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Balana Fort, situated near the Alagalla Mountain Range in Sri Lanka, served as a pivotal defensive stronghold for the Kingdom of Kandy. The fort functioned as a strategic rock fortress and an outpost to the Kandyan kingdom protecting the kingdom from the Kotte Kingdom, Seethawaka Kingdom and European invaders for over 500 years.
Before the British built the roads to Kandy, the route was only a footpath which went past Balana Fort. The entrance to a fort area is called a Kadawatha. This entrance lies west of the Balana Fort. Access to this entrance was passing a steep mountain area and then through a deep rock cut. It is said that all travellers to and from Kandy were scrutinized by the Kandyan soldiers at this entrance. Tax officers and even spies of the king have been stationed to protect the kingdom.
Today, the only indication of the location of this entrance (Kadawatha) to the Kandyan Kingdom is identified by a lone Jack Fruit Tree (Kos Gasa) where soldiers and officials on duty are said to have rested. When the archaeological department marked the area reserved for the Balana Fort, this Kadawatha has not been identified and now this Jack tree lies adjoining a narrow tar road and a precipice on the other side. This area now belongs to a private landowner.
Since this tree was situated close to the “Kadawatha” it was known as the Kawadathe Kos Gaha and now it is known as the “Kadawatha Kos Gasa” and the only identification is a small board setup by the Central Environmental Authority. at the tree identifying this tree as the Kadawatha Kos Gasa.
Close to this tree lies three large boulders near a paddy field in the private land. Legend states that these three boulders lie on the ancient route to Kandy and the soldiers were stationed at this location. The travellers had to put down any luggage they carried and cross the boulders with another person’s support. Here the soldiers could detect if the travelers were carrying anything hidden on their bodies.
Although this area has not been taken under the archaeological department, the Central Environment Authority has named this as a protected tree but it seems to be limited to only the document.
Also See
Map of Balana Kadawatha Kos Gasa
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Travel Directions to Balana Kadawatha Kos Gasa
| Route from Kandy to Balana Kadawatha Kos Gasa | Route from Kadugannawa to Balana Kadawatha Kos Gasa |
| Through : Kandy Colombo Road – Kadugannawa distance :21 km Travel time : 1 hours Driving directions : see on Google map | distance : 6 km Travel time : 25 mins Driving directions : see on Google map |
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