Haputale Railway Station
A small, old fashioned station on the hill country railway, perched on the Haputale ridge, where mist drifts across the platform and views fall away on both sides.
Haputale Railway Station is one of the most atmospheric stops on Sri Lanka's famous hill country line between Colombo and Badulla. The station sits right on the Haputale ridge, at around 1,400 metres, with a tin roof, flower pots along the platform and a name board in Sinhala, Tamil and English. On misty mornings the clouds roll straight across the tracks, and the whole place feels like a scene from another century.
The line through Haputale was built during British rule to carry tea down from the estates, and the station still has much of its old charm. Trains here are slow, which is part of the appeal: the stretch between Haputale, Idalgashinna and Ohiya runs through pine forest, tea and a long series of tunnels, with some of the best views on the whole railway. Even if you arrive by road, it is worth walking down to the platform to watch a train come through.
Haputale town itself sits along the same ridge, so the station is a short walk from the main street, guesthouses and bus stand. From here it is an easy tuk tuk ride to Lipton's Seat and Adisham Bungalow, or one stop up the line to Idalgashinna.
As of October 2026, trains are running between Nanu Oya and Badulla after the repairs that followed Cyclone Ditwah, which includes Haputale, but the section between Kandy and Nanu Oya is still closed. Check railway.gov.lk before you plan a train journey. Ticket prices are set by Sri Lanka Railways and change from time to time, so check them at the counter or online.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Free to visit. Train tickets are sold at the station counter.
- Opening hours: Open all day, with trains at set times
- Time needed: 30 minutes, or longer to catch a train
- Best time: Early morning, when the mist drifts across the platform
How to get there
In Haputale town, a short walk from the main street and bus stand. Haputale is on the main line between Nanu Oya and Ella, around an hour from Ella by road.