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Polaroid of the Week: Scenic Train Ride Through Sri Lanka's Tea Country from Kandy to Ella

Polaroid of the Week: Scenic Train Ride Through Sri Lanka s Tea Country from Kandy to EllaAfter a relaxing week of beach hopping along Sri Lanka's south coast, I headed north to the country's renowned tea regions. Sri Lanka's hill country is among its most picturesque areas, and the train offers the ideal way to experience it. The landscape gradually transformed from palm-lined beaches to vast rice paddies, and finally to rolling hills.

Sri Lankan trains run with open doors, perfect for capturing the passing scenery. I perched in the doorway, legs dangling, snapping hundreds of photos while gazing at the countryside. The 7-hour journey from Kandy to the charming village of Ella—where my travel companions and I began exploring the highlands—was filled with ever-changing, breathtaking vistas that kept boredom at bay.

Coming from Germany, where high-speed trains cover vast distances quickly, Sri Lanka's railways feel worlds apart. Despite 7 hours, Kandy to Ella is just 100 miles (162 km). The tracks wind through hills and mountains, limiting speeds to 15-20 mph.

Our morning departure was sunny, but afternoon rains brought misty clouds and enchanted forests as we entered the mountains. These gave way to lush tea-covered hills near the end. The highlight awaits: the stretch from Ella to Badulla, the line's terminus.


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