Named “one of the world’s most scenic train rides” by Lonely Planet, the railway lines that stretch out across Sri Lanka’s highlands were originally built to transport coffee across the island’s most treacherous terrain. Following both the coffee blight and the birth of the tea cultivation in Sri Lanka, the railway system became intrinsically entwined with the tea industry, facilitating the transportation of both labor and produce across these mountainous regions. The railway system remains much the same today, with one main line running right the way from Colombo through to major destinations such as Kandy, Hatton, Nuwara Eliya, Ella and finally Badulla – a ten hour trip in total, stopping at every station along the way. Teetering on the top of tea-coated mountains, the daily scheduled trains weave their way slowly through some of Sri Lanka’s finest landscape, offering breathtaking views that you just won’t see from the road. The luxurious Viceroy carriage only runs during the peak season months of December and August, but it offers a chance to step back in time to the days of the British Raj. Expect wooden paneling, butler service, a well-stocked bar, and hearty Sri Lankan dining along with scenery that will take your breath away. A ride on the Viceroy is a step back into the golden age of travel.