【ヌワラエリヤ/スリランカ】其ノ176 復活の紅茶列車！ の巻 / スリランカ旅⑦ ラブケリー 紅茶鉄道 ナインアーチブリッジ

Hello, I'm Spaitraver! This time I’ll take you from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and show you around the area. There are train and bus options to Nuwara Eliya, but unfortunately the train has not been restored after the 2025 disaster. So we traveled by bus, and along the way we discovered a tea factory we had wanted to visit—a pleasant surprise! Sri Lankan buses are flexible, and it’s great that they can let you off part‑way. Thanks to a friendly neighboring couple who told the conductor, we were able to get off safely at our destination. The bus broke down midway, forcing a transfer, but that’s part of the adventure. Our first stop was the “Labookellie Tea Factory.” Founded in the mid‑19th century, it is one of Sri Lanka’s most famous tea estates and is now operated by the DAMRO Group. The high altitude, cool temperatures, abundant rainfall, and acidic soil create ideal conditions for tea cultivation. During the factory tour we saw the meticulous process of picking only the bud and the two youngest leaves right below it, as well as leaf sorting and grading. After the tour we received free tea and ordered a tea cake and a chocolate cake. The tea cake was tasty, but I personally preferred the chocolate cake! We also tasted the highest‑quality tea leaves and bought a fragrant variety called FF1 for home. It was a completely satisfying tea experience. After enjoying the tea factory we caught another local bus back to Nuwara Eliya town. During the roughly 40‑minute ride a fellow passenger helped us get off closer to our lodging. Nuwara Eliya is the place where I first saw hydrangeas in Sri Lanka, and the cool climate makes you feel “like you’re in Karuizawa”—a very charming town. We stayed at “The Blues Chalet.” The exterior looks old, but inside it’s a clean, comfortable loft‑style accommodation with a white‑based décor. After dropping off our luggage and taking a short break, we headed into the city. The area around the bus terminal feels like a bustling downtown, with lively local markets and the paid Victoria Park to explore. A highlight was the cute red‑brick “Nuwara Eliya Post Office,” built in 1894 and one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka, which was crowded with tourists. A large Buddha statue stood in front of the post office, though it was marred by a lot of crow and pigeon droppings. The town center lines the bus terminal, the Buddha statue, and the post office, with a main street between them full of shops. Overall the vibe is “relaxed,” and it was striking to see people dressed in sweaters and knit hats—full winter gear—even though it’s only cool, not cold enough for down jackets or scarves. For lunch we went to a local spot that serves hoppers. Hoppers are made from a rice‑flour and coconut‑milk batter cooked in a bowl‑shaped pan; the center is soft and fluffy while the edges are crispy. They are usually eaten with curry sauce or chili sauce. We ordered an egg hopper, a plain hopper, and also fried rice. For a late‑night snack we took out KFC, but unlike Japanese KFC it was overall crispy and lacked juiciness. The next morning, when we checked out, the owner gave us surprising news! The famous tea train that had been suspended after last year’s cyclone is now partially back in service between Ambewela and Ella. We quickly changed plans and took a Pickme ride to Ambewela station. On the way we enjoyed views of the Pedro tea plantations and scenery reminiscent of Kumamoto’s Aso‑Kusasenri area—very lucky. We arrived at Ambewela station and boarded the 9:30 am train. The second‑class carriage was fully seated, so we had to stand, but we were impressed by the interior exploration and the clean toilets. This train is called the “Tea Train,” and the segment between Kandy and Ella is especially popular. It originally started as an industrial freight line to transport tea grown in the highlands. Over the roughly three‑and‑a‑half‑hour journey we experienced the thrill of crossing highland terrain, endless green tea fields, and the highlight—the “Nine Arches Bridge.” The bridge is a massive stone viaduct about 91 m long and 24 m high, with nine beautiful arches that are truly spectacular. Many tourists watched the train from the tracks beside it. At the terminus, Demodara station, we visited the “Demodara Loop,” a loop line where the train makes a circle and passes through a tunnel directly beneath the station—a very unique structure. This episode ends at Demodara; the next stop will be Ella. That’s all for the Nuwara Eliya part. Stay tuned for the Ella episode! That’s it for now! 🕒 チャプター 0:00 Spaitraver 4:13 To Nuwara Eliya 8:23 Nuwara Eliya town 11:08 To Ambewela 12:51 Tea Train 14:22 Demodara Station 15:13 To Ella episode 16:04 End ◎ ラブケリー ティーファクトリー / Labookellie Tea Factory https://tinyurl.com/2xlgv45u ◎ ヌワラエリヤ / Nuwara Eliya https://tinyurl.com/2dhpp2st ◎ ザ・ブルースシャーレ / The Blues Chalet https://tinyurl.com/2ax5pmdx ◎ ビクトリアパーク / Victoria Park https://tinyurl.com/2dol3n2l ◎ ヌワラエリヤ郵便局 / Nuwara