About the ride from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy
No matter whether you are making a return journey to Kandy from Nuwara Eliya or visiting the ancient Sri Lankan city for the first time, you'll need to prepare yourself for a feast of Buddhist sites and ancient cultural heritage. From the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Lankatilaka Temple to surrounding tea plantations and hill stations, Kandy is one of the most important, and popular, cities in Sri Lanka.
Getting to Kandy from Nuwara Eliya couldn't be easier. Firstly, you can travel by road either in a six person minivan or in a chauffeur-driven car. This is generally considered the most efficient and most comfortable way to travel as you can get picked up and dropped off from wherever you wish. Alternatively, taking a train from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy represents more of an authentic Sri Lankan experience.
You'll get to meet local people and fellow travelers as well as being able to spend more time passing by some of the island's most verdant rural countryside. Train travel, however, is a lot slower than by road. It takes approximately six hours and 30 minutes to make the 76 kilometer (47 miles) ride north to Kandy. Traveling by car or minivan only takes two hours and 30 minutes. The best advice is to enjoy both modes of transport on their own merits. You can either experience more time to explore or more time to relax and soak up the scenery.
Whichever way you choose to travel, it's always a good idea to have accommodation booked in advance of your arrival. In this way you'll know where you have to head to next without worrying about arriving in Kandy after dark or having to negotiate with taxi drivers after a long train journey.
What to see when traveling from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy
It's very straightforward to travel north from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy and often you'll be able to take in much of the island's lush green central highlands along the way. Tea plantations and hill station communities are commonplace and the air is much cooler, especially around the country's tallest peak, Pidurutalagala (2,524 meters), that's only a 30 minute drive north of Nuwara Eliya's city suburbs.
If you're taking a second or first class train from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy you'll be able to see a lot more natural sights from your window than you would do on the highway.
Tea estates and fruit orchards mix with sleepy hill stations, with winding mountain railways lines often stopping at some super scenic locations to pick up hikers along the way. Train travel in Sri Lanka is also a much easier way to meet local people, on their level. You'll often be invited to listen to someone's English language skills and might even be asked for a selfie, especially by the younger generation of Sinhalese.
When traveling from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy by road, in a chauffeur-driven six person minivan or smaller private car, you'll also be able to see swathes of tea plantations across the hillsides, especially as you depart Nuwara Eliya. However, don't expect to experience lush green jungles at every bend in the road. Most of the 76 kilometer (47 mile) ride will take you on the highway with cars, trucks and coaches passing by your window all the way through to Kandy's more built-up urban areas.
How to get from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy
Taking a train
Train travel in Sri Lanka is a classic experience and far more than simply getting from A to B. Travelers can choose either second or first class (air-conditioned) compartments and spend time staring wistfully from carriage windows at classic Sri Lankan scenery, including tea plantations and hill stations. The distance from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy is 76 kilometers (47 miles) and the rural railway ride north takes about six and a half hours.
Throughout the journey you can buy local snacks and hot and cold drinks, including a 'compulsory' cup of Sri Lankan tea. Train travel in Sri Lanka is a great way to meet local people as well as fellow travelers from all across the world. Taking the train from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy is simple as there's only one main station in each city. Just book your ticket in advance, arrive at the station in good time and pack a good book for the journey.
Taking a minivan
You can share a six person minivan or hire your own private minivan to get from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy. Minivans are a really comfortable way to travel and provide plenty of legroom as well as a flexible approach to departure times.
You'll also be traveling in air-conditioned luxury as well as having a chance to listen to the driver's choice of local music – an experience not to be missed! (Minivan drivers nearly always speak English and won't be offended if you ask them to turn the tunes down if you want to rest.) Minivan rides usually take around 2.5 hours so are much quicker than trains that tend to stop at every rural station along the route.
Driving with a private car
You can hire a private car in Sri Lanka and drive yourself however, most travelers prefer to be driven by a local driver who knows the mountain roads. Traveling by car is an efficient way to get from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy in just over a couple of hours. You can depart at a time that suits you and get dropped off at any hotel in Kandy – booking in advance of your arrival is recommended. If you prefer to look for something when you arrive, your driver can also drop you in a district that's well known for hostels and hotels.