train Kandy to Ella

Hardly any other country has impressed and fascinated us with such diversity as Sri Lanka. The country is made for backpackers. Choosing one place is hardly possible. Apart from the incredibly delicious food, Sri Lanka has a lot to offer. From big tourist cities with magnificent temples to tea plantations and cooler regions with mountains and waterfalls to deserted beaches and national parks full of wild animals. But no matter where you are, one thing will accompany you everywhere - the smile and warmth of the residents. No matter what problem you encounter on your journey, there will always be someone who will help you with genuine, sincere joy.

The train ride from Kandy to Ella or vice versa is an absolute must in Sri Lanka and is praised everywhere as a highlight. And in fact we have never experienced such a fascinating train journey. Apart from the beautiful landscape with tea plantations, bridges and waterfalls, the train ride was an unforgettable experience. Standing tight, we had to spend six hours in the hot train, all the windows and doors were open, and everywhere people stuck their heads out of the window to get a good picture or dangle their feet out the door. People sit on their luggage in front of the toilet and have to move aside if one of the many food vendors meanders through the train. This train will introduce you to the Sri Lankan.

Kandy and Ella can hardly be more different. Kandy is a big city, it‘s loud, hot and chaotic. Apart from the Temple of the Tooth and the Big Buddha, Kandy does not have much to offer and we were happy to have planned only one day. Once in Ella we have to take our jackets out of the luggage. A dense side hangs in the air and the temperature has dropped a few degrees. The TukTuk takes you from the higher station down to the small village, surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. If you are an enthusiastic hiker, you can spend many days in Ella without getting bored. We had planned for Ella only one day, which in my opinion was not enough for the beautiful spot. We are not hikers, but this nature surprised me a lot. In a few hours from one extreme to the other - that‘s Sri Lanka.

To enter Sri Lanka, you need a passport that has to be valid for at least six months. You must apply for a visa before or during entry. This can be extended by four weeks, which can take some time.

Because Muslims and Buddhists live in Sri Lanka, there are sometimes disputes between the different religions. In addition, one must watch out for violent sexual assault on women and many actions, such as photographing Buddha figures, are prohibited. Here you should inform yourself before your trip to Sri Lanka about the dangers and prohibitions.

If you travel to the Sri Lanka, you must definitely be vaccinated against measles. WHO has declared that omitting the vaccine as a „threat to global health“. However, no vaccinations are required when entering from Germany. The standard vaccinations are definitely always recommended. It is also recommended to vaccinate against hepatitis A and B, rabies and typhoid. Sri Lanka is warning about the Zika virus and dengue fever.

You should wear mostly light colored clothing to protect you from mosquitoes. At night you should sleep under a mosquito net. You should always have sun protection with you. If you need medication, bring it with you from your hometown, as they are usually very expensive abroad. Watch out for water from the faucet. You should also be careful with food. During your trip you should carry a copy of you travel health insurance with you. Inform yourself before your trip about current warnings. The medical care in Sri Lanka is fine, in rural areas travel time can be expected.

Oh, what should I say about food ... I never liked Indian food before and had some respect of the trip to Sri Lanka. But what awaited me there surprised me a lot. Of course, it has features of Indian food, but it can not be compared to it. That‘s something like Indian Light. There are many curries, samose, naan, of course all with rice and lots of fresh vegetables. Of course, meat and fish are also available, but the people in Sri Lanka love to eat vegetarian food.

Not to mention the delicious fresh fruits, lassis and probably the best coconuts I‘ve ever had. In Sri Lanka, a variety of tastes and smells awaits you, which will blow you away. On the train from Kandy to Ella you always get something to eat like nuts or fruit. In Kandy we had the hottest curry that we ate during our trip. I can remember exactly ...

When traveling within the country, railways are preferable to public buses. Buses are often involved in accidents because of their reckless driving style. Traveling in the hinterland to the east is sometimes difficult. Here an increased mine risk can not be excluded. During our trip we drove both by train and by various buses. We never had any problems. Even driving with the tuktuk is fast and usually uncomplicated. Driving in Sri Lanka is still very chaotic, why I can not recommend the rental of vehicles.

In Sri Lanka there is left traffic. Night driving is not advisable for reasons of traffic safety outside the cities. If you want to rent a vehicle, an international driver‘s license is required. This only is valid in conjunction with the national German driver‘s license. In Kandy we recommend to take a tuktuk or walk down the streets as Kandy is not that big. In Ella you will definitely need a tuktuk as the train station is a few minutes and some meters in altitude from the city.

During the rainy season, expect monsoon rains. These can cause short but severe flooding. The rainy season extends northeast from December to March. In the southwest from June to October. Sri Lanka is located in a seismically active zone, which can lead to earthquakes and tsunamis. In Sri Lanka the weather is different everywhere. So if you want to do a round trip, you have to pack clothes for every situation. Generally one can say that at the beginning of the year the weather is usually better. On the beaches the weather is of course better than in the highlands. It always depends on where you want to go.

Kandy and Ella can hardly be more different. It‘s hot and humid in Kandy. The streets heat up the air, it is stuffy and unpleasant. Ella, on the other hand, is very cool. We even needed a jacket in the afternoon. The nights are getting really cold. It often can rain here. Also fog is not rare. For hikers it is a pleasant weather. However, if you come directly from Kandy, it is a real change first.

In Sri Lanka you pay with rupee. You can pay with credit cards, but less in rural areas. Here you should beware of credit card fraud. Cash can be changed in exchange offices or picked up at the vending machine. The cash can be changed back before leaving the country.