Kandy to Ella by train: tickets, seats and tips

You can't ride the train all the way from Kandy to Ella right now. Cyclone Ditwah damaged the hill-country line in November 2025, and as of mid-October 2026 no trains leave Kandy station and the section between Nawalapitiya and Nanu Oya is still being rebuilt. The workaround is simple and keeps the best views: drive about 2.5-3 hours from Kandy to Nanu Oya, then take the 2.5-hour train from Nanu Oya to Ella.

That second leg is the part people actually come for. It climbs past tea estates to Pattipola, the highest station on the island, then drops through cloud forest and the Haputale gap into Ella.

Is the Kandy to Ella train running in 2026?

Partly. Here is where each section stood when we last checked in October 2026:

Officials have given several target dates for the full Colombo to Badulla line and missed some of them. Treat any "reopens next month" headline as a plan, not a timetable, until you can see the train on the official booking site.

How to get from Kandy to Nanu Oya

Nanu Oya is the railway station for Nuwara Eliya, about 7 km outside town. You have three ways to get there from Kandy.

1. By private driver or taxi. Roughly 80 km and 2.5-3 hours through Gampola and the Ramboda tea country. It's the easiest option if you're catching the 9am train, since buses won't get you there in time. Find drivers based in Kandy on VisitLanka and agree the price before you set off.
2. By bus and tuk-tuk. Buses from Kandy's Goods Shed bus stand run to Nuwara Eliya often through the day and take 3-4 hours. From Nuwara Eliya, a tuk-tuk to Nanu Oya station takes about 25 minutes. Cheap, slow and crowded, so pick the afternoon train if you go this way.
3. With a night in Nuwara Eliya, which is our pick. Spend a night in Nuwara Eliya, walk round Gregory Lake in the evening, then take a short tuk-tuk to the station for the morning train. You start the train fresh instead of after three hours on hairpin bends.

Nanu Oya to Ella train times

Two trains a day ran from Nanu Oya to Ella in September and October 2026:

The run takes about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, though Sri Lankan trains often lose time on the climb. The tourist train Ella Odyssey ran a weekly Badulla to Ambewela service earlier in 2026; check whether it has returned to Nanu Oya before planning around it.

Times change at short notice while repairs continue, so confirm them on the Sri Lanka Railways website or at the station the day before.

How to book Kandy to Ella train tickets

There are two kinds of ticket, and they work very differently.

Reserved seats are sold on the official Sri Lanka Railways seat reservation site and at station counters. Bookings open 30 days before travel, and second-class reserved seats on the morning train go quickly from December to April. You'll need your passport details, and you should carry the passport on the day.

Unreserved tickets for second and third class are sold at the station counter on the day of travel. There's no seat guarantee. You might stand for the first hour, but you'll also be in the carriages where the windows and doors open.

Agents and travel websites resell reserved tickets with a markup on top. That can be worth it when the official site shows sold out, but the Sri Lankan High Commission in London has warned travellers to book only through the official portal because fake booking sites are around. If a site looks official but isn't on railway.gov.lk, be careful.

Which class should you choose?

Third class unreserved costs a few hundred rupees. Reserved seats cost more, and first class more again, but even first class is cheap compared with a private driver for the same distance. Check current fares on the official site, as they have been revised before.

We'd book second class reserved if it's available. You get a seat and you can still lean on an open window, which first class doesn't give you.

Which side of the train is best?

Guides disagree, and there's a reason: the line winds so much that the best view keeps switching sides. Valleys and tea slopes appear on one side, then a minute later on the other. If you have a reserved seat, don't stress about it.

What matters more is getting to an open door or window for the stretch after Ohiya and Idalgashinna, where the line runs along the edge of the hills towards Haputale. On a clear morning you can see a long way south towards the lowlands.

What you'll see between Nanu Oya and Ella

• Pattipola, at about 1,898 metres the highest railway station in Sri Lanka. It's also the nearest station to Horton Plains National Park.
• Ohiya and Idalgashinna, where the line runs through tunnels and along steep, misty cloud forest.
• Haputale, a ridge town with tea estates falling away on both sides. It's worth a stop of its own if you have a spare day.
• Bandarawela, a busier market town, then the last descent through tea gardens to Ella.

One thing surprises people: the Nine Arch Bridge is past Ella, between Ella and Demodara, so the Nanu Oya to Ella train doesn't cross it. Walk there from Ella town instead, about 40 minutes along the tracks or by road, and time it with a passing train.

Add Ella to your trip plan and see it on a map alongside your other stops: Start planning your trip.

Practical tips for the journey

• Arrive 30-45 minutes early. Unreserved carriages fill fast and there's a scramble when the train pulls in.
• Pack water and snacks. Vendors walk the train selling vadai, samosas and tea, but don't count on them.
• Bring a layer. It can be cold and damp at Nanu Oya and Pattipola in the morning, then warm by the time you reach Ella.
• Hold on in the doorways. Sitting or standing in an open doorway is common, but the train sways and passes close to rock cuttings and posts. Keep your head and arms inside on tight corners.
• Take your rubbish with you to Ella rather than throwing it out of the window.

Once you're in Ella, most people spend two or three nights. Walk up Little Adam's Peak at sunrise and see the Nine Arch Bridge, then carry on to the south coast or Yala. You can find places to stay in Ella and contact the owners directly on VisitLanka, with no commission added.

For other scenic rail routes on the island, see our guide to train journeys in Sri Lanka.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take the train from Kandy to Ella right now?

Not all the way. As of October 2026, no trains run from Kandy station and the line between Nawalapitiya and Nanu Oya is closed for repairs. Travel by road to Nanu Oya and take the train from there to Ella.

When will the Kandy to Ella train reopen?

There's no confirmed date. Engineers have said they aim to finish the Nanu Oya section by December 2026, and Kandy reopens once the Peradeniya bridge is done. Check the Sri Lanka Railways website before you travel.

How long does the train from Nanu Oya to Ella take?

About 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes. Delays of half an hour or more are normal on the hill-country line, so don't plan a tight connection in Ella.

How far in advance should I book Kandy to Ella train tickets?

Reserved seats go on sale 30 days before travel. Book as soon as they open for December to April, when the morning train sells out. Unreserved tickets are only sold at the station on the day.

Is the Kandy to Ella train worth it with the detour?

Yes, if you like slow travel and views. The Nanu Oya to Ella section has most of the famous scenery, and spending a night in Nuwara Eliya on the way turns the detour into part of the trip.

Save the places you liked, add a driver for the Kandy to Nanu Oya leg, and send enquiries straight from your itinerary: Plan your Sri Lanka trip on VisitLanka.