Alagalla ( si, අලගල්ල, literal translation: Tuber rock) Mountain Range is situated at the boundaries of the

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

and

Sabaragamuwa Province The Sabaragamuwa Province ( si, සබරගමුව පළාත ''Sabaragamuwa Paḷāta'', ta, சபரகமுவ மாகாணம் ''Sabaragamuwa Mākāṇam'') is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrati ...

s in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

. Along with the surrounding () also known as

Bible Rock Bible Rock (''Batalegala'' in Sinhala language) is a mountain near Aranayake in Kegalle District in central Sri Lanka. It is known as the "Bible Rock" as its surface resembles a book. Due to its prominent flat top surface, it resembles the more fa ...

, (), (), (),

Knuckles Mountain Range The Knuckles Mountain Range lies in central Sri Lanka, in the Districts of Matale and Kandy. The range takes its name from a series of recumbent folds and peaks in the west of the massif which resemble the knuckles of clenched fist when viewed ...

and Hanthana () Mountain Range, Alagalla mountain has served as a natural defense location for nearly five centuries (1505–1948) against the Portuguese, Dutch and English invasions aimed at the

Kandyan Kingdom The Kingdom of Kandy was a monarchy on the island of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in the late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century. Initially a client kingdom of the Kin ...

Historical importance

Most of the battles to invade the

took place at Balana (literal translation ''viewing point''), with the Kandyan monarchs emerging victorious aided by the impenetrable mountain formations. The famous Balana Fort which functioned as a strategic rock fortress and an outpost to Kandyan kingdom was built between

Kadugannawa Pass Kadugannawa Pass is a mountain pass located near Kadugannawa town in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is located along the Colombo-Kandy A1 highway. It is a common roadside stop for tourists to enjoy the vistas to the Kegalle valley bel ...

and Alagalla Mountain Range.

Meangalla Pass and Meeyangala tunnel

The railway lines to upcountry were established by the English once the

was absorbed into the

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...

in 1815. However, extending the already working Colombo-

Ambepussa Ambepussa is a town in the Kegalle District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. History The Ambepussa railway station, was the terminus station for the first rail passenger service, a ten-carriage train which departed Colombo Fort railway st ...

() mainline across the mountain to

Kandy Kandy ( si, මහනුවර ''Mahanuwara'', ; ta, கண்டி Kandy, ) is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills ...

proved to be extremely challenging as it had to be navigated around a waterfall, () about high falling directly on the planned route and across a steeply inclined solid rock of more than thick. Initially, the railway track was constructed by gouging artificial grooves on the rock at the top of the waterfall to "split" the waterfall into two and fall away from the rail route. The tracks were then set up around the inclined rock and this was called the () pass. However, this railway route was found to be dangerous, especially in the rainy season as heavy rains caused the swollen waterfall and slip rocks to damage the trains and the rail tracks. This resulted in a more robust and safe rerouting via drilling through the solid rock. The () tunnel, thus constructed and numbered as tunnel 5A, became the sixth tunnel in the Colombo-Kandy railway line and also the second-longest railway tunnel in Sri Lanka at long.

Hiking through the Alagalla Mountains

Alagalla mountains can be reached by taking either the Colombo-Kandy line to railway station, or by taking the Kandy- bus from to junction. If following the route, trekking can be started at railway station through the village. The () waterfall, served by the Alagalla forest reserve, can also be viewed slightly off-route. Alternatively, a slightly longer trekking path via can be reached by taking the Kandy- bus route to junction from . In both routes, the support of a local guide is strongly encouraged. The summit of the Alagalla mountain Range is a platform to witness the view of the other surrounding mountains, including () also known as

, (), (),

and Hanthana () Mountain Range.

References

{{Kandy landmarks , state=collapsed Landforms of Kegalle District Tourist attractions in Sabaragamuwa Province Landforms of Central Province, Sri Lanka Mountain ranges of Sri Lanka Meeyangalla Tunnel

Historical importance

Meangalla Pass and Meeyangala tunnel

Hiking through the Alagalla Mountains

See also

References