Strategic forts and battlegrounds
Walk the final stretch of the long-forgotten Historic Old Road from Colombo to Kandy, the path of trade and diplomacy, trodden on by traders, kings, governors, generals and soldiers. A series of encounters between the Kandyan army and the Portuguese army took place along this route: the battle of Danturé in 1598 and the battle of Gannoruwa in 1638, which was the last decisive battle between these two armies.
Location: Kandy
| Trip type | Day hike |
| Trail route type type | Point-to-point |
| Length | 16 km |
| Elevation at trail-head | 472 m |
| Elevation at trail-end | 584 m |
| Cumulative elevation gain/loss | + 470 m -361 m |
| Level | Easy |
| Group size | 4 to 8 |
| Start | Gannoruwa – 07:00 |
| Finish | Balana Fort – 16:30 |
| Inclusions | Trek guide/lunch/water/transport back to Kandy after the hike |
| Exclusions | Breakfast/transport to the start point |
| When | December to April and July to October |
Highlights
Suriyagoda Buddhist Temple
Dodanwela Temple
Danturé Village
Balana Fort
What to wear
Walking shoes with a good grip and ankle support
Long pants/Bermuda shorts
Shirt/t-shirt/casual tops
What to put in your backpack
Cap/hat
Sunglasses & sun protection cream
Hand towel
Small trash bag
Light waterproof jacket (K-way) – depending on the weather
Plastic bags – to keep your phone/camera dry
Emergency phone numbers
Copy of your ID or passport
Basic first aid kit
| N° of persons | 4-6 | 7-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Per person | $40 | $35 |