The Best out of the Best: Hatton to Ella Train Ride

What is the Best out of the Best out of Sri Lanka’s upcountry rail-ride. Its to Hatton to Ella Stretch.

One of Asia’s most scenic train rides starts from Fort and leads up to Badulla.

It runs through a time span of nearly 10 to 12 hours passing different geographies, climates, traditions and cultures.

However, out of this magic ride, the best part falls between Hatton and Ella.

This writer has firsthand experience of this track from his younger days, and knows a thing or two about journeying through this Hatton – Ella Track.

The Journey from Hatton to World Famous Ella is around 4 to 5 hours.

From Hatton to Ella – What you can expect

Hatton Departure
- Hatton is the gateway to Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada). Many travelers stop here for the pilgrimage climb.
- Adam’s Peak is considered a holy place by many, namely Buddhists, Muslims and even Catholics.
- From Hatton to Thalawakelle track, you will see lush green tea fields, forests, water streams and of Couse the famous two waterfalls, Devon and St. Claire.

Nanu Oya / Nuwara Eliya (Little England)
- The train reaches Nanu Oya, the station serving Nuwara Eliya, a town famous for colonial charm, Lake Gregory, and Hakgala Gardens.
- On the way, the landscape alternates between pine forests and tea valleys.
- Nuwara-Eliya is known as ‘Little England’ owing to its English type climate
- The city has hotels, golf courses, horse racing tracks among its offerings.

High Country Views
- After Nanu Oya, the train climbs higher, winding past Ambewela and Pattipola, with dairy farms, misty plains, and eucalyptus forests.
- Patipola is the highest railway station in Sri Lanka (1,898 meters).

Ohiya & Horton Plains
- Near Ohiya, you’re close to Horton Plains National Park, home of World’s End viewpoint.
- Expect cloud forests, rolling grasslands, and often mist swirling around.

Idalgashinna
- A tiny, scenic station perched on a ridge with jaw-dropping views of valleys stretching both east and west. Many call this the most beautiful station in Sri Lanka.
Haputale
- Another charming town, once a base for Sir Thomas Lipton. You can spot the Dambatenne Tea Estate and on clear days, views extending to the southern coast.
- Haputale has a ‘statue’ of Sir Thomas Lipton.
- The place is known as ‘Lipton’s Seat’ and situated in a very high elevation.

Diyatalawa & Bandarawela
- The train passes military training areas at Diyatalawa and then reaches Bandarawela, a cool-climate town popular for its relaxed pace.
- Diyatalawa is known for its high presence of ‘Military Training Academy’ where soldiers and cadet officers, make their mark.

Demodara Loop
- Just before Ella, the train performs the famous railway loop, spiraling around a mountain and passing under the track it came from.
- The folklore says the idea of the ‘Demodara Loop’ was given by a local cattle farmer.
- This was when the Colonial engineers were struggling to find a solution as to how the ‘rail track’ can be extended through a huge mountain area that was obstructing their plans.

Ella Arrival
- Ella welcomes you with postcard views of Ella Rock, Little Adam’s Peak, and the famous Nine Arches Bridge. It’s a laid-back base for hiking, waterfalls, and nature.
- Nine Arches Bridge is one of the most highly photographed location in the world. Millions of tourists have visited the place.