Plan Sri Lanka in Stippl
Day-by-day planning, stays and budget in one app, with every place from this guide already on the map.
Download the appKandy to Ella train: the short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there a train from Kandy to Ella? | Yes. One line links Kandy, Nanu Oya (the station for Nuwara Eliya) and Ella, and runs on to Badulla |
| Is it running in 2026? | Partly. Nanu Oya to Ella runs again; Kandy to Nanu Oya is closed for repairs |
| How long does it take? | Six to eight hours when the whole line runs. Today, about three hours by road plus just over two by train |
| Is it worth it? | For most travellers, yes. The stretch that runs now is the one people come for |
| Do I need to book? | For a reserved seat, yes, on the day the 30-day booking window opens |
Is the Kandy to Ella train still running?
Partly. Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka in November 2025 and damaged the hill line in 223 places, and the line closed for about eight months. The section from Nanu Oya through Ella to Badulla reopened in mid 2026. That is the stretch most of the famous photos are taken on. The section from Kandy up to Nanu Oya is still being repaired, and Sri Lanka's Parliament was told in July 2026 that full restoration is expected by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
The status has changed twice already, and some 2026 guides say the whole line is back when the railway's own reporting says otherwise. So check the official Sri Lanka Railways site and the current Kandy to Ella train times close to your travel date, rather than any blog post, this one included.
Until the Kandy section reopens, the plan is simple: leave Kandy by road, pick up the train at Nanu Oya and ride the reopened line to Ella.
How long is the train ride from Kandy to Ella?
When the whole line runs, Kandy to Ella takes six to eight hours. The track winds slowly up through the hills and delays are normal, so never plan a tight connection at the other end. Right now the day splits into three legs:
- Kandy to Nanu Oya by road, about three hours by car, minivan or tuk-tuk. The road climbs past Ramboda Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in the country, and through the tea estates around Nuwara Eliya, whose factories run tours that end in a tasting.
- Into the station. Nanu Oya is 8 km west of Nuwara Eliya, 20 to 40 minutes by tuk-tuk. Coming straight from Kandy, ask your driver to drop you at the station.
- Nanu Oya to Ella by train, about two and a quarter hours on a good day and often longer, past Ambewela and Haputale through the best of the tea country.
The Kandy to Ella train route, in order: Kandy, the long climb through the hills to Nanu Oya, then Ambewela, Haputale and Ella. The line ends 21 km further on at Badulla, about 40 minutes past Ella. If you would rather break the journey, Nuwara Eliya is the natural overnight, with tea estates, colonial hotels and cold nights.
Is the Kandy to Ella train worth it?
For most travellers, yes. Few rides give you this much at walking pace: tea slopes running right up to the track, waterfalls, and cool air through open windows and doors. And the part that runs in 2026 is the prettiest part, so the closure costs you less than you might fear.
It is not for everyone, though. The full ride eats a day, the train often runs late, and in December, January and at weekends it fills up with Sri Lankans travelling too, so without a reserved seat you may stand for hours. If you are short on time or crowds wear you out, a scenic minivan covers the same hills (see the alternatives below). A good middle way is road to Nanu Oya and the train for the last stretch, which is exactly what everyone does right now anyway.
Seat classes and which side has the best views
There are four kinds of seat, from basic to sealed:
- Third class: benches, standing room and open doors. The busiest carriages.
- Second class: the sweet spot. Fans, windows that open, and you can reserve it.
- First class reserved: air conditioned, with sealed windows, so no leaning out.
- Observation carriage: at the front of some trains, with big fixed glass windows.
Reserved first and second class carriages are closed off from the open ones, so you cannot walk through to the third class doors from a reserved seat. Pick second class if open windows matter to you.
Which side to sit on: from Nanu Oya to Ella, sit on the left. Once the Kandy section reopens, sit on the right from Kandy up to Nanu Oya.
The doorway photo is the shot everyone wants, and it injures people every year: poles, signs, tunnels and trackside branches pass very close. If you lean out, do it only on the side with open space, keep a firm grip and pull in early. On the platform, stand well back from the edge as the train pulls in.
Kandy to Ella train tickets: booking in short
Reserved seats go on sale 30 days ahead, on the official railway booking site or at a station, and the hill line seats sell out almost at once. Unreserved tickets are sold on the day and never run out, but full is full, so you may stand. Check the current fare when you book rather than trusting a figure in an old guide.
Colombo to Kandy train: starting the journey
If your trip starts in Colombo, the line to Kandy is running: about two and a half to three hours from Colombo Fort. Reserved seats sell out ahead, so book them in the same window as the hill train.
What to expect onboard
- Snacks come to you. Vendors climb on at the stations with rotti and sambal wrapped in newspaper. Cash only, and hotter than they look.
- It gets cold. The air cools fast as you climb, so keep a fleece and long trousers in your day bag.
- Stops are not announced in English. Download offline maps before you board and follow your station on the map, because data is patchy in parts of the hills.
- Busy days are predictable. December, January and weekends are the fullest, when Sri Lankans travel too.
- Packed carriages are the weak spot. Solo and female travellers report unwanted attention on crowded trains. A reserved seat is the easy fix.
Alternatives to the train
Train full, short on time or travelling in the wettest weeks? These are the alternatives, and for now you will use one of them for the Kandy end anyway.
- Scenic minivan. Kandy to Ella in five to six hours, with about seven photo stops on the way. You miss the rails, but Ramboda Falls and the tea estates are on the road either way.
- Private driver. The same road on your own schedule. Many travellers hire one for the whole trip for the flexibility. The catch is that you pay for idle days, and some drivers steer you towards hotels that pay them commission.
- Taxi per leg. Your guesthouse can book a car for just this transfer, with no advance booking needed.
- Bus. The cheapest and the slowest, with no booking. Kandy to Nuwara Eliya takes about three hours, and from there you can join the train at Nanu Oya.
How the ride fits into your Sri Lanka route
Kandy is on about two in three Sri Lanka trips planned with Stippl, and more than four in five of those trips go on to Ella. That makes this ride the hinge of the classic loop: the cultural triangle and the temples behind you, the hill country ahead, the beaches after that. Ella itself turns up on about three in four Sri Lanka trips.
Here is how travellers usually pace it:
- Kandy: one or two nights. Almost half of all Kandy stops are a single night, enough for the Temple of the Tooth and the lake.
- Nuwara Eliya: optional, one night. Worth it for the tea estates, and it puts you 8 km from the station for the morning train.
- Ella: two or three nights. It is where travellers finally slow down in the hills, with Little Adam's Peak, Ella Rock and the Nine Arch Bridge all close by.
- After Ella: the south coast or a safari. The road down via Wellawaya to the south coast takes three to four hours, with Galle at the far end of the coast.
For a stay in Ella, the hillsides above town have the valley views and are a short tuk-tuk ride from the main street. Passara Road puts Little Adam's Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge within walking distance, and the budget places sit near the station.
Our 2 week Sri Lanka itinerary builds this leg in as Day 7, between Kandy and Ella, with the full route around it.
Plan your train day in the Stippl app
Add Kandy, Nuwara Eliya if you are stopping, and Ella to a trip in the Stippl itinerary planner, set the nights, and put the road and train legs in between. Keep the evening after the ride free, because the train will probably arrive late.
Turn these stops into a route
Pick your favourites and Stippl orders them, adds travel times and builds the day-by-day.
One timing trick: most travellers plan their Sri Lanka trip about ten weeks ahead, so the 30-day ticket window opens long after the route is set. Put that date in your trip as a reminder, and be online when the seats go on sale.
Frequently asked questions about Sri Lanka
Yes, for most travellers it is one of the highlights of Sri Lanka, with tea slopes, waterfalls and open doors at walking pace. It is slow and often late, so go for the experience rather than the speed. In 2026 the prettiest stretch, from Nanu Oya to Ella, is the part that runs.
Partly. Cyclone Ditwah damaged the line in November 2025. Nanu Oya to Ella and on to Badulla reopened in mid 2026, while Kandy to Nanu Oya is still under repair, with restoration expected around the end of 2026 or early 2027. Check the official railway site before you travel.
Six to eight hours when the whole line runs, and delays are common, so allow most of the day. While the Kandy section is closed, plan about three hours by road to Nanu Oya, then about two and a quarter hours by train to Ella, often longer.
Yes. One scenic line links Kandy, Nanu Oya (the station for Nuwara Eliya), Ella and Badulla. Until the Kandy section reopens, you cover the first part by road and pick up the train at Nanu Oya.
Sit on the left from Nanu Oya to Ella, which is the stretch running now. Once the Kandy section reopens, sit on the right from Kandy up to Nanu Oya. Second class is the best for views, because its windows open; first class has sealed windows.
Ready to plan the hill country? Start a Sri Lanka trip in Stippl, add Kandy and Ella, and build your train day around the nights that suit you.
