Kadugannawa at a Glance

Kadugannawa (කඩුගන්නාව) is the highest point of Colombo-Kandy road (A1) and the lookout point of old Sinhala Kingdom. I thought to have one day trip to visit at tourist attractions in Kadugannawa.

Tourist attractions in Kadugannawa
1. Dawson Tower
2. National Railway Museum
3. Balana Ancient Fort
4. Mudukirigla
5. Balumgala

Dawson Tower
This Tower was made to commemorate Captain William Francis Dawson who was the Royal Engineer who designed and built current Kandy road form Colombo. He died on March 29, 1829 before finishes his work and this column was mad by his friends. Kadugannawa tunnel is a remarkable place of Kandy road. Therefore they have placed this memorial tower at Kadugannawa.
You can climb this tower and enjoy the surrounding view of Kadugannawa.

Dawson Tower-Kadugannawa

Dawson Tower, Kadugannawa Railway line and Kandy-Colombo road

Dawson Tower

How it rises up

Historical Information

In monochrome

Climbing up….great engineering work of good olden days

Getting out

Kadugannawa at a glance

Classical view of Knuckles

Mudukirigla is seen-view point of Kadugannawa

Might be peaks of Matale Hills

National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum is situated next to Kadugannawa Railway station and it started 2months before. It demonstrates the evolution of Sri Lankan railway history.

National Railway Museum

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Name board of old Nuweraeliya station

Story behind Nuweraeliya station

Sri Lanka-America friendship

Demodara Bridge (දෙමෝදර පාලම)

Earlier they used boy’s school names to name the trains

Memorial ……These were issued when railway lines started

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.	Kadugannawa in monochrome

Railway Museum at night

Balana Fort (බලන කොටුව)
Balana rock fort was the watch tower of ancient Kandyan kingdom. It has been used since Protégées era. Once you get down at Balana-Kadugannawa road there is a board indicating Balana fort.
Balana fort provides nice view towards Bathalegala (බතලේගල) and Ura kanda (ඌරාකන්ද).

At Balana Railway Station

Showing the direction

Historical information

Foot pathway

Balana Fort

Bathalegala is shown in black arrow and Ura Kanada is shown in red arrow

It is getting forested

Alagalla (අලගල්ල) –Captured on our way back from Balana fort

Mudukirigala (මුදුකිරිගල)-Highest point of Kadugannawa
Mudukirigala provides a good view towards Kandy, Gampola and Kadugannawa towns. As it is the highest point there, it is saturated with transmission towers. The road towards Mudukirigala starts in front of Kadugannawa library. It can be driven up to certain extent and then have to follow the foot pathway.
It’s old name called Mundagiriya (මුණ්ඩගිරිය) where a temple was situated.

Foot pathway with Alagalla back drop

On the way up

Ambuluwawa (අම්බුලුවාව)

Alagalla

Balumgala-another view point of Kadugannawa. It provides the view towards Mawanella and Kegalle

Knuckles back

Pilimathalawa (පිලිමතලාව) town

Hanthana range. Glad to tell I have walked over this range. Black star shows Ura Ketu Gala (ඌරාකෙටු ගල), red star shows Katusukonda (කටුසුකොන්ද )and yellow star shows the hill where transmission towers placed

Isolated Matale Hills

Train passes Kadugannawa town

View point and transmission towers

Buddha statue

Balumgala (බැලුම්ගල)
Balumgala provides another bird’s eye view towards Kadugannawa town and Mawanella side. We attempted to reach there and came back due to lack of time.

Foot pathway towards Balumgala

View of Dawson tower

Hunnasgiriya (හුන්නස්ගිරිය) Mountain

Another photo of railway line

Evening view of Mawanella and Kegalle side

Summary of the day
We reached Kadugannawa town around 10.00am by bus as we were unable to get into 7.00am intercity train from Colombo. After our breakfast we visited at Dawson tower but care taker was not there to climb up. Then we went to National Railway Museum and after finish half of it got into the train towards Balana. From Balana station we hired a three wheeler to the fort and on our way back we came along the road from Balana to Kadugannawa. Then we completed rest of railway museum and mean while we were able to contact the care taker of the Dawson tower. After enjoying the view from Dawson tower we tasted our lunch from Kadugannawa town and got directions towards Mudukirigala. We walked up to Mudukirigala and attempted to visit at Balumgala as the last objective of the day. We reached Colombo by Podi-Menike train around 9pm.

Black circle-Mudukirigala, red circle-Balumgala and blue circle-Balana fort

Thank you for reading.