Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka · South Asia
An island of tea hills and slow railways, where the Main Line climbs from Colombo into the cool central highlands.
Why visit
Why visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka packs a great deal into a small island, and few things show it better than the hill country. Tea cultivation began here in 1867, when a Scotsman named James Taylor planted the first seedlings at the Loolecondera Estate after disease destroyed the coffee crop, and the highlands are now a landscape of tea.
The railway built by the British in the nineteenth century runs through it, which makes a train and estate journey one of the island’s most characteristic ways to travel.
Explore
What to see
The Main Line runs from Colombo Fort through the hill country to Badulla, about 300 kilometres, calling at Hatton, Nanu Oya and Bandarawela. The stretch from Nanu Oya to Ella is the most renowned, with tea gardens, valleys and waterfalls. Nuwara Eliya, at 1,868 metres, is the cool hill town of the tea country, and estates such as Pedro and Labookellie offer factory tours and tastings.
Hotels
Where to stay in Sri Lanka
Galle Face Green, ColomboGalle Face HotelThe 1864 grand hotel on Colombo's sea front, restored to 2015, with 156 rooms in two wings and a terrace on the Indian Ocean.Explore →
Galle Face, ColomboITC Ratnadipa, a Luxury Collection Hotel, ColomboA luxury hotel on Colombo's Galle Face seafront: 352 keys with water-facing balconies, nine restaurants and bars and a sky bridge bar.Explore →Experiences
Experiences in Sri Lanka
- Walk the ramparts of Galle FortCultural Immersion
- Go on a leopard safari in YalaWildlife
- See the Kandy Esala PeraheraEvent
- Visit Geoffrey Bawa’s garden at LunugangaCultural Immersion
- Walk a stage of the Pekoe Trail through Sri Lanka’s tea countryTrek
- Journey through Sri Lanka’s tea country by train and estateRail Journey
Before you go
Practical information
Getting around
Sri Lanka Railways’ Podi Manike train runs between Colombo Fort and Badulla in roughly ten hours, with first, second and economy classes. Seats on the scenic sections are in demand; confirm timetables and booking arrangements with the railway or an agent.
Practical notes
The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee. High-grown teas, above about 1,200 metres, include the well-known Nuwara Eliya and Uva teas. The hill country is cooler than the coast, so bring a layer.
Continue exploring
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