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We would absolutely recommend doing this – and doing the full 7 hours. The scenery is beautiful, and the opportunity to sit with your legs out the open door as the countryside whizzes by is well worth it. Book online in advance, and avoid weekends if you can. Don’t book 1st class – this is a hermetically-sealed, air-conditioned unit, quite far from the wind in your hair in 2nd and 3rd class. Get reserved seats, ideally on the right leaving Kandy, and then if you can move to the left side from Nuwara Eliya, do. We took the 8.46am train, which arrived and left pretty much on time – about 5 minutes late. It’s only in the station for 5 minutes or so, so there’s no point arriving 40 minutes early to try and get seats (like we did). If your seats are reserved, there’s no need to push onto the train – the reservations are honoured. There’s not much to see for the first 45 minutes out of Kandy, so take a book or cards (with something to hold the cards down in the wind), but from then on just relax and enjoy seeing tea country. We took loo roll, water and food – and needed all three. Definitely buy snacks from vendors on the train – and have a great time!…
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Date of experience: January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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What a beautiful part of the world to see. The views were absolutely stunning and the train an experience itself. This trip is a must.
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Date of experience: March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
+1
This is another must do in Sri Lanka to take the train from Nanuoya railway station to Ella station. Morning ride is the best ride with open window and door to enjoy the morning breeze with cool air. The scenery along the train ride is amazing. Wonderful and memorable experience!!! We researched by reading the travellers blogger website stating that the 1st class train is air-condition with reserved seat, but it was less fun since the windows and doors are closed. Anyone who want to have fun ride should consider 2nd class and 3rd class with open windows and doors for more fun ride and instagramable pictures. 1st and 2nd class reserved seat can only be purchased via agency website online and usually is fully booked, therefore advanced booking is advisable. Whereas 2nd and 3rd class without reservation can be purchased at train station 1 hour prior to the departure time, but these coaches can be crowded and passengers may have to stand during part of the journey. We planned for morning train ride at 9.30am for 2nd class coach and the ticket booth started open for sales at around 8am. There were only 1st class and 3rd class for the train depart at 9.30am and the price range is a huge gap where 1st class with reserved seat cost LKR 1,500 per person, whereas 3rd class cost LKR80 per person. We then decided to take 1st class for 2 reasons:~ First, for the comfort because it is reserved seat and less crowded since it is with with limited number of seat; Second, the 1st class coach is with open windows and doors only at this particular train which we could still enjoy the fun! Every stop at various stations, there will be peanuts and snacks sellers coming into the coach with nominal price. We bought some fried peanuts since the train was delayed for more than an hour. We arrived at Ella almost 2pm. It was a slow train ride that allows us to enjoy the views outside the train despite the distance between Nanuoya and Ella is less than 70 km. …
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Date of experience: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
12 Helpful votes2 Reposts
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I’m sorry, perhaps I was in a parallel universe - but I cannot for the life of me understand how this is enjoyable. I am not new to train travel in Asia, so have a fairly broad mind as to what is to be expected. I can only say, if you have heaps of time,a small budget or a train tragic, then this may be ok for you. Our 9.18 train from Nano Oyu station was an hour and forty five minutes leaving the station, proceeded to stop at what seemed to be every station. Because it’s a single line it also stopped for other trains and incredibly, at one station the engine seemed to be removed and trundled off somewhere before returning to be hitched on and off we went again. The “observation car” was grimy and Looked as though it harked back to the colonial era. A mind numbing 5 hours later and I promise you, no one was having any fun, especially not the poor sods in 2nd class who were jammed in like sardines, many of whom were locals trying to enjoy the Hindu holiday they had off ( some backpackers even sat on the baggage car floor). The smell from the toilet was all pervasive if someone left the car door open, and again, I’m not sure how those in 2nd class would even have struggled to their toilet if they’d needed it. The scenery was fine, but as I’d already come from Kandy by train the previous day ( not quite as bad) I felt it was not worth the hype and a waste of a day.…
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Date of experience: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
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I am on the train right now and can not believe what I am seeing. 1500 rupees spent on what it seems It is going to be, a 4h (hope so) train ride, that as many say it promised to be memorable and I am sure it will but for another reasons (a open carriage with tools and 3 people on it got attached to the train using a rope:)) No epic rides on clouds no more amazing views very soon after we left Ella and I am afraid they might not happen anymore from what I am reading here. It feels like sitting in a dusty 50s living room watching through a window so let’s sit down, relax and enjoy what it is next. Actually it can be pretty memorable after all!!! PS: not sure you can call it a tourist scam, you decide.…
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Date of experience: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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