Kadugannawa Pass, which is located in the Central Province in Sri Lanka, is a famous landmark in the area. It is a picturesque site that has quite an interesting story weaved about it.
Long, long ago, when the Kingdom of Kandy was trying to ward off the British invaders, Kadugannawa Pass served as a lookout point for the Sinhalese. Here the famous Balana fort was also established. The struggles of the locals were in vain as the whole island soon fell under the regime of the British.
As the road that led to Kandy was rather long, the British officials decided to construct a shorter route to the famous Hill Country city. When the Colombo-Kandy road was built, the British decided to pierce a hole in the Kadugannawa Pass instead of blasting away the rock. It is said that this was done to fulfill an ancient prophecy. You see, the Sinhalese apparently believed that no foreigner will rule the city of Kandy unless mountains were pierced!
Located in close proximity to the Kadugannawa Pass is the Kadugannawa Ambalama. This enchanting wayside rest would have sheltered countless numbers of travelers in the olden times. The ambalama, which was built by the British during the 18th century, is protected by the Department of Archaeology in Sri Lanka today. It is a beautiful monument that speaks volumes about the ways of life of a bygone era.
You will be passing this famous spot as you are traveling from Colombo to Kandy with Green Holiday Centre. Kadugannawa Pass runs parallel to Alagalla Mountain Range and spectacular vistas of the surrounding terrain can be admired here. You will catch a glimpse of the picturesque Bible Rock as you pass this remarkable destination too.
