Colombo to Kandy

Duration - 03:15 hours.This is considered to be one of the affordable, convenient, comfortable and hassle-free traveling options. Traveling via train from Colombo to Kandy involves three major types of trains. One is the Intercity train that would stop at each city but still the fastest amongst all the options. The other is the Express which goes nonstop up to the final destination. And the last one is the Colombo Commuter which is commonly used by locals and is often considered to be the slowest. The entire journey by train from Colombo to Kandy takes approximately 3 hours and you get to enjoy the beautiful sceneries all through your journey.

Available Train Options

1. Train Name - Podi Menike (1005)
Boarding Station - Colombo Fort
Deboarding Station - Kandy
Departure - 05:55 AM
Arrival- 08:45 AM
Duration - 02:50 hours

2. Train Name - Kandy Intercity Express (1009)
Boarding Station - Colombo Fort
Deboarding Station - Kandy
Departure - 07:00 AM
Arrival- 09:30 AM
Duration - 02:30 hours

3. Train Name - Udarata Menike (1015)
Boarding Station - Colombo Fort
Deboarding Station - Kandy
Departure - 08:30  AM
Arrival- 11:00 AM
Duration- 02:30 hours

4. Train Name - Kandy Intercity Express (1033) 
Boarding Station - Colombo Fort
Deboarding Station - Kandy
Departure - 17:20  PM
Arrival- 20:00 PM
Duration- 02:40 hours

5. Train Name - Kandy Express (1039) 
Boarding Station - Colombo Fort
Deboarding Station - Kandy
Departure - 17:45  PM
Arrival- 21:00 PM

The Colombo to Kandy drive is approximately a 3.5 - 4-hour drive depending on the traffic and weather conditions. The route uphill is curvy, which may slow down the pace a little. If you are not well versed with the traffic rules and the path then it is advisable to hire a taxi or a van instead of self-driving. All these routes have tolls.

Routes that can be taken:

Route 1: Colombo - Kandy Rd/A1
This three and a half-hour drive covers around 123 kms between the two locations. 

Route 2: Colombo - Katunayake Expy/E03 and Colombo - Kandy Rd/A1
This distance of 136 kms can be covered in approximately 4 hours.

Route 3: Avissawella Rd and Colombo - Kandy Rd/A1
This is the longest route with a distance of 150 kms that can be covered in approximately 4 hours 40 mins.

Road Conditions
Route 1 is the most preferable path as it’s the shortest and the quickest one. All are relatively busy routes. Hence, it is advisable to have someone familiar with the route behind the wheel. 

Colombo to Kandy by Bus
Frequent buses ply all through the day between Colombo to Kandy. The earliest bus departs at 3:45 AM, and the last one departs at 11:00 PM. Buses depart every 30 minutes from the bus stations. You can board the buses from Colombo Bus Station, Negombo Bus Stand and some of them even pass through the Colombo airport. The fares are as cheap as INR 130, making it the cheapest way to reach Kandy. But it should also be noted that the buses are not well maintained and may not be very comfortable.

Available Bus Options

Bus Name- NF-2479
Departure- 06:40 AM 
Arrival- 09:55 AM
Duration- 03:15 hours
Fare- LKR  350

Bus Name- NF-7215
Departure- 08:40 AM 
Arrival- 11:55 AM
Duration- 03:15 hours
Fare- LKR  350

Bus Name -ND-7070
Departure- 10:20 AM 
Arrival- 01:35 PM
Duration- 03:15 hours
Fare- LKR  350

Bus Name -NA-5115
Departure- 06:20 PM 
Arrival- 09:35 PM
Duration- 03:15 hours
Fare- LKR  350

Bus Name -NA-4140
Departure- 10:05 PM 
Arrival- 01:20 AM
Duration- 03:15 hours
Fare- LKR  350