Train ride from Colombo to Kandy-Fabulous!!
Words fail me; for once…..the three hour steady climb from the intense heat and bright light of the beach and Colombo city through the rocks and peaks of the hill country to Kandy, the highest point of Sri Lanka, is stupendous.
The sheer breathtaking beauty of the lush countryside, waterfalls, tea plantations, looming Rock Mountains, dotted with temples and villages, is just amazing.
The cool mountain air is full of magnolia and azalea smells, bananas hang so close to the windows you can pick them, and the train track seems to hang from the very edge of the cliff as it edges into Kandy.
It’s been one of the most amazing experiences so far, and shown me the true beauty of Sri Lanka.
I set off this morning in the blistering heat to catch the only train from Galle to Colombo for the Kandy connection-this being a public holiday-but the train, although only 3rd class, so benches and no loos, was fine, quiet, just a few families, all sharing food and chatting with me, as usual, a pleasant contrast to the usual maddening crowds.
At Colombo I managed to upgrade on the Kandy route to first class, for the princely sum of an extra 200 rupees, and passed an enjoyable hour waiting in the station café, with another English couple, enjoying lunch of tea and curd yoghurt-very like Victoria Station…
The plush first class carriage had wonderful padded seats, and good views from the observation windows but I spent most of the time standing in the open doorway staring out at the glorious countryside, especially as we left the south behind and began the climb up through the rocky hillsides.
The tiredness evaporated with sheer exhilaration as I watched the hills surround us. The tea plantations spreading below, colourful flowers, birds, cattle, the diverse greens and the setting sun as we pulled into Kandy.
This motel is somewhat basic, but I’m on a high from the train trip, so am curling up in my bed for an early night, in the hope that the included breakfast tomorrow comes up with enough food to make up for the lack of other facilities (I have to climb over the loo to get into the shower, and there is a state of the art TV-which doesn’t work!).
Words fail me; for once…..the three hour steady climb from the intense heat and bright light of the beach and Colombo city through the rocks and peaks of the hill country to Kandy, the highest point of Sri Lanka, is stupendous.
The sheer breathtaking beauty of the lush countryside, waterfalls, tea plantations, looming Rock Mountains, dotted with temples and villages, is just amazing.
The cool mountain air is full of magnolia and azalea smells, bananas hang so close to the windows you can pick them, and the train track seems to hang from the very edge of the cliff as it edges into Kandy.
It’s been one of the most amazing experiences so far, and shown me the true beauty of Sri Lanka.
I set off this morning in the blistering heat to catch the only train from Galle to Colombo for the Kandy connection-this being a public holiday-but the train, although only 3rd class, so benches and no loos, was fine, quiet, just a few families, all sharing food and chatting with me, as usual, a pleasant contrast to the usual maddening crowds.
At Colombo I managed to upgrade on the Kandy route to first class, for the princely sum of an extra 200 rupees, and passed an enjoyable hour waiting in the station café, with another English couple, enjoying lunch of tea and curd yoghurt-very like Victoria Station…
The plush first class carriage had wonderful padded seats, and good views from the observation windows but I spent most of the time standing in the open doorway staring out at the glorious countryside, especially as we left the south behind and began the climb up through the rocky hillsides.
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| The train to Kandy |
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| View from the train |
This motel is somewhat basic, but I’m on a high from the train trip, so am curling up in my bed for an early night, in the hope that the included breakfast tomorrow comes up with enough food to make up for the lack of other facilities (I have to climb over the loo to get into the shower, and there is a state of the art TV-which doesn’t work!).
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