Colombo to Puttalam Train Route Qucik Facts
- Distance: 135 km
- Duration: Approximately 3.5 to 4.5 hours
- Key Stops: Negombo, Chilaw, Mundal
- Number of Trains/ Weekly: 26 Trains
- Ticket Prices: 2nd Class – 550.00 – 3rd Class – 260.00
Colombo to Puttalam Train Time Table
| Colombo Fort | Puttalama | Frequency | Train Type | Train Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4:00am | 8:18am | Daily | Slow | 3404 upto Nooranagar |
| 7:40am | 12:38pm | Daily | Slow | 3411 |
| 12:05pm | 3:36pm | Daily | Slow | 3417 upto Nooranagar |
| 5:18pm | 9:05pm | Weekdays | Express | 3425 from Panadura |
Colombo to Puttalam Train Overview
Puttalam is a beautiful coastal town with a lot to offer visitors. Beautiful beaches, natural wonders, historical and cultural attractions, coconut production, fishing and offers one of the biggest lagoons in Sri Lanka. Travelling from Colombo to Puttalam is a convenient, affordable, and scenic journey. If you are looking for a great way to explore the Sri Lankan countryside and visit a beautiful coastal town, then I highly recommend taking the train from Colombo to Puttalam. There are 18 trains per day traveling between Colombo and Puttalam, so you can easily find a train that fits your schedule. The train journey takes approximately 2 hours and 12 minutes, which is a relatively short travel time. Train tickets from Colombo to Puttalam are very affordable, especially compared to other modes of transportation such as taxis or buses. The train journey from Colombo to Puttalam offers stunning views of the Sri Lankan coastal. You will pass through lush rice paddies, coconut groves, and small villages.
Colombo to Puttalam The Route Breakdown
The journey unfolds in three distinct phases:
- Phase 1: Urban to Suburban (Colombo Fort to Negombo): The train navigates through the city’s outskirts, passing suburbs like Kandana and Ja-Ela. The atmosphere is lively and crowded.
- Phase 2: The Coastal Stretch (Negombo to Chilaw): After Negombo, the scenery begins to open. You’ll pass through Waikkala and Lunuwila, with glimpses of the Muthurajawela Marsh and later, the Puttalam Lagoon on the right (north) side of the train. Sit on the right-hand side for the best lagoon views.
- Phase 3: Into the Northwest (Chilaw to Puttalam): Past the busy town of Chilaw, the landscape becomes more rural, dotted with coconut plantations. You’ll pass through Mundal, known for its birdlife and lagoons, before the final approach to Puttalam.
Highlights & Must-Sees
- Negombo (Stop: ~1 hour in): A major fishing town known for its beach and lagoon. A potential break-off point for beach stays.
- Chilaw (Stop: ~2.5 hours in): A cultural and fishing hub, famous for its seafood and the Munneswaram Temple.
- The Lagoons: The ever-present views of the intricate lagoon systems, especially north of Negombo, are a constant, serene highlight.
Colombo to Puttalam The Route Tips
A. Navigation Tips
- Stations: Smaller stations have limited signage in English. Keep track of your progress using the list of stops or a map app.
B. Food & Facilities
- Onboard: Vendors regularly walk through trains selling peanuts, crispy snacks (“wade”), soft drinks, and sometimes fruit.
- At Stations: Larger stations like Negombo and Chilaw have basic food stalls selling short eats and drinks.
- Facilities: Toilets are available on the train, but they are very basic.
C. Common Challenges & Solutions
- Challenge: Crowded Trains. The commuter trains can be very busy, especially during weekday rush hours (early morning and late afternoon).
Solution: Avoid peak hours (roughly 6:30-8:30 AM and 4:30-6:30 PM) for a more comfortable ride. The 5:18 PM weekday express might be slightly less crowded than purely local services
Making It Your Own & The Destination
A. Alternative Approaches
- The Fast(er) Option: The only train classified as an “Express” on this route departs Colombo Fort at 5:18 PM on weekdays only, reaching Puttalam by 9:05 PM. It has fewer stops than some local services.
- The Early Bird Option: The first departure is at 4:00 AM, arriving in Puttalam around 8:18 AM. This is a fantastic way to travel in the cool of the morning and have a full day ahead.
B. The Destination: Puttalam & Beyond
- Arrival: You’ll arrive at Puttalam station, a functional end-of-the-line station. Tuk-tuks and buses are available outside for onward travel.
- Continuing the Journey: Puttalam is a gateway to the remote Kalpitiya Peninsula, known for kitesurfing and dolphin watching. This connection is typically made by road (bus or tuk-tuk).
The Colombo to Puttalam train is a journey that trades postcard perfection for genuine connection. It’s a moving window into the daily life of Sri Lanka’s west coast, offering a quiet adventure that stays with you precisely because it asks you to slow down and simply watch the world go by.
Where to Stay in Puttalam?
| Hotel | Core Guest Experience | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Elements Beach & Nature Resort | Active, eco-conscious beach holiday with water sports & nature. | Adventure seekers, nature lovers, kitesurfers. |
| Khomba Beach House | Exclusive, private luxury with personalized service & fine dining. | Couples, honeymooners, travelers seeking seclusion. |
| Dune Towers | Relaxed, family-friendly home base with flexible home cooking. | Families, budget-conscious travelers, groups. |
| Castile Inn | Convenient urban hotel with modern comforts. | Business travelers, stopovers, exploring Puttalam town. |
Elements Beach & Nature Resort
Experience barefoot eco-luxury in unique, sustainably built palm tree villas on a vast 22-acre beachfront. The vibe is trendy and active, centered around Kite Center Sri Lanka for top-tier kitesurfing and wingfoiling. Guests can start days with beachfront breakfasts, enjoy legendary weekly beach barbecues, and watch dolphin pods. Other activities include horse riding along the shore and relaxing in scenic lounge areas with mega hammocks. The resort prioritizes sustainability through solar energy and a strict plastic reduction policy.
Khomba Beach House
Khomba Beach House offers an exclusive and private retreat on a secluded 6-acre estate. The experience is centered around personalized service and luxury, with access to three private swimming pools along the beach. The on-site chef prepares delicious meals, and guests have dining privileges at four neighboring resort restaurants for variety. It serves as a perfect base for high-end adventures like regular dolphin and whale watching from its private boat, diving at the Bar Reef Shelf, and excursions to Wilpattu National Park.
Dune Towers
Dune Towers provides a relaxed, “home-away-from-home” experience with highly flexible, personalized service. The standout feature is its flexible, home-cooked cuisine, where the cook prepares daily meals based on guest preferences and seasonal availability, with children’s meals provided. The property itself is unique and stylish, featuring rooms in round towers resembling a castle on the beach and even a house built from plastic bottles. It’s a family-friendly base where children stay free, and guests can enjoy activities from dolphin safaris to beach volleyball.
Castile Inn
Castile Inn is a modern 4-star hotel located in the town of Puttalam itself, offering a convenient and comfortable urban stopover. The experience is focused on reliable amenities for travelers, featuring soundproofed rooms with balconies, air conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. On-site facilities include a restaurant, room service, a garden area, and a leisure/TV room. Its key advantage is proximity to local attractions like Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and its accessibility, being about an 85-minute drive from Colombo.
Things to do in Puttalam
- Kalpitiya Diving Center: A PADI center offering diving, snorkeling, and unforgettable dolphin and whale-watching tours. They are known for professional, safety-focused guided trips led by experienced instructors.
- Margarita Village: A vibrant IKO-certified kite school and camp on the Kalpitiya Lagoon. It offers lessons for all levels, uses modern equipment, and has a friendly international vibe with on-site bungalows.
- Wilpattu National Park: Sri Lanka’s largest national park and home to a significant population of Sri Lankan leopards. It is renowned for its natural lakes and diverse wildlife, making it a prime destination for safari day trips.
- Surfpoint Sri Lanka Kite Village: A hotel and base for kitesurfers offering direct access to both the ocean and the lagoon. It provides simple, fan-cooled rooms with sea views and on-site dining for riders.
- Kalpitiya: A 40km peninsula famed as Sri Lanka’s top kitesurfing destination, with seasons from May-October and December-March. It’s also a prime location for dolphin and whale watching in the winter months.
- Munneshwaram Hindu Temple: An ancient and major regional Hindu temple complex near Puttalam, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the five historic Ishwarams and an important pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists.
- St. Anne’s Church: A significant 18th-century Catholic pilgrimage church located in Thalawila. It draws thousands of devotees annually, especially for its major festival held every August.
- The Spot: This could refer to a general kitesurfing or activity location. Specific operational details, reviews, or a confirmed description for a distinct attraction named “The Spot” in Kalpitiya were not found in the search results.
- Epic Encounters Dive & Adventure Centre: Information not found. The search results did not provide specific details for a dive center by this exact name in the Kalpitiya area.
- Kite Center: A leading kitesurfing operator based at Kappalady, the birthplace of the sport in Sri Lanka. It offers lessons, equipment rental, and unique kite safaris to remote spots and wildlife areas.
