ella odyssey Archives - GlenMyu Estate

A New Train Service

Ella, Holiday, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

A New Train Service

There is a new train service in Sri Lanka. This will be welcomed by the thousands of tourists that take the beautiful train journey from Kandy to Ella.

A new ‘Ella Odyssey’ special train introduced by Sri Lankan Railways for both local and foreign tourists on the stunning Kandy-to-Ella section of this beautiful train journey.

When does the new train service run?

The Ella Odyssey will operate every Saturday and Sunday.

It departs from the Kandy Railway Station at 09.45 am

The train arrives at Demodara Railway Station at 05.22 pm.

Returning to Kandy from Demodara Railway Station commences 06.00 pm.

How much does the new train service cost?

The fares at February 2025 are as follows:

First Class LKR 7,000

Second Class LKR 6,000

Third Class LKR 5,000

Will I be able to get a seat?

The new train has 176 reserved seats in first class, 176 reserved seats in second class and 44 reserved seats in third class.

There is capacity for a total of 396 passengers.

Whats so special about the new train service?

The new train service will run slowly at sightseeing spats and also stop for 10 minutes at each the following stations so you can take some photos:
Peradeniya
Nawalapitiya
Hatton
Great Western
Nanu Oya
Pattipola
Ohiya
Idalgassinna
Haputale
Bandarawela
Ella

And also on the Nine Arch Bridge.

Where can I buy train tickets?

Visit the official Sri Lankan Railways online seat reservations by clicking on the following button.

Convenient for Nine Arch Bridge, Ella

Lots of our guests take a day trip from GlenMyu Estate to visit Nine Arch Bridge and the other sights around Ella.

Alight and Haputale for GlenMyu Estate

Haputale railway station is the nearest stop to GlenMyu Estate.

We are around a 20/25 minute Tuk Tuk ride from the station.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more.

A New Train Service Read More »

A 7 hour train journey in Sri Lanka

Ella, Holiday, Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

A 7 hour train journey in Sri Lanka

Kandy to Ella is a 7 hour train journey in Sri Lanka.

Is, what is considered as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world worth it?

I would be horrified contemplating a seven hour train journey in the UK or Europe.

So why do so many tourist have this train journey from Kandy to Ella on their bucket list?

This journey is known as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world due to the spectacular scenery that you will see on the way. The landscape changes as you leave Kandy as the train makes it way through the Sri Lankan Hill country.

One of the highlights of the train journey is getting to Ella to see Nine Arch Bridge.

This bridge is beautiful and iconic. Crowds arrive in time to see a train cross the bridge to take their photos and selfies to post on social media sites such as Instagram

The bridge is just over one hundred years old (opened in 1921).

It is an amazing feat of engineering as it is made of stone, rocks and cement. The steel that was going to be used for the bridge was redirected for use for the Great War in Europe.

There are many train stations on this seven hour train journey, all which have their own character.

Some of the trains stop for a while at the station. We managed to jump off and buy a cup of tea at the station cafe!

The newest train ‘Ella Odyssey” stops for a time at many of the staions so that you can get off and take some photos. This does add some time to the already very long train journey.

Experiences on a seven hour train journey.

In both these videos they get on the train in Perideniya to attempt to get a seat.

You can reserve seats, however as the train ride is so popular, train tickets are sold out fast.

These travellers bought unreserved tickets and took a chance on whether they would get a seat

Sit on the right if travelling to Ella if you can

It is commonly suggested that it is best to sit on the right hand side of the train for the best views if you a travelling from Kandy to Ella.

However, you will still get good views on the left hand side for part of the train journey if you are not able to bag that seat.

Buy your tickets from Sri Lankan Railways

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An authentic experience or guaranteed comfort

First, Second and Third Class?

Choosing what class you should pick depends on what type of experience you want.

The First Class compartments have air conditioning and the windows cannot be opened.

According to most people you don’t get an authentic experience travelling in First Class.

In Second and Third Classes you will be able to mov e around and perhaps sit at the doorway during your journey.

Please be careful though as some people do fall off and end up in hospital trying to get a selfie!

I guess the class that you choose is all about whether you want comfort for a seven hour train journey or you want to move around and perhaps stand for some of the journey.

Get off in Haputale and stay at GlenMyu Estate

GlenMyu Estate is about 20-25 minutes in a Tuk Tuk from Haputale station.

We are around 1 hour from Ella and most of our guests do not want to stay in a touristy town. They normally enjoy a day trip to Ella to see the sights there.

The estate is convenient to visit sights including Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Liptons Seat and Horton Plains National Park.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

A 7 hour train journey in Sri Lanka Read More »

Ella Odyssey

Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

New Luxury Train 'Ella Odyssey”

The Ella Odyssey Train will now travel from Colombo to Badulla on weekends which will provide another option to get to GlenMyu Estate.

The luxury train service commenced in March 2022 and only ran from Kandy to Ella.

Now operating on Weekends!

Now operating on the weekends from Fort Station in Colombo it now gives a solution to tourists to start their journey by rail from the Capital City.

The section of the journey from Kandy to Ella is considered one of most scenic and beautiful train journey in South Asia. The tracks climb through lush green tea estates, pass along by waterfalls and through tunnels which makes the journey interesting and provides opportunities to make those instagram moments.

There is a high demand for the Kandy Ella train from both local and international travellers but there were only few daily trains operated and the Ella Odyssey train will be a great addition to the Sri Lanka tourism.

This train journey is considered as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world

It is also one of the top tourist attractions in Sri Lanka.

Photo Opportunities!

During its journey to and from Badulla, the train will stop at several selected tourist attractions allowing passengers to alight to take photos and videos at these stops.

What Time does the train leave?

The ‘Ella Odyssey’ will leave Colombo Fort at 05.30 am every Saturday and is scheduled to reach Badulla at 3.55 pm.

Every Sunday the train will leave Badulla at 09.50 am and reach Colombo at 07.20 pm.

News Flash - Now running on Thursdays and Friday!

Railways Deputy Operations superintendent V.S. Polwattage announced that the additional train journeys will commence on Thursday, 8th of September 2022.

He said that the “Ella Odyssey” will travel from Colombo to Badulla every Thursday and will return from Badulla to Colombo every Friday.

What is the Train Number?

Train Numbers are

Fort to Badulla – 1041

Badulla to Fort – 1042

How long is the journey?

The total train journey from start to finish is just over 10 hours.

This may be hard to grasp as a tourist however driving from Colombo to Badulla would take at least 6 hours and would cost substantially more.

You also would not experience the spectacular views that you will be able to see by train.

Where does the train stop?

The train will stop at:

Gampaha

Veyangoda

Polgahawela

Rambukkana

Peradeniya

Mahanuwara

Nawalapitiya

Nanu Oya

Haputale

Diyatalawa

Bandarawela

Ella

Badulla

What will my ticket cost?

At the launch of this service in August 2022 a first class reserved ticket between Colombo Fort and Badulla of this special train is Rs.5,000.

A second class reserved ticket is Rs.4,000 and a third class reserved ticket is Rs.3,000.

These prices are subject to change and we would recommend that you check the price when purchasing them.

Where can I get my tickets?

You can get to the Sri Lanka Railway by clicking here Sri Lanka Railways Official Site

Can I buy food on board?

The train is with restaurant car and you may able to purchase some selected foods on board.

What class of tickets are available?

There are only 1st and 2nd class seats available on the Ella Odyssey Train.

How many seats are on the train?

There are around 176 air-con first class seats plus over 144 second class seats.

What will I see on the way?

During the journey the train will stop at interesting sightseeing spots including

St. Clair Falls

Great Western Railway Station

Elgin Falls –

Pattipola Summit Level

Idalgashinna Railway Station

Demodara 9-Arch Bridge, and Demodara Bridge & tunnel.

Can I get off the train to take my photos?

The train will only stop at these stations for a few minutes for tourists to enjoy the scenery and capture photos and videos.

Alight at Haputale Train Station for GlenMyu Estate.

The nearest station to GlenMyu Estate is Haputale.

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