What to expect when visiting Jaffna
Jaffna is a relatively newly-reopened town for tourists in Sri Lanka’s northern tip. The city is a fusion of Hindu Islam and Buddhist Sri Lanka — a product of over two decades of civil war. Its many years of isolation from the rest of the country make it a unique place to visit, and there are relatively fewer tourists so you can have a more authentic glimpse of local life.
Inhabited by the Tamil people, you can expect a warm welcome when you explore this city. Some of the best things to do in Jaffna include a visit to Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, a walk around the Dutch Fort, and a trip to the local market (try the Jaffna mango!). Everywhere you go, friendly locals will greet you with bright smiles.
3 ways to get from Kandy to Jaffna
There are 3 ways to travel the distance of 320 kilometers (199 miles) from Kandy to Jaffna by bus (14 hours), Taxi (6 hours 40 minutes) and train (7 hours 45 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 6 hours 40 minutes to 14 hours and the quickest way is by taxi. The lowest priced tickets start from 1,450 LKR ($5) for the bus.Kandy to Jaffna by Bus
Direct buses are available from Kandy to Jaffna, but we don’t really recommend this option. The journey takes about 14 hours depending on traffic, and only non-aircon buses are available.
An alternate option is to take a longer route via Colombo, where more comfortable air-conditioned buses are available. This bus journey will take 14 hours excluding transfers, but it is a good alternate option if you want to visit the capital anyway.
Option 1: Kandy to Jaffna via Direct Bus
Direct buses operate from Kandy to Jaffna every 2 hours, but this schedule can change so it’s best to visit the bus station early for current departure times.
Only non-aircon ordinary and semi-luxury buses are available for this route and they cost 445 LKR ($1.50) and 670 LKR ($2.30) respectively. If you really want to take the direct bus, we recommend that you go via a semi-luxury bus as they have better seats.
- Departs from Goods Shed Bus Station, west of Kandy city centre
- Arrives at Jaffna Bus Stand in the city centre
Option 2: Kandy to Jaffna by Bus via Colombo
Step 1: Kandy to Colombo by Bus
First, you have to take a bus from Kandy to Colombo. This bus journey costs 175 LKR ($0.60) for an ordinary bus and 350 LKR ($1.20) for an air-conditioned bus. Travel time takes 3.5 hours.
- Take bus route #01 from Goods Shed Bus Station, west of Kandy city centre
- Arrive at Colombo Central Bus Stand in Colombo city centre
You can also check out our page for Kandy to Colombo for more details.
Step 2: Colombo to Jaffna by Bus
When travelling from Colombo to Jaffna via bus, you have 3 options: an ordinary bus costs 540 LKR ($1.80); a semi-luxury bus costs 810 LKR ($2.80); and an air-conditioned bus costs 1,080 LKR ($3.70). Travel time takes 10.5 hours.
- Take bus route #87 from Colombo Central Bus Stand in the city centre
- Arrive at Jaffna Bus Stand in the city centre
See our page for Colombo to Jaffna for more info.
Kandy to Jaffna by Train
When taking the train from Kandy to Jaffna, there are 2 steps. First, you have to get to Polgahawela Railway station. Second, take a train from Polgahawela to Jaffna.
Step 1: Kandy to Polgahawela Junction by Train, Bus or Taxi
From Kandy, you have 3 options to get to Polgahawela Junction: via train, bus or taxi. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you choose your best option when going from Kandy to Polgahawela.
Option 1: Kandy to Polgahawela Junction by Train
Unreserved seats are easily available at the train station on the day of your trip, with fares starting at 100 LKR ($0.30). But if you want to be assured of a seat, you have to book your ticket online at least a month before.
If you plan to book reserved seats for your connecting train ride to Jaffna, you have to be at Polgahawela before 13:00. You can choose from 3 trains that depart from Kandy in the morning, although only Train #1036 is available to book online.
- Departs at 06:20 from Kandy Railway Station
- Arrives at 08:17 at Polgahawela Railway Station
Note that if you take the train from Kandy to Polgahawela, you will have to wait 5 hours for the train going to Jaffna. You can use this time to go around the nearby temples or have an early lunch near the station.
Also, keep in mind that Polgahawela does not appear in online booking websites so you will have to book a train journey from Kandy to Colombo. You can also book a different train via other means as long as you arrive in Polgahawela by noon. Read further to find out the best way to score seats on unreserved trains.
See below our proposed schedule via Train #1036 from Kandy to Polgahawela. You can book your train ticket online via 12go.Asia in the link below.
Option 2: Kandy to Polgahawela Junction by Bus
If you don’t want to wait 5 hours for a train transfer, you can also take the bus to Polgahawela Railway Station and time it well to arrive around noon. Travel time is 1 hour, including a taxi transfer. Make sure to allow extra time for traffic.
Take non-aircon Bus #662 for 45 minutes and costs 71 LKR ($0.20).
- Departs from Goods Shed Bus Station, west of Kandy city centre
- Arrives at Kegalle Bus Stop in the city centre
In Kegalle, hail a taxi to take you to Polgahawela Railway Station. This taxi journey takes around 20 minutes and costs between 490 LKR ($1.70) and 635 LKR ($2.20).
Option 3: Kandy to Polgahawela Junction by Taxi
An easier but more expensive option is to take a taxi from Kandy to Polgahawela. This is a good option to consider if you are travelling in a group.
You can hail one from the street or ask your hotel to get one for you. Fares start from 3,450 LKR ($11.80). Travel time takes around 1 hour, but allow extra time for traffic.
Step 2: Polgahawela Junction to Jaffna by Train
From Polgahawela Station, several trains going to Jaffna operate daily. As you are making a transfer from Kandy, it would be best to take train #4017.
- Departs at 13:01 from Polgahawela Railway Station
- Arrives at 18:47 at Jaffna Railway Station
There are other trains operating from Polgahawela to Jaffna, but we recommend the above schedule if you want to book reserved 1st class air-conditioned seats. It gets hotter and more humid as you head north, so it can be uncomfortable on a non-aircon cabin.
Note that you have to book your tickets at least a month before when booking online. You can choose between a 1st class seat for 5,200 LKR ($17.70) and a 2nd class seat for 3,090 LKR ($10.60). Sri Lanka Railways operates on this route daily, but you will not find Polgahawela on any booking website. Book a train ticket for Colombo to Jaffna instead.
See below our suggested train schedule from Polgahawela to Jaffna via Train #4017.
You can also check other train schedules via the Sri Lanka Railway website.
*Train tickets are also sold on 12Go.Asia for a few dollars less. However, we recommend booking with BookAway as they don’t add a booking fee and time schedules & info are more reliable.
Unreserved seats
Booking unreserved seats is easy as you only need to buy tickets at the train station on the day of your trip.
From Kandy to Polgahawela, tickets for a 3rd class seat cost 55 LKR ($0.20) while 2nd class seats cost 100 LKR ($0.30). From Polgahawela to Jaffna, a 3rd class seat costs 340 LKR ($1.20) and a 2nd class seat costs 550 LKR ($1.90).
These tickets may be unlimited, but the seats are not! There’s a great chance you will be standing for a huge part of your journey, not exactly the kind of adventure you have in mind while taking the train.
Instead of risking it on an unreserved seat, we recommend that you book via a trusted local agency instead. Their tickets are more expensive, but you can expect a good seat. Visit our page on How to Book Train Tickets in Sri Lanka for more details.
Kandy to Jaffna by Taxi
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Frequently Asked Questions about Kandy to Jaffna
What is the distance from Kandy to Jaffna?
The distance from Kandy to Jaffna is 320 kilometers (199 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Kandy to Jaffna?
The fastest way to get from Kandy to Jaffna is by taxi and takes 6 hours 40 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Kandy to Jaffna?
The cheapest way to get from Kandy to Jaffna is by bus with ticket costs starting from 1,450 LKR ($5).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Kandy to Jaffna. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
