Kandy is a city located in the centre of Sri Lanka that is surrounded by a beautiful mountainous backdrop and lush green rainforests. It is known to be one of the most captivating destinations within the country being covered in gorgeous botanical gardens and home to the famous Bogambara Lake. Being a hub of authentic Sri Lanken culture, Kandy was the last capital of the Ancient Kings era and hosts stunning temples, including the Temple of the Tooth. You can travel from Colombo to Kandy by train, and can pre-book your tickets for this journey online via 12Go, which I am going to share more about throughout this article.
HOW TO GET FROM COLOMBO TO KANDY BY TRAIN
Within this blog I am going to delve into the details about how you can take a train from Colombo to Kandy and book your ticket online ahead of travelling. I will start by explaining the key points that are great to know ahead of booking your ticket and making the commute, the routes you can take from Colombo to Kandy by train and the best way to purchase your preferred journey. Following on from this I will deep dive into information to do with how you can commute to your departure station and then final destination, alongside some interesting details for planning your trip in Kandy.
There are roughly between 7 to 11 trains operating daily that will take you from Colombo to Kandy, with all of them departing from Colombo Fort Train Station and arriving at Kandy Train Station or Peradeniya Railway Station. The commute time takes approximately from 2 hours and 30 minutes up to 4 hours and 40 minutes, with prices being very affordable costing between $7 and $12 depending on which type of ticket you book, as some trains offer first, second and third class options. You can leave Colombo as early as 5.55am or as late as 5.10pm, meaning all trains will arrive into Kandy on the same day as their departure.
BEST WAY TO BOOK YOUR TICKET ONLINE FROM COLOMBO TO KANDY
Throughout this article I will explain all of the details you will need to be made aware of ahead of booking your ticket online from Colombo to Kandy, however if you can’t read this full blog at the moment but want to book your ticket, then the best way to do this is by heading over to 12Go. This online booking platform allows you to see all of the available routes, departure and arrival times, commute lengths of each journey, as well as ticket prices per person.
If you are interested to find out all of this without having to search for it yourself, alongside being interested in information such as the best time to visit Kandy, how long you should spend there and must-do activities you will want to check out, then I suggest you keep reading as this article is going to help you plan a great trip from Colombo to Kandy.
| Taxi Colombo - Kandy $ 40.66–146.30 2h – 3h 40m | |
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| Train Colombo - Kandy $ 4.85–18.77 2h 26m – 4h 50m | |
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| Van Colombo - Kandy $ 96 12h | |
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| Train Colombo - Peradeniya $ 5.20–8.73 2h 31m – 2h 40m | |
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KEY POINTS
These are some great tips to know ahead of booking your ticket online and travelling from Colombo to Kandy…
Most affordable train to book online from Colombo to Kandy
The cheapest train ticket that you can book online from Colombo to Kandy costs just $7 per person. These are when you take the second or third class ticket options with a handful of different departure times available. You can purchase your ticket for this journey option via 12Go.
Quickest train to book from Colombo to Kandy
The fastest train to get from Colombo to Kandy is the 5.10pm departure from Colombo Fort Train Station which arrives into Peradeniya Railway Station at 7.41PM after a 2 hour and 31 minute commute. You can book your ticket online through 12Go.
Arrival and check in times at Colombo Fort Train Station
When travelling from Colombo to Kandy via train, I would suggest arriving at the specified platform in Colombo Fort Train Station 15 minutes prior to the departure time stated on your pre-booked ticket. This will allow you time to check that you have everything ready ahead of boarding and travelling, as well as ensure that you don’t miss your train.
Luggage allowances for trains from Colombo to Kandy
There are no luggage allowance rules when travelling by train from Colombo to Kandy. However, I would suggest not over packing as you will need to be considerate of other people travelling as well as be aware that if the train is fully booked there may not be enough space for a lot of luggage to be stored.
Additional information
Before boarding your train from Colombo to Kandy you must have your pre-book ticket in physical form which can be picked up from the mTicketing service at Colombo Fort Train Station.
When picking up your ticket from the station you must show your booking reference alongside your passport.
You are not able to choose your own preference of seat. Seat allocation will be picked for you.
Once you have booked your ticket online the date of travel cannot be changed.
ROUTES AND SCHEDULE FROM COLOMBO TO KANDY BY TRAIN
All train routes from Colombo to Kandy depart from Colombo Fort Train Station, with the earliest leaving at 5.55AM and latest being at 5.10PM, with approximately 10 trains running per day. When arriving into Kandy there are two stations you can choose from depending on which time you would like to travel. These are;
- Kandy Train Station, which has approximately around 7 trains running per day from Colombo to Kandy taking between 2 hours and 33 minutes to 4 hours and 40 minutes in commute time. The prices for these tickets cost from $7 up to $12 per person, with the higher pricing being for observation and first class seats. You can find out all the departure and arrival times of the trains as well as book your ticket online through 12Go.
- Peradeniya Railway Station, which has a handful of trains running per day from Colombo to Kandy taking between 2 hours and 31 minutes to 4 hours and 40 minutes in commute time. The prices for per person cost $7 for a second class ticket or $12 for a first class ticket. You can find out all the departure and arrival times of the trains as well as book your ticket online through 12Go.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKET ONLINE FROM COLOMBO TO KANDY
The most reliable way to book your train ticket online from Colombo to Kandy is through the platform 12Go. Within this online booking platform you are able to compare all of the journeys available, departure and arrival times as well as stations, the length of each commute and how much tickets are priced at per person. Another great benefit is that once you have booked your ticket online, you will then have a point of contact you can get in touch with should something change around your travel plans or to do with the train you have booked.
GETTING TO YOUR DEPARTURE STATION IN COLOMBO
Commuting around Colombo is made quite easy as you are able to walk to most places. However, if you are looking to get to Colombo Fort Train Station ahead of travelling from Colombo to Kandy then you may want to grab a tuk-tuk or Uber. A tuk-tuk is a very authentic and fun way to get around the capital, whereas an Uber is more affordable. There is also a public transport system in the city which uses buses as the form of transport.
GETTING TO YOUR FINAL DESTINATION IN KANDY
Once you have arrived from Colombo to Kandy, either at Kandy Train Station or Peradeniya Railway Station, you will then need to make the last part of your journey that will take you to your final destination. Just like in Colombo you can take an authentic tuk-tuk which will kickstart your trip in Kandy, or for an affordable way to commute around you could hop on a bus if it is heading to where you are going. There is also the option of hailing down a taxi to take you.
BEST TIME TO VISIT KANDY
Dry season in Kandy runs from January through to and including April making it a great time to visit, but the best months of the time period to book your trip are in January, February or March. This is when humidity is low, temperatures are nice and there is the least amount of rainfall, making the conditions brilliant to explore around in, go trekking and really enjoy the beauty of the area.
HOW LONG TO SPEND IN KANDY
Most people find that 3 days spent in Kandy is enough time to enjoy what is on offer there, making sure to have at least 2 of those as full days. This gives you plenty of time to check out iconic landmarks, brilliant trekking routes and enjoy the authentic Sri Lanken culture. Kandy provides a laid back environment and way of life, meaning it is a great place to go after spending time in the busy city of Colombo.
MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN KANDY
These are some great things to check out on your trip to Kandy…
Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth
This is a beautiful temple where you can spend a few hours admiring. It has gorgeous carvings on the walls, you can go during rituals and is a massive part of the Kandy culture. Being somewhere very popular to visit, it is open daily from morning to late afternoon. On entering you must take off your shoes and wear respectful clothing.
Make it to the top of the Ambuluwawa Tower
Here you will be able to witness the most breathtaking 360 degree view overlooking the area. It is just outside of Kandy but is definitely worth visiting, and nearby are also more stunning temples for you to check out.
Wander around the Royal Botanical Gardens
If you love being surrounded by lush greenery and nature, then here is somewhere you need to add to your Kandy bucket list of places to see. There are over 4,000 different types of plants housed within the gardens from across the world and it can take you up to three hours to explore around.
Head over to the Kandy Lake
It wouldn’t be a trip to Kandy without heading over to the famous lake. Here you have the most iconic spot in the city. You won’t want to forget to take your camera here as the shots you can take are going to be incredible.
Explore through the markets
If you are visiting the lake then you will want to go check out the Kandy Municipal Central Market. It is a great place to head on your first day to speak to the locals to find out where you should go and what you should do whilst on your trip.
MORE SRI LANKA BLOGS
Are you looking to travel around more areas within Sri Lanka? Then you are going to want to check out these blogs below. Here you can find out some of the best places to stay, where to go and what to check out…
20 BEST HOTELS IN SRI LANKA WITH PRIVATE POOLS
20 BEST ECO LODGES & ECO RESORTS IN SRI LANKA
15 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN SRI LANKA: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE
THE SRI LANKA PACKING LIST: WHAT TO PACK AND WHY
KANDY TO ELLA TRAIN IN SRI LANKA: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
HIKING TO DIYALUMA FALLS: SECOND HIGHEST WATERFALL IN SRI LANKA
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Wednesday 27th of March 2024
Too bad you're advising booking your traintickets through a travel agent and not directly with the SL Railways, big difference in price....