Explore Sri Lanka
No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • What’s On
  • What’s On April 2024
  • What’s On August 2024
  • What’s On December
  • What’s On July 2024
  • What’s On June 2024
  • What’s On March 2024
  • What’s On May 2024
  • What’s On October 2024
  • What’s On September 2024
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 1983 - 1990
      • 1987
        • May 1987
        • June 1987
        • July 1987
        • August 1987
        • September 1987
        • October 1987
        • November 1987
        • December 1987
      • 1988
        • January 1988
        • February 1988
        • March 1988
        • April 1988
        • May 1988
        • June 1988
        • July 1988
        • August 1988
        • September 1988
        • October 1988
        • November 1988
        • December 1988
      • 1989
        • January - March 1989
        • April 1989
        • May 1989
        • June 1989
        • July 1989
        • August 1989
        • September 1989
        • October 1989
        • November 1989
    • 2010 - 2019
      • 2010
        • January 2010
        • February 2010
        • March 2010
        • April 2010
        • May 2010
        • June 2010
        • July 2010
        • August 2010
        • September 2010
        • October 2010
        • November 2010
        • December 2010
      • 2011
        • January 2011
        • February 2011
        • March 2011
        • April 2011
        • May 2011
        • June 2011
        • July 2011
        • August 2011
        • September 2011
        • October 2011
        • November 2011
        • December 2011
      • 2012
        • January 2012
        • February 2012
        • March 2012
        • April 2012
        • May 2012
        • June 2012
        • July 2012
        • August 2012
        • September 2012
        • October 2012
        • November 2012
        • December 2012
      • 2013
        • January 2013
        • February 2013
        • March 2013
        • April 2013
        • May 2013
        • June 2013
        • July 2013
        • August 2013
        • September 2013
        • October 2013
        • November 2013
        • December 2013
      • 2014
        • January 2014
        • February 2014
        • March 2014
        • April 2014
        • May 2014
        • June 2014
        • July 2014
        • August 2014
        • September 2014
        • October 2014
        • November 2014
        • December 2014
      • 2015
        • January 2015
        • February 2015
        • March 2015
        • April 2015
        • May 2015
        • June 2015
        • July 2015
        • August 2015
        • September 2015
        • October 2015
        • November 2015
        • December 2015
      • 2016
        • January 2016
        • February 2016
        • March 2016
        • April 2016
        • May 2016
        • June 2016
        • July 2016
        • August 2016
        • September 2016
        • October 2016
        • November 2016
        • December 2016
      • 2017
        • January 2017
        • February 2017
        • March 2017
        • April 2017
        • May 2017
        • June 2017
        • July 2017
        • August 2017
        • September 2017
        • October 2017
        • November 2017
        • December 2017
      • 2018
        • January 2018
        • February 2018
        • March 2018
        • April 2018
        • May 2018
        • June 2018
        • July 2018
        • August 2018
        • September 2018
        • October 2018
        • November 2018
        • December 2018
      • 2019
        • January 2019
        • February 2019
        • March 2019
        • April 2019
        • May 2019
        • June 2019
        • July 2019
        • August 2019
        • September 2019
        • October 2019
        • November 2019
        • December 2019
    • 2020 - 2024
      • 2020
        • January 2020
        • February 2020
        • March 2020
        • September 2020
        • October 2020
        • November 2020
        • December 2020
      • 2021
        • January 2021
        • February 2021
        • March 2021
        • April 2021
        • May 2021
        • June 2021
        • July 2021
        • August 2021
        • September 2021
        • October 2021
        • November 2021
        • December 2021
      • 2022
        • January 2022
        • February 2022
        • March 2022
        • May 2022
        • April 2022
        • June 2022
        • July 2022
        • August 2022
        • September 2022
        • October 2022
        • November 2022
        • December 2022
      • 2023
        • January 2023
        • February 2023
        • March 2023
        • April 2023
        • May 2023
        • June 2023
        • July 2023
        • August 2023
        • September 2023
        • October 2023
        • November 2023
        • December 2023
      • 2024
        • January 2024
        • February 2024
        • March 2024
        • May 2024
        • April 2024
        • June 2024
        • July 2024
        • August 2024
        • September 2024
        • October 2024
        • November 2024
        • December 2024
    • 2025-2029
      • 2025
        • January 2025
        • February 2025
        • March 2025
        • April 2025
        • May 2025
  • For Digital Subscription
  • About Us
  • What’s On
    slide
No Result
View All Result
Explore Sri Lanka
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 1983 - 1990
      • 1987
        • May 1987
        • June 1987
        • July 1987
        • August 1987
        • September 1987
        • October 1987
        • November 1987
        • December 1987
      • 1988
        • January 1988
        • February 1988
        • March 1988
        • April 1988
        • May 1988
        • June 1988
        • July 1988
        • August 1988
        • September 1988
        • October 1988
        • November 1988
        • December 1988
      • 1989
        • January - March 1989
        • April 1989
        • May 1989
        • June 1989
        • July 1989
        • August 1989
        • September 1989
        • October 1989
        • November 1989
    • 2010 - 2019
      • 2010
        • January 2010
        • February 2010
        • March 2010
        • April 2010
        • May 2010
        • June 2010
        • July 2010
        • August 2010
        • September 2010
        • October 2010
        • November 2010
        • December 2010
      • 2011
        • January 2011
        • February 2011
        • March 2011
        • April 2011
        • May 2011
        • June 2011
        • July 2011
        • August 2011
        • September 2011
        • October 2011
        • November 2011
        • December 2011
      • 2012
        • January 2012
        • February 2012
        • March 2012
        • April 2012
        • May 2012
        • June 2012
        • July 2012
        • August 2012
        • September 2012
        • October 2012
        • November 2012
        • December 2012
      • 2013
        • January 2013
        • February 2013
        • March 2013
        • April 2013
        • May 2013
        • June 2013
        • July 2013
        • August 2013
        • September 2013
        • October 2013
        • November 2013
        • December 2013
      • 2014
        • January 2014
        • February 2014
        • March 2014
        • April 2014
        • May 2014
        • June 2014
        • July 2014
        • August 2014
        • September 2014
        • October 2014
        • November 2014
        • December 2014
      • 2015
        • January 2015
        • February 2015
        • March 2015
        • April 2015
        • May 2015
        • June 2015
        • July 2015
        • August 2015
        • September 2015
        • October 2015
        • November 2015
        • December 2015
      • 2016
        • January 2016
        • February 2016
        • March 2016
        • April 2016
        • May 2016
        • June 2016
        • July 2016
        • August 2016
        • September 2016
        • October 2016
        • November 2016
        • December 2016
      • 2017
        • January 2017
        • February 2017
        • March 2017
        • April 2017
        • May 2017
        • June 2017
        • July 2017
        • August 2017
        • September 2017
        • October 2017
        • November 2017
        • December 2017
      • 2018
        • January 2018
        • February 2018
        • March 2018
        • April 2018
        • May 2018
        • June 2018
        • July 2018
        • August 2018
        • September 2018
        • October 2018
        • November 2018
        • December 2018
      • 2019
        • January 2019
        • February 2019
        • March 2019
        • April 2019
        • May 2019
        • June 2019
        • July 2019
        • August 2019
        • September 2019
        • October 2019
        • November 2019
        • December 2019
    • 2020 - 2024
      • 2020
        • January 2020
        • February 2020
        • March 2020
        • September 2020
        • October 2020
        • November 2020
        • December 2020
      • 2021
        • January 2021
        • February 2021
        • March 2021
        • April 2021
        • May 2021
        • June 2021
        • July 2021
        • August 2021
        • September 2021
        • October 2021
        • November 2021
        • December 2021
      • 2022
        • January 2022
        • February 2022
        • March 2022
        • May 2022
        • April 2022
        • June 2022
        • July 2022
        • August 2022
        • September 2022
        • October 2022
        • November 2022
        • December 2022
      • 2023
        • January 2023
        • February 2023
        • March 2023
        • April 2023
        • May 2023
        • June 2023
        • July 2023
        • August 2023
        • September 2023
        • October 2023
        • November 2023
        • December 2023
      • 2024
        • January 2024
        • February 2024
        • March 2024
        • May 2024
        • April 2024
        • June 2024
        • July 2024
        • August 2024
        • September 2024
        • October 2024
        • November 2024
        • December 2024
    • 2025-2029
      • 2025
        • January 2025
        • February 2025
        • March 2025
        • April 2025
        • May 2025
  • For Digital Subscription
  • About Us
  • What’s On
Home Featured

A Drive Through Rattota

by
0
334
SHARES
2.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
PDF Button
Beyond Rattota the scenery is tranquil and serene

The little town of Rattota is the gateway to the northern tip of Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, along the approaches from Kurunegala, Dambulla, and northwestern plains. Crossing the town, this is the only major road running east through this part of the mountains, and it is refreshingly less travelled.

Words and Photographs David Blacker

Rattota lies just over 150km northeast of Colombo, in the Matale District, at the foothills of the Knuckles Mountain Range. Most travellers to the area often overlook Rattota as they travel to Kandy, Matale, and the lush green spectacular mountains that form the backdrop of the Sudu Ganga (White River) Valley. But for those looking for a novel experience, it provides an interesting diversion, especially from behind the wheel of a car.

After a long drive from Colombo, along the Kurunegala – Dambulla A6 Highway, it was with relish that I turned onto the Dodangaslanda B409 Road and buried my right foot into the floorboards. As I dropped a couple of gears in anticipation of an open road, I listened to the sound of the engine roaring.

It was early in the day, and the traffic was light, allowing me to take in the countryside on both sides of the road. Morning mist shrouded the broad green paddy fields and the jungle beyond faded into a bluish haze. Long legged storks and egrets looking for breakfast in the mud of the fields, took flight at my sounding approach, fluttering into the mist like torn scraps of cotton wool.

Dodangaslanda Road – 30km of pure driving pleasure

If you are driving into the Matale area from Colombo, my route up the A6 and onto the Dodangaslanda Road is probably the quickest. From Matale onwards, the B274 route will take you through Rattota itself and up into the Knuckles Mountains to the east. These two B-roads offer what is probably the most scenic drive through the area.

While the B274 route boasts a broad panoramic scenery beyond and above Rattota, as a pure thrilling driving experience, the 30km-long Dodangaslanda Road is a memorable one. Being a B-road, it’s relatively narrow, and as you climb into the mountains from the northwestern plains, it gets increasingly twisty, with tight, steep hairpins and blind corners. Torque (rotational force) is as important as horsepower on those steep curves, so use your gearbox well. You will find yourself driving through the broad paddy fields and dense coconut plantations in the lower reaches, and as you hit the hills, through close ranks of rubber trees and dense jungle, until you join the A9 Highway just north of Matale.

By now you would have spent just over three hours behind the wheel and, if you, like me, wish to walk around a bit or get a feel of history, the Aluvihare Rock Temple, just north of Matale, is a great place for a break. The temple is right by the road, and built into, around, and on top of a large rock. It is believed to date back to the 3rd century BC, when King Devanampiyatissa of Anuradhapura built its stupa. The Aluvihare Temple is significant in Theravada Buddhist history as the place, the Pali Canon, Buddhism’s most complete early scripture, was first committed to writing in 29 BC, after four centuries of being passed down orally.

Bambarakiri Ella flows close to Rattota

Back on the road, the B274 between Matale and Rattota is a bit busy, especially at the Matale end, but quietens down beyond Rattota. The road twists and climbs, turning southeast until, just below a series of sharp and narrow hairpins, lies the beautiful Bambarakiri Ella. From the road, it is a 300m walk to a wooden suspension bridge that spans the falls. The bridge is rather exciting, swinging with each pace
I took, but once across, the series of pools below the falls provide a refreshing dip, especially if you’re on your way down from hiking the mountains.

From this point on, the route narrows drastically, as it climbs the 700m to Riverstone, on the north-western finger of the Knuckles. This portion of the route, has to be taken slow and carefully. Enjoy the view of towering forest-clad mountains that soon give way to tea plantations that look like a thick green woollen blanket carelessly tossed down by a giant, but keep your eyes on the road as well. Too long a glance at those spectacular green mountains might result in you being added immediately to one of the beautiful valleys below. The road, however, provides plenty of places to pull over and get out to enjoy the view yourself.

The road itself continues way beyond Riverstone, cutting through heavy jungle and the northern part of the Knuckles Forest Reserve before dropping down the eastern face of the Central Highlands to Hettipola. It then turns south to Hasalaka, where it meets the A26 Highway, itself one of Sri Lanka’s great driving roads. As I wrestle with the wheel, turning my faithful steed around on the narrow road for the long drive back down from Riverstone, I take one last glance in my rear-view mirror. We’ll be back, I promise.

Previous Post

Fly High and Party Hard at Arugambay Roccos

Next Post

Beli Mal Bomu

Next Post
Beli Mal Bomu

Beli Mal Bomu

No Result
View All Result

Categories

exlpore-sri-lanka-logo

Location

20-2/1 Lauries Place Facing R A de Mel Mawatha Colombo 04.

Contact

(+94) 715 134 134

Email

info@btoptions.com

© 2023 BT Options. All Rights Reserved.