For decades, the blue train to Ella has been the Instagram star of Sri Lanka. But ask any local, any tea planter, or any true explorer, and they will tell you a secret: The train misses the best parts.
With the railway track temporarily sleeping due to recent weather, travelers are asking, “How do we get to the hills?”
The answer is not a compromise. It is an upgrade.
Welcome to the A7 Highway, a stretch of tarmac that winds through the emerald heart of the island. We call it “The Waterfall Corridor.” Unlike the train, which rushes past nature’s greatest shows behind a glass window, this route invites you to stop, breathe, and taste the mist.
Here is why taking the main road from Ginigathhena to Nuwara Eliya is the ultimate way to experience the Hill Country right now.
🗺️ The Route: A Drive Through the Mist
Whether you are coming from Colombo (via Kithulgala) or Kandy (via Gampola), your journey truly begins at Ginigathhena. From here, the road transforms. You are no longer just driving; you are ascending into a painting.
As you navigate through Hatton, Kotagala, and Talawakelle, the air cools, the mist rolls in, and the landscape opens up into a series of dramatic, thundering cascades that sit right by the roadside.
🛑 Stop 1: The Twin Titans (The Detour)
For the Adventurous
Before you hit the main corridor, take a short detour near Ginigathhena to witness raw power.
- Aberdeen Falls: A hidden giant plunging into a deep pool, surrounded by dense jungle.
- Laxapana Falls: One of the island’s most historically significant waterfalls, powering the nation and creating a thunderous spectacle.
- Why Road is Better: The train doesn’t go here. Only the road unlocks these legends.
☕ Stop 2: Tea with “The Veil of the Valley”
Devon Falls
Back on the main A7 route, you will encounter Devon Falls. Standing at 97 meters, it is known as the “Veil of the Valley” for its slender, graceful drop.
- The Experience: Don’t just drive past. Pull over at the Mlesna Tea Castle or the viewing deck. Order a pot of fresh BOPF Ceylon tea. Sip it while watching the water cascade down the green mountain. This—the combination of warm tea, cool air, and rushing water—is the definition of Sri Lankan wellness.
🌊 Stop 3: The “Little Niagara”
St. Clair’s Falls
Just minutes away lies the undisputed king of the corridor: St. Clair’s Falls. It is the widest waterfall in Sri Lanka, a massive curtain of white water tumbling over rock terraces, cutting through the St. Clair tea estate.
- The Experience: The road offers a panoramic front-row seat. It’s wide, loud, and majestic. On the train, this is a 5-second glimpse. On the road, it’s a 30-minute meditation session.
💧 Stop 4: Engineering Meets Nature
Upper Kotmale Dam
As you pass Talawakelle, you witness a marvel of modern engineering—the Upper Kotmale Dam. Seeing this massive body of water held back by human ingenuity, surrounded by cloud forests, is a stark, beautiful contrast to the wild waterfalls you just passed.
🌫️ Stop 5: The Welcome Mist
Nanu Oya / Glassaugh Falls
Just before you reach the colonial charm of Nuwara Eliya, the Nanu Oya Waterfall (often called Glassaugh Falls) greets you right by the road. It is nature’s final welcome sign, washing away the fatigue of the journey before you enter “Little England.”
🚗 Why the “Waterfall Corridor” Wins
We love our trains. But the Waterfall Corridor offers something the railway cannot: Intimacy.
- Curated Pace: You are the conductor. See a beautiful flower? Stop. Want a fresh Roti from a roadside shop? Stop. Want to take a photo without fighting for a window seat? It’s all yours.
- Taste the Terrain: This route is lined with world-class tea lounges. You are drinking the tea exactly where it is grown, watching the water that nourishes the very leaves in your cup.
- No Crowds: The train is famous for being packed. The Waterfall Corridor is your private theater of nature.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka is Open. The Hills are Calling.
The tracks may be resting, but the waterfalls are roaring louder than ever. Sri Lanka’s hill country is not just accessible; it is more beautiful by road than you ever imagined.
Don’t wait for a train ticket. Hire a driver, rent a car, or hop on a bus. Take the Waterfall Corridor. The best views in Sri Lanka aren’t waiting at the station—they are waiting on the open road.
“Life is not a train ride where you just watch the world go by. It’s a road trip where you stop, step out, and let the mist touch your face.” — TheWellness.travel