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Kandy to Ella Train: Tickets, Best Side to Sit & Tips
The Kandy to Ella train is often called one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. It climbs from Kandy into Sri Lanka's hill country, past tea estates, waterfalls, misty ridges and tiny colonial stations, before rolling into the village of Ella.
There is one big thing to know before you plan it. In 2026 you cannot ride the train all the way from Kandy. Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka in November 2025 and damaged the line with landslides and washouts. The Kandy end of the route is still being repaired, and the train now starts further up the line at Nanu Oya. The good news: the most scenic part of the journey is running again.
This guide covers what is running now, how to do the trip from Kandy today, ticket prices, which side to sit on, and how we plan it for our guests.
Kandy to Ella train: quick facts (2026)
Status | Kandy – Nanu Oya section suspended for repairs. Nanu Oya – Ella – Badulla running again since July 2026. |
How to do it now | Drive Kandy → Nanu Oya (about 2–3 hours), then take the train to Ella |
Train time (Nanu Oya → Ella) | About 2 hr 20 min to 3 hr 30 min |
Full Kandy → Ella (when reopened) | About 7 hours |
Ticket prices | From about LKR 220 (3rd class, Nanu Oya – Ella); reserved seats cost more |
Booking | Reserved seats open 30 days before travel |
Best side | Right side up to Nanu Oya, left side after it (see below) |
Full line expected back | Not before early 2027, according to recent reports |
How to do the Kandy to Ella train journey in 2026
Drive from Kandy to Nanu Oya. The road climbs through tea country and takes about 2 to 3 hours by private car. Local buses run from Kandy towards Nuwara Eliya, but connections to the station are patchy.
Board the train to Ella. Trains leave from Nanu Oya station; confirm the departure time when you book.
Arrive in Ella after roughly 2.5 to 3.5 hours on board, having covered the most dramatic stretch of the whole line.
If you are staying in Nuwara Eliya, this is even easier: Nanu Oya station is about 20 minutes from town by tuk-tuk.
Kandy to Ella train timetable
While repairs continue, trains to Ella depart from Nanu Oya station, which serves Nuwara Eliya.
There are usually morning and afternoon departures, but times change often during the repair works. If you travel with us, we confirm the current schedule when we reserve your seats.
Times change as repairs progress, so always check the latest schedule on the official Sri Lanka Railways website before you travel. When the full line reopens, the classic blue express trains will again leave Kandy in the morning, taking about 7 hours to Ella.
H2: Train classes: which ticket should you buy?
1st class: air-conditioned with sealed windows, sometimes an observation carriage with big windows. Comfortable, but you cannot lean out or open the window for photos.
2nd class (reserved or unreserved): padded seats, fans and windows that open. The best balance of comfort and views for most travellers.
3rd class (reserved or unreserved): basic benches, lively and very cheap. Unreserved carriages can be crowded.
On the current Nanu Oya – Ella service there are only a couple of 2nd-class carriages, so they fill fastest.
Kandy to Ella train ticket prices
Train travel in Sri Lanka is very cheap. Standard published fares for the full Kandy to Ella route were around LKR 300 (3rd class), LKR 600 (2nd class) and LKR 1,200 (1st class) in mid-2026. The shorter Nanu Oya to Ella section starts from about LKR 220 in 3rd class. Reserved seats add a reservation charge, and special tourist trains such as the Ella Odyssey cost several thousand rupees.
How to book Kandy to Ella train tickets
Online (official): reserved seats go on sale on the Sri Lanka Railways reservation portal 30 days before departure. On this route, popular trains can sell out within hours in peak season.
Third-party sites: booking platforms are easier for international cards but add a service fee.
At the station: unreserved tickets are sold on the day. Arrive early; they do not guarantee a seat.
Through your tour operator: if you travel with us, we book reserved seats as part of your trip.
Avoid Sinhala and Tamil New Year (around 13–15 April) and the Christmas period, when trains are packed with local holidaymakers.
Which side of the Kandy to Ella train is best?
Most travellers and guides agree on this rule of thumb for the Kandy to Ella direction:
Kandy to Nanu Oya: sit on the right. This side looks over the valleys and tea terraces; the left side mostly faces the hillside.
Nanu Oya to Ella: sit on the left. Views open up on this side through the highest part of the line and on the approach to Ella.
While the train starts at Nanu Oya, the left side is the one to aim for. In practice the views switch sides often, so pick a window seat and don't be shy about moving to an open door or window when the carriage allows. Going the other way, from Ella to Kandy, simply flip the advice.
Highlights along the route
Tea country around Nanu Oya: endless green estates, pickers at work and little factory buildings.
Pattipola: the highest station on Sri Lanka's rail network, close to Horton Plains.
Idalgashinna and Haputale: the line runs along a narrow ridge with huge views on clear mornings.
Bandarawela and the Ella Gap: the final descent into Ella, with Ella Rock and Little Adam's Peak in view.
Nine Arch Bridge and the Demodara Loop: these are just past Ella. To cross the bridge by train, buy a ticket to Demodara or Badulla, or visit the bridge on foot from Ella and wait for a train to pass.
Can you break the journey?
Yes. Many travellers spend a night in Nuwara Eliya (for tea factories, Gregory Lake and Horton Plains) or Haputale (for Lipton's Seat) before continuing to Ella. It turns one long travel day into two easy ones.
Practical tips for the train ride
Take the morning train. Mornings are usually clearer in the hills, and you arrive in Ella with the afternoon free.
Bring snacks, water and small cash. Vendors sell tea and wade (crispy lentil fritters), but options are limited and cards are rarely accepted.
Pack a light jacket. It gets cool and misty at the higher stations.
Keep luggage small. There is little space in 2nd and 3rd class.
Be careful at open doors. Doorway photos are popular, but trees, poles and tunnels pass very close. Hold on and stay inside the carriage.
Take your rubbish with you. Please don't throw anything out of the window.
Do the Kandy to Ella train the easy way
Planning the transfers, seat bookings and timetable changes yourself can be stressful, especially while repairs continue. On our Kandy & Ella train tour (7 days), we handle the drive from Kandy, reserve your train seats and meet you in Ella, with your own driver-guide and hotels throughout. Prefer a longer trip? Our Sri Lanka 8 days itinerary adds Sigiriya and the beach. See all our Sri Lanka tour packages, or message us on WhatsApp at +60 12-425 0469.
Kandy to Ella train FAQ
Is the Kandy to Ella train running in 2026? Partly. The Kandy to Nanu Oya section is closed for repairs after Cyclone Ditwah. Trains run from Nanu Oya to Ella and Badulla, so you drive the first part from Kandy.
When will the full Kandy to Ella line reopen? Repairs are under way, but recent reports suggest the full line will not reopen before early 2027. Check the official Sri Lanka Railways website for updates.
How long is the Kandy to Ella train? When the full line runs, about 7 hours. Right now, allow 2 to 3 hours by road from Kandy plus about 2.5 to 3.5 hours on the train.
Which side should I sit on from Kandy to Ella? Right side until Nanu Oya, left side after it. Views change often, so a window seat on either side is still beautiful.
Does the train cross the Nine Arch Bridge? Yes, but the bridge is just past Ella. Buy a ticket to Demodara or Badulla to cross it.
Is first class worth it? Only if you want air conditioning and a guaranteed comfortable seat. Most travellers prefer 2nd class for the open windows.
