Hunnasgiriya: Views and paths to history

Hunnasgiriya offers different ways to experience its road scenery and history: a viewpoint, a path to an old fortress, and an archaeological protected monument nearby give your trip different focuses.

Road scenery and route choices

In Hunnasgiriya, a 29-kilometre dead-end road branches off towards Meemure. Meemure is considered the best starting point for trekking in the Knuckles Mountains. For your planning, it is helpful to distinguish between the turn-off and the trekking starting point: the road branches off in Hunnasgiriya, while Meemure has the stated role as a starting point. If trekking in the Knuckles Mountains is your main focus, include Meemure in your plans and check current trail conditions in advance.

Further afield in the region, the road to Hunnasgiriya initially follows the Hulu Ganga and then one of its tributaries. Hunnasgiriya is the highest point on the road and offers a magnificent view. This brings together two different aspects of the road scenery: the course of the river in the wider area and the view from the highest point. If you enjoy taking in roads and landscapes together, this combination offers a specific point of reference for planning your trip.

Paths with historical significance

A path leads from Hunnasgiriya to the rocky hill of Medamahanuwara, which is 1,340 metres high. An old fortress once stood there. Before his capture, it served as Vikrama Rajah Sinha’s last refuge. The path therefore leads to a place with a clearly defined historical connection: the fortress and its role as a refuge. If history is an important part of your trip, you can make this a focus alongside the landscape and the views. Check current trail conditions and access before making specific plans.

Another nearby historical landmark is the ancient Hunnasgiriya Kevulgama Ambalama. It is an archaeological protected monument in the Kevulgama Grama Niladhari Division within the Ududumbara Divisional Secretary’s Division. A government Gazette notice dated 6 June 2008 designates its protected status. Together with the fortress at Medamahanuwara, this offers a second way to explore the area’s history: an ancient protected monument here, and a historical refuge on a rocky hill there.

Choosing the right focus for your trip

When looking for a holiday rental in Hunnasgiriya, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip. If you want to make views and road scenery your priority, look to Hunnasgiriya. If trekking in the Knuckles Mountains is your main focus, Meemure is the designated starting point. For a historical focus, the path to Medamahanuwara and the nearby Ambalama are worth considering. These themes offer different starting points for planning: views, trekking, and history lead to different places and interests.

Discover more destinations: Kiriwan Eliya, Ulapane, Aswalapitiya, Hakgala, Watawala, Harangala, Naula, Tawalantenne

For the broader travel overview: Central Province.