Part 1 - Train line to Peradeniya
The first step of our journey, we started from Colombo Fort Railway Station stepping into Udarata Manike Express train. Until two hours time we got some rest as we were passing the familiar towns and buildings. The real journey started coming near to the Rambukkana station as the two line railway track became one railway track leading us to the wonderland. The train stopped with a cloud of smoke where we got down to the station to observe the ruins of the first intercity train which was destroyed by falling into the range of paddy fields on its first journey to kandy in 2002.This was one of the most depressing incidents of the history of Railways.
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| Rambukkana Railway Station |
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| The Ruins of the Destroyed Intercity Train |
The guard master of our train waved his flag as a sign to start the train, So we all ran to our seats in the train. The driver of the train switched the lever to climb up the slope as the starting point to the Kandy route. This slope is the longest slope which is1:50 which the Trains of Sri Lanka will have to undergo.
As the wheels of the train hit the railway track in this inclination the surrounding was large rubber estates and forests covered with granites. Then we approached to the “Lonely station”, Kadigamuwa. This station is far away from the city and in between forests. This was a totally different feeling on our way to hill country.
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| Kadigamuwa Railway Station |
The “Ihala Kotte” station which was Alagalla in past due to the Mountain Alagalla situated above the station. This Alagalla Mountain has a historical story behind in 1948. When Sri Lanka got her independence in 4th of February 1948 from the British rule the villages to see the gaining of independence they all climbed up this mountain, up to now it has been past as a cultural happening on our independence day most of the people climb up this mountain.
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| Ihala Kotte Railway Station |
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| Alagalla Hill |
The next specialty near this station is the passing of “Miyangalla” tunnel No: 5A.This takes the place as the second longest tunnel in Sri Lanka. This is not natural neither man made, this was formed when a railway track was constructed below the rail track as there was a dangerous train accident happened on this track. At present the track which was constructed newly is being used and when passing this station the past track is to be seen. We reached the station “Balana” after passing few other stations. Balana is known to be a Plateau(a land which is in between two mountains).In 1930s when British tried to build a railway track to kandy there was a saying that the British will never do that passing Balana, Motana and Alagalla mountains. However by using tunnels and plateaus they have built a track.
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| Old Colombo - Kandy Road |
When traveling further away from Balana “Singha Hisa” a stone which is formed in the shape of a lion’s head can be seen.
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| Lion's Head |
After departing from “Sinhga Hisa” we saw the Colombo-Kandy main road below us this was very important to us as we could not see any roads from Rambukkana upto now. We happened to reach here in between mountains and forests which was an amazing experience.
We brought the climbing of the uphill to an end from the station Kadugannawa. Then we happened to travel in the flat land. The captain Dorzan tower was to be seen on the right side of the railway track. Captain Dorzan was the main Engineer who planned the Colombo-Kandy main road, as a gratitude this tower has been made here.
We passed all the stations which will make us to experience a lovely journey and entered to a railway track which passes many trains through town. When reaching near to Peradeniya passing Pilimathalawa at one point we crossed the main road, where the High Way Museum which has many equipments and vehicles to examine which were used in making the Colombo-Kandy main road.
We reached the Peradeniya Junction, which the railway tracks are connected as a triangle. All the trains which come with in this triangle can be turned to other direction without changing the Engine.
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| Peradeniya Railway Station |
We got into the Kandy train from Peradeniya junction to approach Sarasavi Uyana station and Finally, we reached the University of Peradeniya getting down from the Sarasavi uyana Station.
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| Sarasavi Uyana Railway Station |
To be continued...
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