Badulla, Sri Lanka: Temple, Train and Dunhinda Falls

Badulla is the capital of Uva Province and the last stop on the hill-country railway from Colombo. It is a working town ringed by tea-covered hills, a few stations down the line from Ella. Most travellers come for three things: the ride to the end of the line, the old Muthiyangana temple and Dunhinda Falls just outside town.

Is Badulla for you?

Go if you want to ride the train to the very end of the line, see one of the sixteen places Buddhists hold most sacred and spend a day in a town that gets on with its own business.

Think twice if you want a pretty base with cafés and walks from the door, because Badulla is a busy commercial town and Ella, with far more places to stay, suits most people better.

Riding the train to the end of the line

The Main Line from Colombo reached Badulla in 1924. It was the last section to be built through the hills, and Badulla is still the end of the line. The long colonial station, with arched entrances and a tiled roof, stands on the southern side of town.

The long cream-coloured colonial building of Badulla railway station with arched entrances and a tiled roof, tuk-tuks parked in front on a misty day — Badulla station, the end of the line. Photo: katorisi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

The stretch from Ella is the reason to make the trip. Soon after leaving Ella, the train crosses the Nine Arch Bridge. Next it loops under itself in a spiral at Demodara, then runs down through tea and villages to Badulla. For the current service on the line, see the travel update at the top of this page.

Our guide to train travel in Sri Lanka explains classes and tickets. You can book reserved seats on the Sri Lanka Railways seat reservation site.

Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara

The temple stands right in the middle of town, and it is the main reason Buddhists travel to Badulla. It is one of the Solosmasthana, the sixteen places in Sri Lanka that tradition says the Buddha visited.

According to the story, a local chief called Indaka invited him to Badulla. Before the Buddha left, Indaka asked for something to worship in his memory. The Buddha gave him some of his hair, along with drops of sweat that turned into pearls, and Indaka enshrined them in a stupa on this spot. Today Indaka himself is venerated as a deity.

The chronicles, by contrast, tell of kings rebuilding the stupa over the centuries. What you see now is a large white dagoba in a sandy courtyard, with image houses, Bo trees and gateways around it.

It is an active place of worship and busiest on Poya (full-moon) days, when many people come dressed in white. Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off where others do. Our guide to temple etiquette covers the rest.

St Mark’s Church

St Mark’s, on the Mahiyangana road, is an Anglican church from the colonial years, when Badulla was growing into a centre for coffee planters and colonial officials. You can’t miss its square bell tower, which stands right on the roadside. Since it is a short walk from the temple, the two fit easily into one stroll around town.

Around Badulla

Dunhinda Falls: about 5 km north of town on the Mahiyangana road, then a forest walk of about a kilometre. Go in the morning, before the climb back gets hot.
Bogoda wooden bridge: one of the oldest surviving wooden bridges in the country, near Hali-Ela.
Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara: at the far end of the Mahiyangana road, the temple that by tradition marks the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka.
Ella: the obvious next stop up the line, with Little Adam’s Peak, Ella Rock and the Nine Arch Bridge.

Getting there and the weather

Apart from the train, two main roads lead in. The A16 comes from the Haputale side through Bandarawela and Hali-Ela. The A5 comes from Nuwara Eliya through Welimada and then carries on east through Passara. Buses run to the other hill towns and to Colombo, although it is a long day on the road from the capital. In town, tuk-tuks are the easiest way to reach the station and Dunhinda.

At about 680 m, Badulla is lower and warmer than Ella or Nuwara Eliya. October to January is the wettest part of the year. If you visit then, pack a raincoat and plan outdoor trips such as Dunhinda for the mornings.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is Badulla worth visiting?

Yes, for a day, especially if you are riding the train to the end of the line. Muthiyangana temple and Dunhinda Falls are the main sights, but most travellers find Ella a better base.

How far is Dunhinda Falls from Badulla?

About 5 km north of town on the Mahiyangana road. From the entrance, a forest walk of about a kilometre leads to the viewing platform.

Is Badulla the last stop on the train?

Yes. Badulla is the terminus of the Main Line from Colombo, and the line from Ella crosses the Nine Arch Bridge on the way.

What is the Muthiyangana temple known for?

It is one of the sixteen sacred places Buddhists believe the Buddha visited. Tradition says a local chief, Indaka, enshrined the Buddha’s hair and sweat drops turned into pearls in its stupa.

When is the rainy season in Badulla?

October to January is the wettest part of the year, though showers are possible in any month.