Even though I didn’t know much about Sri Lanka beforehand, I was aware that it’s famous for Ceylon tea, Sigiriya Rock, and its trains. Every country has its iconic images in people’s minds, and for me, those misty tea plantations shrouded in fragrant air and the trains speeding along the coast were the Sri Lankan sights I was eager to see.
Local trains are divided into three classes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. I heard that 1st class has air conditioning and assigned seating, which makes it the hardest to get tickets for—possibly because there are fewer seats, and we were traveling on routes that are most popular with tourists, where everyone wants the most comfortable spots. 2nd and 3rd classes have no air conditioning, and you can just find a seat and sit. The carriages and seats in both classes feel pretty similar, but the price difference is double. However, since the fares are already quite low, I didn’t think it made much of a difference.
On this trip, I only rode in 3rd class because most of the time I wasn’t even inside the carriage—I sat or stood by the door between carriages. Occasionally someone would check the tickets, but most of the time no one inspected them. So if you’re planning to sit by the door and enjoy the scenery like I did, I think 3rd class is perfectly fine.
As for buying tickets, just go to the train station on the day—you can get a ticket for just a few Hong Kong dollars, which is incredibly cheap. The station staff are very friendly; just tell them your destination and the class you want, and they’ll let you know what time the train is, which carriage to board, and so on.
▲Even if the station has a timetable, it’s not very easy to read—just asking the staff directly is more convenient and reliable.
▲2nd class is roughly double the price of 3rd class.
▲The local train tickets are small purple hard cardboard cards.
For just a few Hong Kong dollars, you can enjoy this simple yet amazing train journey. I believe you won’t find a similar experience anywhere else in the world.
There are two famous train routes—one takes you along the sea, and the other offers views of tea plantations and mountain scenery. I highly recommend both.
First, let me introduce the tea plantation route. The recommended journey is from Nanu Oya to Ella. The most spectacular part comes in the second half of the ride, where the train windows are filled with endless, breathtaking tea fields. But because it’s a popular tourist route, there were tons of visitors there. That’s why, after arriving in Ella, we took a train going in the opposite direction—and there were far fewer people.
▲Nanu Oya Train Station
▲Luckily the weather was great that day
▲Local tea pickers at work
▲Sitting by the door allows you to be almost zero distance from nature.
▲2nd class was extremely crowded with tourists. Since the ride lasts three to four hours, unless you’re starting from the terminal, be prepared to stand for the whole journey.
▲On the day we took the train back from Ella in the opposite direction, there were far fewer people, so we could take our time taking photos and enjoying the scenery.
The other route is the seaside one—from Galle to Colombo. You can gaze out the window at the endless ocean. I had been looking forward to riding a train along the Indian Ocean for ages. What could be a better combo than trains and the sea?
Pro tip: When taking a train toward Colombo, choose a seat on the left side—it’s closer to the sea.
Sri Lanka Train Timetable: http://www.eservices.railway.gov.lk/schedule/homeAction.action?lang=en
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