By train across Sri Lanka

A highlight in Sri Lanka that every travel guide recommends is the train ride from Kandy to Ella. The special features of the train journey are the breathtaking landscapes, the tranquil villages and the many locals who wave after the passing trains. The route leads through mountains, past thundering waterfalls and through the tea plantations for which Sri Lanka is so famous. The railway through the highlands was built under British rule because of the tea. It was used to transport tea from the highlands to Colombo, from where it was shipped.

Due to its popularity, you have to book tickets weeks in advance, which we didn't know. In order to still be able to experience the train journey, we decided to simply go in the opposite direction, from Ella to Kandy. To get to our flight to the Maldives, we even took the train straight to the capital Colombo. Although it looked on the platform in Ella as if the train was very full, that was not the case. Unlike the oncoming trains, we had plenty of free seats available and were able to change which side of the train we wanted to sit on depending on the view. This was an advantage because there is not THE attraction on the route. Instead, the whole route is a sight to see as you can see the country from a completely different perspective.

While driving through the country you can experience the diversity of Sri Lanka particularly well. At the beginning of the route we drove through coniferous forests that gradually became thinner. At the highest point of the route, near Pattipola, there are hardly any trees left; instead, a lot of vegetables are grown here and a harsh wind whistles over the peaks. We drove through such great heights that we even drove through the clouds at times. Pattipola village railway station is 1,897 meters above sea level and is one of the highest railway stations in the world.

While driving through the mountains we were also able to admire many waterfalls. After the train left the high mountains, the route took us through the rolling hills around Nuwara Eliya, dotted with tea plantations. They stretch to the horizon and seem to never end. From Kandy the train became even emptier and the landscape changed again. On the way towards Colombo, jungle areas alternated with vast rice fields. The closer we got to the coast, the more dense the development became and the rice fields were replaced by the suburbs of Colombo.

In addition to the diverse landscapes, the route is also known for the unique opportunity to lean out of the open doors during the train journey. The train doors in Sri Lanka are not closed and you can enjoy the beauty of Sri Lanka through the open doors throughout the journey. This special feature is the perfect opportunity to take extraordinary pictures in front of a fantastic backdrop. Since the train in the highlands only travels at an average speed of 30 km/h and sometimes even at walking speed, you can safely take photos hanging out of the train. We braved the bad weather and had other passengers take some snapshots of us.

The travel guides didn't promise too much - the drive through the breathtaking landscapes of Sri Lanka is an experience that shouldn't be missed. Nevertheless, we were happy to finally arrive in Colombo after a nine-hour train journey.