Sri Lanka Through Hills by Train

Kadugannawa is one of the most picturesque stretches of mountains in Central Province of Sri Lanka. In one of my previous hubs, I took you through the scenes of Kadugannawa along the A1 highway. However, the most of her beauty can be captured along the railway track. So, I thought of presenting you my short, but enjoyable trip by railway from Kadugannawa to Rambukkana, with a few beautiful scenes along the way.

Its 5.50 in the morning. The train starts to slow down because of the steady ascend uphill. The speed of the train becomes ideal for sightseeing. However, I'm a bit reluctant to open the glass pane. It is too cold outside! The misty morning breeze would make me shiver. Sun is about to rise in ten minutes, but still the light is too week to see through the mist. But my camera could see better than my eyes.

As the sun starts rising, the mist clouds are seen whiter. Some sleeping passengers in the train were awakened by the shout of the regular breakfast-seller. He's got hoppers and hot sambol (kind of local chili sauce), string hoppers with coconut sambol, and bananas. People started buying some breakfast from him, when the second voice was heard. That was the tea seller. He carries a hot flask filled with smoking black tea. Everyone was refreshed in the early morning, while looking out at the breathtaking beauty of the passing Kadugannawa.

I took a photograph. It was dotted by the reflections of thousands of tiny mist droplets.

The train chugs towards Colombo. It gradually reaches a flat terrain, although it is about 400 meters above mean sea level. Sun starts shining, and the mist gets thinned however maintaining the coldness still in the air.

By 6.30 am, the train reaches Rambukkana, the railway station where the first mass loading of passengers towards Colombo starts. I guess that Rambukkana must be the biggest railway station we meet after Kadugannawa along this track.

From Rambukkana railway station, it is very close to the Elephant Orphanage, Pinnawala.