#LifeOnATrain
Something which travel agents, tourists , backpackers and natives all swear by is the train journey through the hills and tea country of Srilanka. This journey has been rated in as one of the lesser known beautiful train journeys by Natgeo
( https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/lists/transportation/spectacular-lesser-known-train-trips/)
The full monty would be from Kandy to Ella via Nanu Oya. The train climbs up from Kandy towards Nuwara Eliya and then again decend's towards Ella. The agent who had arranged our car had also arranged for the train tickets from Nanuoya to Ella in the first class. Unlike India and other nations it is difficult to get tickets online in Sri Lanka. The tickets which they got for us was of the train which leaves at 3 PM and reached Ella at 5:30.. the timings were very bad for us and our trip iteranary and would have created logistical problems.
We decided to get up early check out and take the first train and buy the daily running ticket. Only 3rd class tickets were available in the counter which cost us 80bucks LKR each which is less than 40 bucks INR for a 3 hour train journey through the most picturesque route. The fun part is the tickets issued are the yester year cardboard punched ones. I made us feel nostalgic. Tickets in hand we went to the platform to wait the arrival of our train.
The train was a old diesel engine pulled unit with rusty red bogies. It was like going back in time. Havent seen such trains even when we were growing up. But boy o boy was the decision good!! We had the best 3 hour train journey and it was so much fun. Being 3rd class tickets, those who get on early and grab a seat gets to sit.. we Indians are programmed for that and the years of training did not disappoint.we were quick to grab a window seat. How ever i would have hardly sat through the journey as we went on enjoying and making friends from across the globe. There were travellers from Germany, France, Turkey to name a few along with the friendly locals. We were so happy to have taken the 3rd class tickets in a rickety old train.
The train slowly went snaking its way through lush green tea gardens, multiple tunnels, quaint hills, thick jungles and beautiful countryside. We arrived at Ella after a 3 hour journey and memories of a lifetime.
When in SL do try this out..
