Check before you travel Hill-country railway: repairs after Cyclone Ditwah Checked 19 October 2026
Cyclone Ditwah damaged the hill-country railway in November 2025, and it is reopening in stages. Since 2 October 2026, trains run again from Colombo Fort to Peradeniya and Gampola, but Kandy station itself is not served yet. Earth slips near Kadigamuwa have blocked the line more than once since then, most recently early on 17 October 2026, when trains towards Gampola and Colombo Fort were delayed; expect delays or short suspensions after heavy rain. Trains between Nanu Oya and Badulla, which stop at Haputale, Ella and Demodara, restarted on 20 June 2026. The section between Gampola and Nanu Oya is still under repair, so you cannot yet go by train from Colombo or Kandy all the way to Ella. Check the latest services before you plan a rail journey, and book reserved seats on the Sri Lanka Railways seat reservation site.
Kandy to Ella is the journey of the famous hill-country train ride: up through the tea estates, over the top at Pattipola and down past Haputale. When the whole line is open it is one long, slow, lovely day in a carriage. Since Cyclone Ditwah damaged the railway in November 2025, though, the line has been reopening in stages. The travel update at the top of this page shows which sections are running.
So for now, and for anyone who’d rather not spend a whole day on a train, the realistic plan is road, or road plus train. This page sets out both, with the stops worth making on the way.
Your options
All the way by road. A car with a driver along the A5 through Nuwara Eliya, then down to Ella. The most flexible, with the best stops.
Road to Nanu Oya, then the train. Drive or take the bus to Nuwara Eliya and catch the train from nearby Nanu Oya for the best part of the line, about two and a half hours down to Ella. Trains between Nanu Oya and Badulla have been running since 20 June 2026.
Bus. The cheapest, with at least one change. Expect most of a day.
The whole way by train. When services through from Kandy are back, this is the classic way to do it, and it is worth booking early.
The road: Kandy to Ella via Nuwara Eliya
From Kandy the road runs to Peradeniya, then follows the A5 south through Gampola and up a long series of bends to Nuwara Eliya. Beyond Nuwara Eliya the A5 passes Hakgala on its way to Welimada, and the road then turns south through Bandarawela to Ella. Hill roads are slow, so think of it as a full day with stops rather than a quick transfer, and leave in the morning so that you’re in Ella before dark.
Stops worth asking your driver for:
- Ramboda Falls, which appears beside the A5 near Ramboda on the climb to Nuwara Eliya. This stretch of road crosses steep, slip-prone slopes, so stop only where it’s safe.
- Tea. The road is lined with estates. A factory visit with a cup at the end breaks the climb nicely; Pedro Tea Estate is on the edge of Nuwara Eliya.
- Nuwara Eliya for lunch, a walk by Gregory Lake or round Victoria Park.
- Hakgala Botanic Gardens, on the A5 just beyond Nuwara Eliya, beneath Hakgala Rock.
Agree with your driver in advance what the price includes and that you don’t want shopping stops. Our guide to getting around Sri Lanka has more on hiring a driver.
Road and train: joining at Nanu Oya
This is the best compromise while through trains from Kandy aren’t running, and a good plan even when they are. You skip the long climb by rail, which is the slowest part, and ride the most scenic section: from Nanu Oya past Pattipola, the highest station on the network, and down through Haputale to Ella.
- Get to Nuwara Eliya by road the day before, or early on the day. Nanu Oya station is a short tuk-tuk ride from town.
- Book the train on the Sri Lanka Railways seat reservation site, which opens 30 days before the day of travel. You need each passenger’s passport number. Unreserved tickets are sold at the station on the day, but you may stand.
Our train travel guide covers classes, e-tickets and what to do when seats sell out.
By bus
Recent visitors (2025–26) report taking a bus from Kandy towards Badulla or Bandarawela, which runs through Nuwara Eliya, and then changing for a bus to Ella. Allow most of the day, carry snacks and water, and travel light: there’s no luggage hold on most buses. Ask at the Kandy bus stand which bus goes furthest towards Ella that morning, as services and departure points change.
Stop for the night?
Splitting the journey in Nuwara Eliya turns a long day into two easy ones, and you wake up close to Nanu Oya for the morning train. It’s cold there at night, so bring a warm layer. If you want somewhere quieter and closer to Ella, Haputale is on the railway too.
Once you’re in Ella
Ella is small and walkable, and its best walks start in town. Our 2 days in Ella plan puts Little Adam’s Peak, Ella Rock and Nine Arch Bridge in a sensible order. If you’re arriving from Colombo rather than Kandy, see Colombo to Ella.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Can I take the train from Kandy to Ella?
Only when the whole line is running again: see the travel update at the top of this page. Trains between Nanu Oya and Ella have run since 20 June 2026, so you can take the road to Nuwara Eliya and join the train at Nanu Oya.
What is the best way to get from Kandy to Ella right now?
A car with a driver via Nuwara Eliya is the easiest. To ride the famous section of the railway, drive to Nuwara Eliya and take the train from Nanu Oya to Ella, about two and a half hours.
What can I see on the road from Kandy to Ella?
Ramboda Falls beside the A5, tea estates, Nuwara Eliya with Gregory Lake and Victoria Park, and Hakgala Botanic Gardens just beyond the town.
Is there a bus from Kandy to Ella?
Recent visitors report taking a bus towards Badulla or Bandarawela through Nuwara Eliya and changing there for Ella. It is cheap but takes most of the day.
Should I stop in Nuwara Eliya on the way to Ella?
It’s a good idea. A night there splits the journey and puts you close to Nanu Oya station for the morning train to Ella.
Header photo: Alexey Komarov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
