Sunday, April 7 – Wednesday, April 10
The start of my Kandy adventure really began the moment I stepped on the train in Ella. The train ride between these two cities is called “one of the most beautiful train rides in the world” and attracts many tourists to experience the journey. Luckily, more people go north to south and do Kandy to Ella, but my train was still plenty full. I actually tried to book a ticket the day before at the station but was told to return at 6am the next day as all the pre-booked fares were gone. When I went back to my homestay and told them I’d need a 5:45am tuk tuk pick up, she made a phone call and was able to secure me a first class ticket on the 9:25 train. The woman who runs the homestay grew up with the stationmaster so was able to pull a few strings for me so not only did I get the later train, but also air conditioned first class!
The train ride was beautiful, as expected, but it was slow going. It was estimated to be about 6 hours but took more like 7. Instagrammers are famed for snaps of themselves hanging out the open doors of the train as it’s dramatically swinging around a mountain curve. Personally, I found this exercise terrifying! These trains are old and rickety and the tracks are hanging off the side of a mountain! I literally felt like I could be tossed out the doorway at any given moment! Dare Devil I am not! I did manage to get some gorgeous pictures (some from the safety of my seat) and I loved the experience!
Terracing of tea plantations
The lovely folks from Slightly Chilled Forest Villa came to the railway station to pick me up in their car! I was exhausted from my long day on the train so just walked to the store for some snacks and watched Netflix that night. Perfect.
I actually took a day off the next day and just worked on my taxes, travel plans, and other housekeeping items. I was able to get in some meditation and yoga in front of my amazing double doors and balcony at the Villa and feel like I had a great self-care day.
The next day I was ready to take on the city on another tuk tuk tour that my hosts set up for me. I started the day going to the famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic which is Kandy’s most popular destination.
From there my driver took me to a few lookout points around the city to take in some picturesque views. It’s not the breathtaking beauty of Ella, but Kandy is still a mountain town with some lovely views. We also popped into the local market where they sell everything from fruits & veggies to beef, fish, toys, pharmaceuticals, and ayurvedic potions. The butcher section was particularly interesting with no sanitation and loads of birds hoarding around all the carcasses.
Views of Kandy
These guys were so proud of their fish, they asked me to take these photos
Next I went for a stroll around the Botanical Gardens which I very much enjoyed! It was deathly hot, thank goodness I had my umbrella with me for sun shade. Then about an hour into my visit, a downpour hit and it helped ease the stifling heat. Again, thanks to my umbrella, I was able to keep walking around and enjoy the rain shower.
Kandy’s Botanical Gardens
The following day I had an early train to Ragama so I called it a day on the early side and enjoyed dinner with some fellow travelers at the homestay. Honestly, my room was such a sanctuary with the beautiful view and the sound of the thunderstorms all afternoon and evening, made for it to be a lovely place to just relax!
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