From Colombo Kandy is generally a 3 – 3 ½ hour climb. The carpeted road takes the traveler through a number of small towns and across golden paddy fields. Along the way traveler is tempted with many local culinary delights and fascinations. Fresh pineapple stalls line the streets as one starts from Colombo. Among the fresh fruits are bags of skinned, diced pineapple sprinkled with salt and chili powder. Simply delicious!
You will not find a McDonald on the way, but plenty of king coconut stalls to quench the hot tropical thirst. Especially as you near Mawanalle Town stalls include other fresh tropical fruits such as entire banana branches with combs and combs of banana and sunny orange papo. As most of these fruits are home grown and only the excess sold to stalls, these fruits are often organic.
The most famous tropical fruit location is Cadjugama, meaning Cashew Village. Brightly clad young women in quaint little stalls along the road sells packets of fresh and oven-roasted cashew nut packets.
The steep, winding Kadugannawa climb is a speckle of color with stalls upon stalls with colorful sweetmeats hanging from the stall’s rafts and fresh tropical fruits and other goodies stacking the shelves. Outside the stalls, fresh corn is steaming in cauldrons on open fire hearths.
Food is not the only reason to stop at Kadugannawa. The view of the valley below and the facing mountain range is breath taking. The big, square rock right in the middle of the mountain range is known as the ‘Bible Rock’. On the road side, travelers will find an ambalama – a resting place of the ancient traveler.
Locals’ two most famous stops are Abepussa Rest-House and Thirst Aid at Kegalle for a good cup of tea and local favorites. A link in the ‘Juizees’ chain that serve fresh fruit juices made on demand is also found at Abepussa Rest-House. Another local favorite is Jinadasa Thalaguli. Though the name only advertises sesame balls (thalaguli), this place has almost the whole array of traditional Sinhala sweetmeats. The best pumpkin preserve – perhaps from the entire Island – is found at Jinadasa Thalaguli. As evening draws, ‘night-kada’, meaning ‘night joints’ light up with its stacks of hoppers. Only travelers with very strong stomachs adventurous cuisine should brave these local places.
The safest place for even the most sensitive stomached traveler is the Tea Fortress. This sprawling fortress is dedicated to tea lovers, but any weary traveler will find a refreshing meal or snack with of course a good cup of tea. The Fortress’s tea-shake is heavenly after a hot day of traveling.
Food is not the only attraction along Kandy-Colombo highway. As one of Sri Lanka’s busiest highways it provides good spots for cottage industries. Just past Kegalle, traveler will encounter an entire stretch of stalls with clay items such as pots and garden ornaments. Further away is Vewaldeniya, earning its name from the numerous woven products ranging from kitchenware to furniture to accessories its stalls sells. Closer to Kandy spice gardens vie with each other for attention. However, the best non-food attraction is the elephant orphanage at Pinnawela!
