu Oya, the countryside is now rugged and the train is at over 5000 ft. Elgin Falls appears on the right side in a near inaccessible gorge. By the time the train arrives at Pattipola the highest railway station in Sri Lanka, it is over 6000ft and the station is usually surrounded in mist (low clouds actually). By Sri Lankan standards it is quite cold. Platform staff and locals wear coats and turbans. It usually rains. The vegetation turns Alpine with extensive forests of Cypress and Eucalyptus.

A short distance from Pattipola station the train enters the Summit Tunnel at 6226ft the highest point on the railway. In passing through the tunnel the train has passed from the "Wet Zone" of the country into the "Dry Zone". This is quite obvious when you emerge from the tunnel. No rain!

The brakes come into action for the steep descent which follows. The train now descends with a spectacular view of The Uva Basin. The train emerges from one tunnel to another with clouds floating below. The main peak of the 6600ft high Namunukula range is visible in the far distance. You are in God's own country! Ohiya is the starting point for treks to Horton Plains and World's End. The train passes stunning views at Idalgashinna and then on to the amazing Haputale Gap.

From Haputale, on a clear day you would be able to see as far as the Indian Ocean at Dondra Head - the southernmost point of Sri Lanka!

The final descent begins through the grassy plains of Diyatalawa, Bandarawela to reach the pretty village of Ella.

 

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