Hunnasgiriya: Views, Road and History

Hunnasgiriya as a Travel Destination

Hunnasgiriya can be described through two specific features: it is the highest point on the road and offers a magnificent view; at the same time, a 29-kilometre dead-end road branches off here to Meemure. These details raise different questions for planning your trip. The view is directly associated with Hunnasgiriya, while Meemure is a separate destination along the road. When planning a stay, you can first decide whether to focus on Hunnasgiriya itself or on continuing to Meemure.

Road Route and Views

In the wider region, the road to Hunnasgiriya first follows the Hulu Ganga and then one of its tributaries. These stretches of river add another landscape feature to the view from the highest point. Two spatial perspectives sit side by side: the course of the river describes the road through the wider area, while the view characterizes Hunnasgiriya itself. This makes it possible to consider the regional route of the road and the view from the highest point separately when getting to know the destination.

The Turnoff to Meemure

A 29-kilometre dead-end road branches off in Hunnasgiriya to Meemure. Meemure is considered the best starting point for trekking in the Knuckles Mountains. For route planning, these are two different details: the first describes the road connection, while the second identifies the place considered a trekking base. Hunnasgiriya and Meemure are both part of the same connection, but they do not serve the same purpose. This distinction is useful if you are considering Hunnasgiriya as a destination while also thinking about trekking in the Knuckles Mountains.

Medamahanuwara and Its Fort History

A path leads from Hunnasgiriya to the rocky hill of Medamahanuwara. The hill is 1,340 metres high and was the site of an old fort. Before his capture, it served as the last refuge of Vikrama Rajah Sinha. The combination of the rocky hill, the fort site, and the history of Vikrama Rajah Sinha makes Medamahanuwara a distinct historical point of interest alongside the road connection to Meemure. If you plan to include the path to the hill, check the current trail conditions and access in advance.

An Ancient Ambalama Nearby

The ancient Hunnasgiriya Kevulgama Ambalama is located near Hunnasgiriya. It is in the Kevulgama Grama Niladhari Division within the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Ududumbara and is a protected archaeological monument. Its designation as a protected monument was announced in a government gazette dated 6 June 2008. Unlike the history of the fort on Medamahanuwara, the Ambalama is an ancient monument in Kevulgama. The two historical points of interest differ both in location and in role: Medamahanuwara is associated with Vikrama Rajah Sinha, while the Ambalama has an archaeological protected status.

Discover more destinations: Gurulupotha, Haragama, Galagedara, Akurana, Meemure, Polgolla, Pallegama, Aswalapitiya

For the broader travel overview: Central Province.