Travelogue Sri Lanka 2010 By train from Ella to Colombo
Maybe some of you remember that in my travels through Latin America I always hoped to ride a train over mountains, gorges and through narrow valleys, a train used by locals (ideally with chickens) and where you can lean out the door during the ride. Well, at last the time had come. Albeit without chickens, at least I didn’t see any.
We start from Ella at about half past nine in the morning. It’s mainly tourists who get on there. Most of them will leave the train in Kandy at the latest. We’ll go all the way to Colombo.270 kilometres lie ahead of us, we miss only 20 kilometres, but among them the Demodara Loop. Many tourists only do the short stretch between Ella and Haputale.Off we go!Most tourists ride first class, where not a single local rides. For some reason, we also booked first class … at least that had the advantage that I did not worry about our luggage, whether worries would have been justified or not.The main selling point for the 1st class is the panoramic window. To the rear, of course, since the locomotive is in front.But who needs a panoramic window when you can lean out the open door? Not me, this is my place, this is where I spend a lot of the ride.The 2nd class is quite decent and here tourists mix with locals.The 3rd class is a bit run down, there are only locals and lots of shopping (but no chickens).There is also an on-board bistro.But the tables of the dining car are rather diverted from their intended use.
Here are some pictures along the route:
Ten hours later we arrive happily in Colombo. The ride was a grand finale to our trip.
Another night at the Gall Face Hotel, another Lamprais for dinner, a bit of shopping for Gabi and then it’s back to Munich.
