Route Recommendation - Colombo - Dambulla ?

dieahrd · September 15, 2014

I've heard that there is extensive road work going on Kurunegala - Dambulla road and its closed for traffic from time to time. Can somebody who travelled recently through that area comment on the following;

1. Condition of the Kuru - Dambulla stretch

2. Alternate routes to Dambulla

Travelling with a toddler and stuck in a long queue would be a nightmare..

Thanks

Simplelife · September 15, 2014

U can take Ja-ela --> Minuwangoda -->Giriulla-->Narammla --> Kurunegala and then to Dambulla (via Melsiripura and Galewela). Still you will get caught to some road construction traffic from Kurunegala to Dambulla.

Magnum · September 15, 2014

On 9/15/2014 at 6:54 AM, Simplelife said:
U can take Ja-ela --> Minuwangoda -->Giriulla-->Narammla --> Kurunegala and then to Dambulla (via Melsiripura and Galewela). Still you will get caught to some road construction traffic from Kurunegala to Dambulla.

Isnt it also possible to take the Katunayake-> Minuwangoda route?

Simplelife · September 15, 2014

On 9/15/2014 at 7:15 AM, Magnum said:
Isnt it also possible to take the Katunayake-> Minuwangoda route?

Yup, possible. Depends on where OP starts his journey. Can take the highway to Katunayaka as well. Since I live close to Ja-ela, i usually take the Ja-ela -> Minuwangoda stretch mate

dieahrd · September 15, 2014

On 9/15/2014 at 7:26 AM, Simplelife said:
Yup, possible. Depends on where OP starts his journey. Can take the highway to Katunayaka as well. Since I live close to Ja-ela, i usually take the Ja-ela -> Minuwangoda stretch mate

Getting to Kurunegala makese sense using the above route. What's the status of the stretch between Kurunegala and Dambulla?

aps · September 15, 2014

went dabulla recently via special bus(worst trip did for this area) highly recommend detours if any from Kurunegala - Dambulla

I think from Kurunegala > Mallawapitiya (in Kandy Rd) > Ridegama> Yattawatthe > via Matale Rd up to Palapathwela junction (A 9 road, don't turn left to galewela before Palapathwela) much better than wait and drive for more than 2-3 hours(Kuru-Dambulla) in a weekend. pls note extra 30Kms and many many bends (check on google maps)

If ur not close to Katunayake HW if passing colombo highly recommend via Kandy > Matale>

About Katunayake > Muniwangoda >Giriulla>Narammala> Kurunegala road,

this is my usual route from Kandy to Colombo in mid night

less than 2 hours

average speed - 70-90 Km/h

anjulau78 · September 15, 2014

I went Dambulla on last 23rd August. Start from Athurugiriya.wen via Hanwella-->Aththanagalla-->Pasyala(cross Kandy Road)-->Meerigama-->Giriulla-->Kurunegala. It was a fantastic road to drive. By Using this rout you can avoid the busy traffic due to road construction between Ambepussa and Kurunegala. From Kurunegala to Dambulla, we used the normal rout (via Melsiripura and Galewela). Use an early time schedule to avoid the hassle. additional 10-15Km to bear.

dieahrd · September 15, 2014

On 9/15/2014 at 9:13 AM, aps said:
went dabulla recently via special bus(worst trip did for this area) highly recommend detours if any from Kurunegala - Dambulla
I think from Kurunegala > Mallawapitiya (in Kandy Rd) > Ridegama> Yattawatthe > via Matale Rd up to Palapathwela junction (A 9 road, don't turn left to galewela before Palapathwela) much better than wait and drive for more than 2-3 hours(Kuru-Dambulla) in a weekend. pls note extra 30Kms and many many bends (check on google maps)

If ur not close to Katunayake HW if passing colombo highly recommend via Kandy > Matale>

About Katunayake > Muniwangoda >Giriulla>Narammala> Kurunegala road,

this is my usual route from Kandy to Colombo in mid night

less than 2 hours

average speed - 70-90 Km/h

Thank you

Hows the road condition of Ridigama - Palapathwela road?

How about the road works during the weekday day time between Kuru - Dambulla?

Gummybr · September 15, 2014

Go very early in the morning around 4.30, no issues. I take the Girulla road to Kuru from Pasyala and then go on normal road from Kuru to Dambulla, haven't had issues since I leave very early and return back from Anuradhapura side.

anonymous · June 25, 2015

What is the situation of Kurunegala - Dambulla road these days?

luckey007 · June 26, 2015

On 6/25/2015 at 2:03 PM, anonymous said:
What is the situation of Kurunegala - Dambulla road these days?

From Dambulla to Galewela construction works are going on heavily and one lane traffic is being operated at few places. Galewela to Kurunegala stretch is almost done, but expect on and off disturbances .

If you travel from Colombo, consider this route; Airport highway ---.> Katunayake---> Minuwangoda--->Giriulla-->Narammala---> Kurunegala

Edited June 26, 2015 by luckey007

Magnum · June 26, 2015

On 6/26/2015 at 12:00 AM, luckey007 said:
From Dambulla to Galewela construction works are going on heavily and one lane traffic is being operated at few places. Galewela to Kurunegala stretch is almost done, but expect on and off disturbances .
If you travel from Colombo, consider this route; Airport highway ---.> Katunayake---> Minuwangoda--->Giriulla-->Narammala---> Kurunegala

Isnt this route filled with trucks now?

amad · June 26, 2015

I did travel to sigiriya last month.left at 7 am from nugegoda and it took more than 8 hours for me to get there.Heavy road construction work all the way. Avoid the route at any cost.

luckey007 · June 27, 2015

On 6/26/2015 at 6:17 PM, Magnum said:
Isnt this route filled with trucks now?

Trucks are there.. If you go early in the morning you can avoid them...They are allowed to transport sand after 7am. And to travel from Mahaweli river to Dambulla they took around 2-3 hours. I usually use this window to avoid them, and now newly built road is bit broad it is not so difficult as previously to overtake... Yeah it is a headache....But what to do...

On 6/26/2015 at 6:35 PM, amad said:
I did travel to sigiriya last month.left at 7 am from nugegoda and it took more than 8 hours for me to get there.Heavy road construction work all the way. Avoid the route at any cost.

Dude... I did last week, This is the latest situ....And what is your alternative to someone goes to Polonnaruwa, Trinco, Pasi, Sigiriya ,....... A9 road also under construction. So going via Kandy is also same....

Senaratne · June 27, 2015

Latest situation.. under construction Ibbagamuwa and Galewala area.

asrock · June 27, 2015

A bit OT, how is the Matale > Rattota road upto Riverston?

aamarakoon · June 27, 2015

Mathale to close to Raththota carpet road. there onwards normal tarmac in fairly good condition. Can manage in a car easily

asrock · June 27, 2015

On 6/27/2015 at 2:32 PM, aamarakoon said:
Mathale to close to Raththota carpet road. there onwards normal tarmac in fairly good condition. Can manage in a car easily

Thanks! Anyone been to sembuwatta lake? Seems the place is very beautiful, but heard the road condition is very bad, cannot reach by a car.

Magnum · June 27, 2015

On 6/27/2015 at 1:02 AM, luckey007 said:
Trucks are there.. If you go early in the morning you can avoid them...They are allowed to transport sand after 7am. And to travel from Mahaweli river to Dambulla they took around 2-3 hours. I usually use this window to avoid them, and now newly built road is bit broad it is not so difficult as previously to overtake... Yeah it is a headache....But what to do...
Dude... I did last week, This is the latest situ....And what is your alternative to someone goes to Polonnaruwa, Trinco, Pasi, Sigiriya ,....... A9 road also under construction. So going via Kandy is also same....

I sued to take Girulla route those when going to Colombo and I stopped taking that route after it got filled with trucks.

Theres no major road work on the A9, at least there wasn't when i went to Batticalo couple of months bacl, I only had to stop at 1 or 2 places that also wasnt for long but then again you cant do more than about 50-60km/h fromt Matale to Dambulla cuz there are sudden bumps.

john cooper · June 28, 2015

Hello Team

I use to use this road every Weekend when i was working in Trinco back in 2004 and if you start from Colombo its easy to go via Airport highway ---.> Katunayake---> Minuwangoda--->Diulapitiya ---> Giriulla-->Narammala---> Kurunegala and then take the Kurunegala Anuradhapura road (not via Galewela but the other side) i guess it's via Kekirawa and then you can get a road to Dambulla Anuradhapura road.

regards

JC

aamarakoon · June 28, 2015

On 6/27/2015 at 3:45 PM, asrock said:

Thanks! Anyone been to sembuwatta lake? Seems the place is very beautiful, but heard the road condition is very bad, cannot reach by a car.

I also wanted to go to sembuwatta. But gave up the idea as it is not reachable by car.

leyland · June 30, 2015

On 6/28/2015 at 7:17 AM, john cooper said:
Hello Team
I use to use this road every Weekend when i was working in Trinco back in 2004 and if you start from Colombo its easy to go via Airport highway ---.> Katunayake---> Minuwangoda--->Diulapitiya ---> Giriulla-->Narammala---> Kurunegala and then take the Kurunegala Anuradhapura road (not via Galewela but the other side) i guess it's via Kekirawa and then you can get a road to Dambulla Anuradhapura road.

regards

JC

The alternative I used earlier this year to go to Habarana was Airport Highway > Minuwangoda > Divulapitiya > Giriulla > Narammala > Kadahapola > Katupotha > Wariyapola > Padeniya > Galgamuwa > Tambuttegama > Thalawa > (via Eppawala) Kekirawa > Ganewalpola > Habarana. This road is a bit of a long journey but still better than using the Kurunegala - Dambulla road until construction is completed. The above route is carpeted all the way through except small sections between Thalawa and Kekirawa and again between Kekirawa and Ganewalpola. Took me about 3.5 hours to get to Habarana leaving Colombo around 6.30 PM. When using this route, there are numerous other shorter routes from which you can cut across from the Wariyapola side to the Dambulla side to shorten distance but I'm not sure of the status of these roads and some appear to be quite twisty even on Google Maps.

Route on Google Maps:

https://goo.gl/maps/z2Kbl

Edited June 30, 2015 by leyland

asrock · June 30, 2015

On 6/28/2015 at 1:38 PM, aamarakoon said:
I also wanted to go to sembuwatta. But gave up the idea as it is not reachable by car.

As this place is run by a tea estate, I don’t know whether we can park the car on factory premises and travel to the lake by foot, from there it’s only about 2kms according to Google map. The whole road is about 4kms.

NRX · June 30, 2015

On 6/30/2015 at 5:50 AM, leyland said:
The alternative I used earlier this year to go to Habarana was Airport Highway > Minuwangoda > Divulapitiya > Giriulla > Narammala > Kadahapola > Katupotha > Wariyapola > Padeniya > Galgamuwa > Tambuttegama > Thalawa > (via Eppawala) Kekirawa > Ganewalpola > Habarana. This road is a bit of a long journey but still better than using the Kurunegala - Dambulla road until construction is completed. The above route is carpeted all the way through except small sections between Thalawa and Kekirawa and again between Kekirawa and Ganewalpola. Took me about 3.5 hours to get to Habarana leaving Colombo around 6.30 PM. When using this route, there are numerous other shorter routes from which you can cut across from the Wariyapola side to the Dambulla side to shorten distance but I'm not sure of the status of these roads and some appear to be quite twisty even on Google Maps.
Route on Google Maps:

https://goo.gl/maps/z2Kbl

Yup, while the road from Highway > Minuwangoda to Giriulla is not that great, the Giriulla to Thalawa road is just superb, save for some small sections. Cops are not much a big issue as the road is straight for the most part so you will see them before hand.

Edited June 30, 2015 by NRX