Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 in the city proper. It is the financial center of the island and a popular tourist destination. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is within the urban area of, and a satellite city of, Colombo. It is also the administrative capital of Western Province, Sri Lanka and the district capital of Colombo District. Colombo is a busy and vibrant place with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings and ruins. It was the legislative capital of Sri Lanka until 1982.- Wikipedia
Things to do in Colombo
Galle Face Green
The Galle Face is a 5 ha ocean-side urban park, which stretches for 500 m along the coast, in the heart of the financial and business capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. The promenade was initially laid out in 1859 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward, although the original Galle Face Green extended over a much larger area than is seen today. The Galle Face Green was initially used for horse racing and as a golf course, but was also used for cricket, polo, football, tennis and rugby.
R. Premadasa Stadium
R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPS) (Sinhala: ආර්. ප්රේමදාස ක්රීඩාංගනය, Tamil: ஆர். பிரேமதாச சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட் விளையாட்டு மைதானம்; also known as Khettarama Stadium, Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium or simply as the Premadasa Stadium) is a cricket stadium on Khettarama Road , Maligawatta, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The stadium was, before June 1994, known as the Khettarama Cricket Stadium and is today one of the main venues where the Sri Lankan cricket team play, having hosted more than 100 one day international matches. It is the largest stadium in Sri Lanka with a capacity of 35,000 spectators. It has capacity exceeding Lord "s Cricket Ground. It is nicknamed "Home of Sri Lankan cricket". It was also the stadium where the highest Test score was scored.
Pettah
Pettah is a neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located east of the City center Fort. The Pettah neighborhood is famous for the Pettah Market, a series of open air bazaars and markets. It is Sri Lanka's busiest commercial area, where most of the shops, textiles, buildings and many other business organizations are centered.
fort
Fort is the central business district of Colombo in Sri Lanka. It is the financial district of Colombo and the location of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the World Trade Center of Colombo from which the CSE operates. It is also the location of the Bank of Ceylon headquarters. Along the foreshore of the Fort area is the Galle Face Green Promenade, built in 1859 under the governance of Sir Henry George Ward, the Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during British colonial administration. Fort is also home to the General Post Office, hotels, government departments and offices.
The nearest airport to Kandy is the largest international airport in Sri Lanka - located 110 km. from the city.
Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Address: Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, Canada Friendship Road,Katunayake 11450,Negombo,Western Province, Sri Lanka
Telephone:
+(94 11) 225-28-61
Bandaranaike Airport has regular bus routes and air-conditioned express trains from the nearby Averivatta bus station. The bus station itself can be reached from the airport terminal by regular shuttle buses. The route from Colombo Bandaranaike Airport to the center of Kandy takes approximately 3 hours, and the fare is 250-350 Sri Lankan rupees (for regular bus and express, respectively).
A taxi ride from Colombo Airport to Kandy will cost approximately 7,000 Sri Lankan rupees.
Airport and bus station Bandaranaike on the map
How to get to Kandy by bus
You can get to Kandy by bus from bus stations, Negombo, Galle, Jaffna, Nuwara Eliya and other major cities in Sri Lanka. The main transport hub for intercity bus routes in Kandy is the bus station, located next to the Central Station.
The cost of a bus ride from Colombo to Kandy is quite low (about 120 Sri Lankan rupees), but the advantage of a small price can be greatly diminished after 2.5 hours of travel turns into 4 due to traffic difficulties.
Kandy bus station
Address: Kandy Intercity Bus Station, S W R D Bandaranaike Mawatha, Kandy, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Buses from the main Kandy bus station often stop not directly at it, but along the road leading from the central city square (with a clock tower) past the Kandy Railway Station towards Colombo.
Kandy bus station on the map
How to get to Kandy by train
The train is the most convenient and relatively inexpensive way to get to Kandy from other cities in Sri Lanka. Most tourists get to Kandy by rail, through (schedule). The journey from Colombo Fort to Kandy Central Station (which is called Maha Nuwara in Sinhala) takes about three hours, and the cost of the trip is 260-360 Sri Lankan rupees (depending on the type of train and car).
The railway from Colombo to Kandy runs through the breathtaking hilly regions of Central Sri Lanka, covered with the greenery of tropical forests and tea plantations. You can enjoy the views of Sri Lankan nature in the best way through the panoramic windows of special "observation" cars (type E), in which it is better to reserve seats in advance. And the most comfortable travel this route can be made on the Expo Rail branded train (adult ticket - 1450 Sri Lankan rupees).
Kandy Railway Station
Address: Kandy Train Station, S W R D Bandaranaike Mawatha, Kandy, Central Province 20000, Sri Lanka
Phone: +(94 81) 222-22-71
You can get from Colombo to Kandy by bus, taxi and train. We recommend that you take the train. Since it is not only cheaper and faster, but also more interesting and safer.
Train
At the station Colombo Fort we find the 3rd way. There are several of them, so we need the most extreme platform near the station building. By the way, “helpers” are actively working at the station, peasants who will kindly show you which way and train, and then ask for money. We gave such a friend 100 rupees, although he asked for 1000.
Tip: buy your Colombo-Kandy tickets 2-3 days in advance, as there may not be enough seats
This is what the desired platform looks like from the footbridge:
The cost of tickets to Kandy is approximately per person
1st class: 500 rupees
2nd class: Rs 250
3rd class: 100 rupees
The train is coming to Kandy. First class carriage ahead:
How to find out what class the car is?
On each wagon, near the doors, there is a number indicating the class of the wagon. First class carriages look modern.
We get on the train. We traveled from Colombo to Kandy in first class. Of course, this car is worth the money. Clean and modern. Merchants don't come here. Air conditioners are working at full capacity, warm clothes will come in handy.
Colombo-Kandy train. 1st class carriage
First class train tickets look like an A4 printout. Second and third class tickets look something like this:
While driving, you can sleep, watch Indian movies on monitors or enjoy beautiful views:
After 4 hours we arrived at the Kandy railway station:
Waiting hall
How to use this thing remains a mystery to us:
Externally, the station building looks like this:
Hotels in Kandy
- Hantana Home Stay
- 38b Homestay Heerassagala
- Mountain View Holiday Home
- Greenwood Edge Hanthana
- Hill City Mansion- hotel near the train station
All hotels on Booking.com
Return trip: Kandy-Colombo train
2nd class carriages
We couldn't buy 1st class return tickets as we bought them on the day of departure, so we went in a 2nd class carriage with no reserved seats and no air conditioning. That is, whoever got up first, that and slippers.
There is no air conditioning, but there are ceiling fans. I can’t say that it was unbearable heat, the windows are open and it blows well, it’s much hotter in our trains in summer
There were a lot of people, there weren’t enough seats for all, so we went first standing up. Our company consisted of 4 girls and one man. We must pay tribute to the Sri Lankans, they showed themselves extremely well and gave way to women. Katya and I changed places and in 4.5 hours we reached Colombo in this way.
3rd class carriages
The cars are not much different from the 2nd class, they are exactly the same shabby. They also have wooden seats for 3 people and more people are packed.
You can cool off while driving outside. Sri Lankan train doors never close
You can also have a snack during the trip or at stops. Traders of some incomprehensible food and cold drinks are constantly wandering around the train, singing another tongue twister in their own language. By the way, merchants do not enter 1st class carriages.
Is it safe to travel around Sri Lanka by train?
Our opinion is quite safe. We traveled by train in Sri Lanka several times, there has never been a single criminal incident with either tourists or locals. Follow the normal safety rules and you'll be fine.
Transfer Colombo - Kandy by taxi
It is possible to order a transfer to Kandy from Colombo or from your hotel in the resorts of Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Bentota. Prices vary depending on where you are. You can book a taxi in Kandy online. by this link >>
Book a transfer to Kandy online
When we were planning our trip to Sri Lanka, we found out that one of the main attractions of the country is the train! Yes, it's a regular train. More precisely, an English train, since the railway, stations and the trains themselves were built under the British. Since then, they have been working properly to this day, being the main transport in Sri Lanka.
The main advantage of traveling by train in Sri Lanka is the beautiful views from the window and immersion in the daily life of the locals. We decided to definitely take the advice to take a ride on the Sri Lankan train. And now I will tell you about everything you need to know in order to carefully plan such a trip - I will share the train schedule in Sri Lanka, the train map and their routes, and, of course, my impressions. Is it worth it to travel by train in Sri Lanka? Read all the details in the article.
A trip to Sri Lanka is unthinkable without the opportunity to ride on a Sri Lankan train. Trains in Sri Lanka are not an attraction, but a real one vehicle for the people. It suits everyone because of its cheapness and the ability to choose the level of comfort.
Trains in Sri Lanka come in three classes: Class 1 is more expensive and much more comfortable than the rest. Basically, foreigners ride in first-class carriages. The difference between class 2 and class 3 cars is small, they are best suited for budget travelers. The locals usually go there as well.
Most tourists take the train in Sri Lanka solely because of the opportunity to see the unusually inspired views from the train window. Basically, they prefer one direction - to the mountainous country to drive past the tea plantations. But the trip from Colombo to Galle is also beautiful - the iron track goes along the coast and you can admire the Indian Ocean.
Residents of Sri Lanka use the railway not only to ride the train between cities, but also to go on business between small villages. In the photo - Ella, Sri Lanka
And for other sights of Sri Lanka, tourists prefer to go to comfortable buses(VIP-class, and not the people's buses of Sri Lanka, which are as uncomfortable and dirty as trains) or on a rented vehicle with a driver or on your own.
Compared to trains in Myanmar where railway transport also organized by the British, the train in Sri Lanka is more reliable (and in last years There are also new lineups! During our we were not able to take the train. He just didn't come. As we later found out, this is a common occurrence there. In Sri Lanka, this almost never happens. Trains run slowly, but still run on schedule.
Boarding the train to Kandy 
Inside an old 3rd class carriage
Railway map in Sri Lanka
A map of train traffic in Sri Lanka will be very useful to understand the route of the trip.
Sri Lanka Railway Map (clickable)
As can be seen from the diagram, four railway lines diverge from Colombo throughout Sri Lanka: to Matara, to Jaffna, to Avisavella and to Peryanagavilla. The remaining branches begin their journey in other major cities islands of Ceylon. The most famous route that tourists are interested in is the train journey from Kandy to Badulla through the mountainous country.
In addition, a branch departs from Maho to Batticaloa (this is the eastern resort town), stopping by the ancient city of Polonnaruwa on the way. So you can definitely get by train from Colombo to Polonnaruwa, which is one of the peaks of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka.
Read also:
To find out which train is most convenient for you to travel in the right direction, it is best to familiarize yourself with the schedule of their movement in Sri Lanka. Knowing the exact Sri Lanka train schedule, you can easily change from one train to another and get inexpensively to almost anywhere in the country.
A convenient schedule for all directions is shown in the diagram. It also says in front of each city how long it will take to get from it to Colombo. And also the prices for tickets to all classes of cars are indicated: 1st, 2nd and 3rd. In my opinion, this is a very convenient scheme.
Sri Lanka trains have their own website - http://www.railway.gov.lk/ However, it is not particularly useful for travelers, since it is impossible to buy tickets online for them. But you can learn how to transport goods by train and read about the history of Sri Lanka's railways.
- Helpful information. You can see the current train schedule in Sri Lanka
How to buy a train ticket in Sri Lanka
Train tickets in Sri Lanka are in most cases easy to buy just before the train leaves. It's very simple. You need to arrive at the station in advance, go to the ticket office, pay for the ticket and board the train for free place(if it exists). All this applies to 2nd and 3rd class cars. If you do not sit down at the departure station, then most likely you will have to ride standing up.
You can buy tickets for 1st class carriages on a train in Sri Lanka in advance. Ticket sales begin 30 days before the date of the intended travel. Online booking is not possible. You can only buy while in Sri Lanka. In Colombo, you need to come to Fort Colombo to office 17. In other cities and at other stations, the same rule applies. You can also call by phone and book a seat in the 1st class carriage, but only in the direction of Colombo - Kandy. Keep in mind that 1st class tickets sell out very quickly.
How to book a train ticket in Sri Lanka?
You need to call 365 from a local Mobitel SIM card (the national provider of Sri Lanka) and book a seat on the train for the desired date and time. Soon you will receive an SMS with your number. When you arrive at the station, you will need to show this number to the station supervisor or directly at the Mobitel office. You will immediately be given a ticket (M-ticket). The money for the ticket will be debited from your mobile account.
Advice. Very often, travelers leave the train station upset, because they heard that the train was full and there were no tickets. However, this only means that all 1st class seats have been bought out. 2nd and 3rd class tickets are still on sale. It's just that many Sri Lankans can't believe that the white misters will ride with them.
Stunning views from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya train
Which cities can be visited while traveling by train in Sri Lanka
Any trip to Sri Lanka starts in Colombo or Negombo, the cities closest to Baidanaraike International Airport. Let's start our acquaintance with the country from its capital - the city of Colombo. Or rather, from Fort Colombo, the main station of the country, from where trains diverge in all directions.
Fort Colombo on the map
North direction: Kandy - Anuradhapura - Jaffna.
- If you travel to the north of Sri Lanka, then it is worth getting off the train here to visit the colonial city around the lake and the famous Temple of the Tooth Relic. Very close by is located, which we personally really liked with its rich collection of various plants - trees and flowers. And of course, it is also worth it to get off at the station and spend one day in the ancient city. End station - jaffna- the capital of the Tamils, may be of interest to those tourists who study all aspects of the life of the country.
- From Fort Colombo you can also go in the direction Negombo and to Peryanagaville station. The interval of trains is every hour.
- Relatively small area railway built from Colombo to Avisabella. Trains run here several times a day.
- From Medavaccia station starts new branch- to the island Mannar. The train runs twice a day.
Train to the east coast of Sri Lanka: Maho - Polonnaruwa - Batticaloa and Trincomalee
From the northern branch that goes to Jaffna at the station Maho you can go east, to the coast. On the way to the resort Batticaloa the train stops at . And in Gal Oya you can take a train to Trincomalee, where to sunbathe on almost virgin beaches, which, in comparison, have their own unique flavor.
The most popular train route from Kandy to Ella through the mountain country
Most of the tourists travel around Sri Lanka by train along this route - from to Ella. Although the final station of this route is the city. Why is everyone ignoring Badulla? The colonial city does not outperform Nuwara Eliya in terms of legend and the number of tea plantations and loses to Ella in picturesqueness. Although there is nearby, and for the sake of it, Badulla is still worth a trip.
So, the train starts from Kandy and travels along the route: Hatton(exit for Sri Pada, Adam's Peak) - Nanu Oya (this is the name of the station next to Nuwara Eliya, you need to get off here) - Ohiya(exit to visit Horton Plains Park) - Ella - Badulla.
This is how the train journey from Kandy begins 
Our fellow traveler is a Sri Lankan baby 
Tourists dangle from the running boards to take pictures of the beautiful views.
