WHAT ARE THE 4 BEST PLACE TO STOP FROM KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA?

The trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is one of the most popular trips in Sri Lanka. It not only attracts a large number of foreign travellers but a large number of local travellers are also glued to it. The Sri Lanka trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is one of the best itineraries to enjoy the natural beauty of Sri Lanka.

Table of Contents

• WHAT ARE THE KEY ATTRACTIONS OF KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA?
• DISCOVERY OF NUWARA ELIYA
• THE MAP OF THE ROUTE FROM KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA
• NUWARA ELIYA
• NUWARA ELIYA FOR BREATHTAKING SCENERY
• SCENIC CITY OF KANDY
• WHENIS THE BEST TIME TO GO FROM KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA?
• 2 Days Kandy-Nuwara Eliya Train Tour
• WHAT TO SEE WHILE IN NUWARA ELIYA
• WHAT ARE THE 4 MAJOR STOPS ON THE TOUR FROM KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA?
• VISITING HANUMAN TEMPLE
• TREK TO RAMBODA FALLS
• WHAT ARE THE BEST TRANSPORT OPTIONS FOR THE KANDY-NUWARA ELIYA TRIP?
• KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA TRAIN TRIP
• HOW TO BOOK SEATS ON KANDY NUWARA ELIYA TRAIN?
• WHEN SHOULD I RESERVE SEAT ON THE KANDY NUWARA ELIYA TRAIN?

WHAT ARE THE KEY ATTRACTIONS OF KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA?

The trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is one of the most popular trips in Sri Lanka. It not only attracts a large number of foreign travellers but a large number of local travellers are also glued to it. A Sri Lanka trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is one of the best itineraries to enjoy the natural beauty of Sri Lanka. Travellers can look forward to having breathtaking scenery right from the beginning to the end of the trip. Green-capped mountains, valleys, tea gardens, vegetable plots, waterfalls, streams, rivers, and patches of forest are the key attractions on this route. The natural beauty in the region is the biggest draw of this hill country trip, and travellers are well on their way to enjoying the awe-inspiringly beautiful scenery on this route.

DISCOVERY OF NUWARA ELIYA

Until the beginning of the 18th century, Nuwara Eliya was incredibly hard to get to due to the unavailability of proper access roads from Kandy and other major cities, until the beginning of British rule in Sri Lanka. However, with the expansion of tea and coffee plantations in the mountains, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, and other mountain resorts started to get the attention of colonial rulers because Ceylon tea was a major income earner for the British administration, and they encouraged the British planters to venture into the lucrative tea business.

Infrastructure had been a leading obstacle that kept wealthy planters away from investing in the tea industry. However, the British government tackled the problem while improving accessibility from Kandy to Nuwara. They built a road between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya while extending the rail from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. With the improved access to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy and other places of Sri Lanka, there had been a boost in the tea industry, which invariably increased the income of the British administration.

THE MAP OF THE ROUTE FROM KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA

NUWARA ELIYA

Nuwara Eliya is a small hamlet that sits in a valley next to the highest point of the island, known as Pidiurutalagala, at 2520 metres above sea level. A network of craggy mountains and tea plantations encircles Nuwara Eliya. There are three access roads to the city, and a rail network runs through Nuwara Eliya amid crumbling rock faces. The access points are installed in the south, east, and northern directions of Nuwara Eliya. However, the British government initially built only the access road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, and other roads came into being in the latter period. The immense natural beauty is the biggest draw to Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is part of most Sri Lanka tour packages such as 10 days Sri Lanka tour itinerary and the 7-day tour.

NUWARA ELIYA FOR BREATHTAKING SCENERY

Today, Nuwara Eliya is important not only because of the thriving tea industry but also due to the tourism industry. The city attracts millions of tourists every year, and the breathtaking mountains, valleys, and cascading waterfalls amidst the healing climate are a superb mixture for a soothing holiday. A large number of travellers venture from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya every day via the Kandy-Nuwara Eliya highway, which is the most popular and convenient road for people who start their journey from west coast cities such as Colombo.

Nuwara Eliya is a cosy and beautiful yet small city. The population in the city of Nuwara Eliya does not exceed 50,000. However, Nuwara Eliya is a busy town, and there are a lot of people in the city at any given time of the year. This is mainly due to the tourist traffic that it draws throughout the year. Enchanted, beautiful scenery is the main tourist attraction here. cascading waterfalls, green-capped mountains, and huge tea plantations with patches of forests make for eye-appealing scenery in the area.

SCENIC CITY OF KANDY

Kandy is set at merely 500 metres above sea level, which is a low altitude compared to Nuwara Eliya (1800 metres above sea level); therefore, the road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is very steep, and there are a large number of sharp curves along the way.

Even though there is a very good road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, the time taken to drive 75 kilometres between the two cities is between 2 and 3 hours. Keeping a moderate speed is very important on this track due to the sharp bends.

Sri Lanka 3-day tour with Sigiriya rock fortress, Dambulla golden temple Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya

WHENIS THE BEST TIME TO GO FROM KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA?

April is considered the best month of the year to travel to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy. Most flowering plants produce flowers in April, and therefore gardens in Nuwara Eliya become colourful and attractive. The dry season from November to April is the best time to go to the hilly country of Sri Lankan cities like Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. During the rainy season (from April to October), the mountains come under heavy rain, making it cool and damp everywhere. During the rainy season, outdoor activities are limited, making visitors stay at the hotel.

Nuwara Eliya is attracting a large number of local travellers in April, May, and June when the flowering plants in Nuwara Eliya start to bloom. Rows of trees and plants change colour and make bright, colourful scenery that makes up the landscape. This is the flowering season in Nuwara Eliya, and most flowering plants show up with their beautiful flowers. During the rest of the year, it is still possible to see many beautiful flowers, but not as many as during the flowering season.

Nuwara Eliya is the most popular holiday destination in the mountains, it is very popular as a family holiday destination among the local families, and it can be crowded during the school holidays. You will encounter hordes of Sri Lankan tourists heading from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. The healing climate and breathtaking scenery help the city stand out from the mountain holiday resorts such as Bandarawela, Haputale, and Ella.

2 Days Kandy-Nuwara Eliya Train Tour

Visiting Kandy and Nuwara Eliya on a 1 day Sri Lanka trip can be a daunting task due to the long journey. If you start the trip from Colombo, this tour is available as a 2-day tour (Sri Lanka 2-day tour Colomb, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya) due to the distance to cover from Colombo to Kandy. Due to the long journey, you might end up without time to explore the tourist attractions if you restrict the trip to a Sri Lanka day trip from Colombo. Most Kandy trips with Nuwara Eliya are 2-day Sri Lanka trips, which is a perfect programme to visit important tourist places in the mountains such as the Tooth Relic temple, Peradeniya botanical garden, tea plantations, etc.

Usually, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy are two major tourist attractions on the island and are included in most Sri Lanka tour packages. Kandy is a cultural city with major tourist attractions like the Tooth Relic Temple and many other historical places. On the other hand, Nuwara Eliya is a leading eco-holiday destination with many natural tourist attractions such as Gregory Lake, patches of forests, tea plantations, Horton Plains, waterfalls, and many other attractions. Nuwara Eliya is strikingly different from Kandy.

Nuwara Eliya is a year-round holiday destination, but there can be heavy rains during the southwest monsoon, especially in July, August, September, and October, while the rainfall during the rest of the year is comparatively low.

Nuwara Eliya is in the wet zone of Sri Lanka and receives more than 5000 mm of yearly rainfall, which is one of the highest rainfalls on the island. As you step into Nuwara Eliya, you can see the endless green cover over the mountains and valleys, while well-maintained tea plantations look like a green carpet from the distance.

WHAT TO SEE WHILE IN NUWARA ELIYA

A road trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya lasts about 2 hours if you do it without any stops; however, it is very hard to make it without any stops due to the enchanting beauty of the mountains, valleys, tea gardens, and cascading waterfalls.

Whether you are a local or foreign traveller, it will not be possible to take your eyes away from the beautiful scenery; you are tempted to make frequent stops upon encountering beautiful landscapes on the drive and take some photos. All-natural beauty is the main reason for most travellers to make a trip to Nuwara Eliya. If natural beauty is not something that you are fascinated with, it is better to forget the trip to Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is not a place for people who enjoy the rich culture and heritage of their holiday destination, nor is it a place with vibrant city life.

WHAT ARE THE 4 MAJOR STOPS ON THE TOUR FROM KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA?

1. Hanuman Temple
2. Tea factory and Tea plantation
3. Ramboda falls
4. Royal Botanical garden

VISITING HANUMAN TEMPLE

Hanuman Temple is one of the important stops on the trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. Hanuman temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Hanuman, and the temple is one of the most popular religious sites for Hindu pilgrims.

The temple is very popular among travellers from India who take part in Ramayana tours. The history of the temple goes back many thousand years and is closely connected to the Ramayana story. The Hanuman statue found in the temple is the biggest stone sculpture of Hanuman on the island, and it is 6 metres in height. The statue originated in Mahabalipuram, India, and was later brought to Sri Lanka.

Shivagilingam, who is the caretaker of Hanuman temple, representing the Chinmaya mission, said, “This temple is about 20 years old. This is the place where Hanuman landed when he arrived from India. Ravana kidnapped Seetha, the wife of Rama, so Hanuman travelled to Sri Lanka in search of her. According to Shivagilingam Chinmaya’s mission, he carries out many programmes that benefit the people in the region, such as educating people on their religions, customs, and traditions.

TREK TO RAMBODA FALLS

Ramboda Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island, and it is conveniently located near the Kandy-Nuwara Eliya main road. Apart from Ramboda Falls, there are a dozen other waterfalls in the area, and Ramboda is considered one of the best places to see waterfalls on the island. The waterfalls are visible throughout the year, and they make spectacular scenery, especially during the rainy season. The perennial waterways rising in the catchment areas high in the mountains are what feed these waterfalls.

The Ramboda waterfall can be best viewed from the Ramboda Hotel. The visitors need to walk through the Ramboda Hotel to witness the lowest parts of the waterfall, which are the most beautiful parts of the waterfall. Mountains, tea plantations, and lush green vegetation all surround the waterfall. The waterfall starts from the highest mountain (Pidurutalagala) on the island and joins the Kotmale reservoir. The height of the waterfall is 109 metres.

After about 30 minutes of trekking, one can reach the upper part of the Ramboda Falls, which is not visible from the lower part of the waterfall. There is a bathing pond near the upper part of the waterfall; however, it is said that the water level of the pond can go up abruptly. Therefore, it is necessary to be vigilant while bathing here.

WHAT ARE THE BEST TRANSPORT OPTIONS FOR THE KANDY-NUWARA ELIYA TRIP?

Mainly, there are two options to plan a trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, which are road transport and rail transport. Both options have advantages as well as disadvantages; however, the rail journey is considered to be the most rewarding. Because it gives you plenty of opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains, the scenery that you take through the window is simply breathtaking when the train slowly moves through the mountains, valleys, tea gardens, and patches of forests.

KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA TRAIN TRIP

Sri Lanka hill-country tour on the rail track from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya connects the two most scenic mountain resorts, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. This is the most scenic and popular trail track on the island. The Sri Lanka hill country rail trip is ranked as the 4th most scenic train trip in the world. During the train trip, the travellers reach high-altitude areas of Sri Lanka and travel up to 1888 metres above sea level. Pattipla is the highest railway station on this route, and it sits 1891 metres above sea level. Pattopila is the 66th railway station on this route from Colombo and tugged away 225km from Colombo.

The train trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is considered to be one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world, and travellers love it. The time taken for the rail journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is about 4 hours, which is a major shortcoming of the train trip. On the other hand, the journey by car or bus would take around 2 hours from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya; however, it would not be as attractive as the train journey due to the lack of access to the beautiful scenery. However, the railway track does not end at either end. The railway track further runs up deep into the mountain from Nuwara Eliya. The railway track further goes westward from Kandy to Colombo.

The hill country train trip, better known as the “hill country blue train journey,” is very popular among foreign travellers. The hill country blue train runs a few times every day from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and vice versa. The hill country express train is much faster than the slow train; however, the express train stops only at selected train stations. If you plan your train trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, you should be careful when choosing the correct train for your trip that stops at the railway station where you would like to get off.

The upcountry rail journey is one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the stunning scenery of Sri Lanka’s mountains. Travelling northward from Colombo, a 4 to 5-hour rail journey covers dozens of tunnels and many bridges as it rolls passing the green-capped mountains and valleys of high-altitude areas of Sri Lanka.

The train passes beautiful waterfalls, mountain meadows, pristine mountain lakes, and picture-perfect laid-back villages. The highlights of the journey include picturesque tea plantations.

Starting from Kandy, the upcountry train travels southward from Kandy through the fertile fields. After Gampola, it goes up into the mountains, where it crosses the many long tunnels. Passing through the magnificent, green-capped mountains at Ambewela Farm, the upcountry train chugs onward through Sri Lanka’s cloud forests. Finally, it reaches its destination at an elevation of 1800 metres above sea level.

Due to the time taken for the train ride from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, what most travellers do is reduce the time spent on the train by curtailing the train journey while choosing the most scenic part of the train journey, and the rest of the journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is carried out by a car.

HOW TO BOOK SEATS ON KANDY NUWARA ELIYA TRAIN?

Hill Country Train is one of the most crowded trains on the island, due to the large number of local travellers and foreign tourists. The train provides seats in three categories: first-class seats (observation compartment), second-class seats, and third-class seats. First-class and second-class seats can be reserved through advanced booking, which is the best way to guarantee that you get a seat. Due to the high demand, the seats are sold out well in advance on this route, and it is necessary to pre-book seats to guarantee that you have a seat and a hassle-free, comfortable journey.

Due to the ever-increasing demand for hill country train trips, the Sri Lanka Railway Department started a new, luxury train service from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and Ella on March 5, 2022. The train was specially launched to serve foreign travellers who like to enjoy the hill country train trip. The new train will operate daily, leaving Kandy at 7 a.m. and reaching Demodara at 2.20 p.m. leaving Demodara at 3.40 p.m. and reaching Kandy at 9.45 p.m.

The train comes with a class S14 powerset and has 176 AC first-class seats and 144 second-class seats. The speciality of this service is that it will stop at 12 stations, including nine tourist attractions such as St. Clair Falls, Great Western Railway Station, Algin Waterfall, Pattipola, Idalgashinna, and Demodara Nine Arch Bridge. The train stops at the above-mentioned places for a few minutes for tourists to enjoy the scenery and capture photos and videos.

Serendipity Tours organises daily tours from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya and from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. These trips can be booked via our online booking system or by writing us an email at admin@seerendipitytours.com. We also help travellers book train seats.

WHEN SHOULD I RESERVE SEAT ON THE KANDY NUWARA ELIYA TRAIN?

The simple answer is at your earliest. The demand for seats on the route is very high and a Large number of foreign and local travellers use the train daily. Therefore, it would not be possible to book seats at the last moment. To guarantee the seats from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and vice-versa you should book seats at your earliest. However, the seats can be booked only one month ahead of the scheduled date.

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