Train Journeys In Sri Lanka: The Most Scenic Routes In This Charming Land

Sri Lanka is one of the most captivating and appealing destinations for travellers. It is a city with a legendary history, stunning natural scenery, rich traditional culture, and scenic train journeys in Sri Lanka depicting its heritage. Sri Lanka is not a place; it is a country of experiences, adventures, and emotions shared by all the people who have come to glimpse the sun-warmed solitude and savour the moment of the cold sea breeze.

For those who do not travel frequently, Sri Lanka is one of the most affordable travel destinations, offering budget-friendly options and a chance to gain insight into the country's rich culture, diverse wildlife, historical monuments, and the lifestyle of its people through the best train rides in Sri Lanka. There are several heart-throbbing tourist places to visit and experience the authentic taste of Sri Lankan cuisine and dishes. The country's coastline boasts several excellent beaches, and the highlands feature various beautiful places, including Polonnaruwa, Adam's Peak, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, and the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. 

Sri Lanka's scenic train journeys are renowned as the most convenient way to travel and take in the country's panoramic views. These trains were manufactured during the British colonial era to transport coffee from one location to another.

They are comfortable and a time-saving means of transportation, especially for tourists visiting various locations within a limited vacation period.

Sri Lankan rail travel is a must-try experience for every tourist. When exploring Sri Lanka's gems, these trains offer a unique way to travel and enjoy nature's beauty. Numerous trains operate throughout the country, varying in cost, amenities, equipment, speed, and functionality.

Best Sri Lanka Train Journeys

Let's look at some of the most popular scenic train journeys in Sri Lanka. These routes offer a distinctive experience of the unseen countryside and seashores.

1. Viceroy Special

The Viceroy Special Train Journey is a local steam train that provides a luxurious Sri Lankan tour experience. With a standard fare of 897 LKR, it offers all the basic facilities, including comfortable seating, clean toilets, and a canteen serving a variety of general food items, making it one of the best train rides in Sri Lanka. This train will also offer sumptuous amenities, including a bar, a lounge area, a designated smoking zone, a dining cabinet serving full-course meals, onboard entertainment, Wi-Fi networking facilities, and more. However, you will pay a bit more for these amenities. It is a scenic train journey along the coastline to Sri Lanka. It offers the best hill country rail tours in Sri Lanka.

2. Viceroy Second

This train showcases the authentic charm of ancient history; the elegance of a luxurious lifestyle complements the train ride.  One of the best train rides in Sri Lanka , Viceroy Second, also offers lavish facilities to the travellers. The facilities include 24 convenient seats with tables, air conditioning, a dining cabinet and bar, Wi-Fi, and a high-class sound system. Sri Lanka's scenic train journeys are incomplete without their presence and functioning. This train will help you meet new people during your meeting, and you can enjoy the delicious cuisine of Sri Lanka while travelling around the country. Its glory can be seen in its effortless service, which is significantly better than Viceroy Special, which offers the best train rides in Sri Lanka.

3. T1 Railcar

The T1 Railcar was manufactured by the English Electric Co., UK, to provide a magical experience of Sri Lanka's scenic train journey. This rail has attempted to recreate the entire rail car as a symbol of the traditional background alongside the magnificent modern technology.

This train can accommodate up to 32 passengers and is especially suitable for family trips and corporate vacations. It is a time-saving and cost-effective means of transport, offering superb hospitality by the experienced and heartwarming staff to the travellers, delivering a comfortable travel experience, and providing tourist guides throughout the scenic train journeys in Sri Lanka. The T1 Railcar will also provide you with all the elegant and classy facilities that are designed to meet every traveller's needs.

3 Best Train Routes In Sri Lanka

Read below to look at some of the best train rides in Sri Lanka and how you can catch a train while out and about in this stunning land.

1. Northern Route

This route is usually frequented by pilgrims and devotees travelling to the Anuradhapura Temple or Jaffna. It is one of the standard long-distance trains travelling north of Sri Lanka, offering the best train rides in Sri Lanka and spectacular views of northern Sri Lanka. It travels from the coastal area to the mountain hillslope to carry passengers and help them experience the authentic beauty of Sri Lanka.

2. Southern Route

One of the best train rides in Sri Lanka travels from Colombo to Galle, taking passengers to the country's north. It is an incredible journey, comprising enchanting Tamil devotees and food vendors selling their exceptional Sri Lankan street food, which includes wade. Sri Lankan wade, or "vadai," is a popular deep-fried snack made from lentils, spices, and curry leaves. Crispy on the outside and soft inside, it's a savoury treat often enjoyed with chutneys or as street food. Many private trains offer convenient seats with delicious meals. 

3. Nine Arch Bridge

This bridge highlights the beautiful Sri Lankan journey. It is one of the ancient buildings, built in the 1900s using rocks and steel. Apart from its marvellous construction, the Demodara Nine Arch Bridge offers a perfect view to travellers. Travellers can enjoy this bridge in the opposite direction or cross it on a Sri Lankan rail journey.  

3 Best Scenic Train Journeys in Sri Lanka

With numerous coconut trees, dense forests, a legendary history, local tribal folk culture, and pristine beaches, this teardrop island in the Indian Ocean is a treasure. Sri Lanka rail travel is wonderful. It is more than just a place; it is a city full of experiences, adventures, and vivacious emotions, which makes it one of the most exciting and thrilling tourist destinations. One of the best ways to explore the beauty and serenity of scenic train journeys in Sri Lanka. 

1. Colombo to Galle

A train journey from Colombo to Galle in Sri Lanka is all you require to enjoy the city and the countryside. Starting from the capital of Sri Lanka, follow the coastal landscape where the Indian Ocean meets the railway tracks, and enjoy the coastal breeze while savouring a local snack box from Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka rail travels from the south coast to Galle Face Green, the capital's largest city park, and passes through almost the entire journey.

You can even disembark at beach towns such as Moragalla, where you can snorkel among coral reefs. And Hikkaduwa, where you can ride the waves and indulge in smoothies at beachside cafes. Which is one of the best aspects of your Sri Lanka rail travel .

Once you approach the Galle, you can glimpse a traditional still fisherman with wooden sticks. When you reach Galle, be sure to visit the Galle Fort. The Portuguese built the fort in 1558, fortified it by the Dutch in 1649, and placed it under British control in 1796. It is one of the best things to do on the best train rides in Sri Lanka. 

2. Kandy to Badulla

The fascinating ride from Kandy to Badulla takes approximately 7.5 hours and is often regarded as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. You must book a seat in the appealing carriage to be amazed by the swirling, twisted tea plantation of lemon grass and bushes, which add decorative prosperity to the edges. Indeed, it is one of the best train rides in Sri Lanka.

To get the most out of the scenery, simply sit on one of the open train doors to witness many amazing, picture-friendly views throughout the journey. Many tourists end their trip at Ella, but it is worth going to Badulla. The final stages of the Ella to Badulla scenic train journey in Sri Lanka are dramatic and feature the brick and stone nine-arch bridge, a 19th-century engineering marvel. The railway track crosses the bridge before looping around the Demodara Loop, creating a breathtaking photo opportunity. 

3. Anuradhapura to Jaffna

The scenic train journey in Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to Jaffna has a chaotic history. After the civil war between the LTTE and the Sinhalese-controlled Sri Lankan government, the rail was not in service from 1990 to 2014.

After which, in 2014, the Yal Devi Express returned to Jaffna with its new generation of tracks for the first time, one of the best train rides in Sri Lanka. After centuries of disapproval, the route was restored from the old capital of Sri Lanka to a significant Hindu colonial city. Trains are often filled with pilgrims and people of various religious beliefs because Jaffna is known as the city of temples. Be sure to visit Anuradhapura's UNESCO World Heritage ruins before embarking on your scenic train journey in Sri Lanka. According to historical records, the town was founded in the 10th century BC and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. 

4. Colombo to Kandy 

The railway route from Colombo to Kandy was established in 1860 to transport coffee and tea from Colombo to the coast, thereby advancing the economic interests of the British Empire. The 3-hour Sri Lanka rail travel from the official capital to the spiritual capital passes through rolling hills, rice fields, forests, and quaint villages. Some services on this line connection continue to Badulla but pause at Kandy, thus allowing travellers to explore the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It is said to contain the real teeth of the Buddha, making it all worthwhile. When you depart from the hot coastal plain due to the warmer climate of these hills, you will also experience the cooler breeze throughout the beautiful Sri Lanka rail travel. The train journey is quite fascinating and unmissable, especially in Sri Lanka. With its exquisite beauty, sharing knowledge with locals and getting to know the surrounding area makes it all worthwhile. 

Sri Lanka Train Journeys: Ticket Prices

Sri Lanka Railways furnishes its services in different classes. A rise in the class level for better Sri Lanka train travel also increases the quality of service the professional rail authority offers. The rail experience has been divided into the following subgroups.

1. First Class Ticket

The first-class railway journey from Nanu Oya to Ella is one of the most impressive train journeys in Sri Lanka. This class provides travellers with the best train rides in Sri Lanka, offering all the luxurious facilities, including world-class seats and windows with curtains, healthy and well-hygiene food in all flavours, a dining cabinet with drinks and bars, and much more. Travellers from Europe, Australia, and the Americas typically consider a first-class ticket an option for travelling and enjoying the scenic long-haul train journey in Sri Lanka. This ticket costs 1,000 LKR. To avoid being unable to reserve your seats, please book your tickets at least one day before your train travel.

2. Second Class Ticket

The second-class train cabins are more crowded with middle-class working parents, grandparents with their lovely, innocent grandchildren, and standard tourist groups, offering one of the best train rides in Sri Lanka from neighbouring cities. This class will provide you with basic amenities, including comfortable seats, doors and windows, working fans, clean toilets, and a standard canteen offering a variety of food and drinks. People in this cabin would prefer to open their doors and windows to enjoy the scenic beauty of the highlands, waterfalls, and beaches and experience the scenic train journeys in Sri Lanka. Although the cost of this class is cheaper, it still varies from place to place. For example, you must pay 340 LKR to travel from Wellgama to Kandy.

3. Third Class Ticket

This class is well-known for its cost-effectiveness. The only difference lies in the facilities provided in Sri Lankan rail travel, as there are standard seats and windows, but no fan facility. This class is more convenient for those travelling shorter distances, such as from Colombo Fort to Hikkaduwa, where we charge a nominal fee of 160 LKR. From Hikkaduwa to Galle, the fee is only 35 LKR, and from Kandy to Hatton, it costs 160 LKR.

This cabinet is more suitable for those who missed their Sri Lankan train travel or didn't sit in the second class. This class will also provide stunning scenic views from your window, allowing you to cherish your train journey by watching the beauty of nature and wildlife without getting bored. Every journey describes a varied experience, and each view tells a unique set of stories that the Sri Lankan people crafted. 

Final Takeaway on Train Journeys in Sri Lanka 

Scenic train journeys in Sri Lanka are a much more comfortable and affordable means of travelling. If you book your tickets online, please choose the most secure and reputable site to avoid fraudulent websites or payment loss. Additionally, regarding the station, please note that two times before the train departs from the platform. This will not only illuminate you about the new cities of Sri Lanka but also help you avoid getting lost. So, plan your best train rides in Sri Lanka for a scenic vacation experience in this gorgeous land!