The A 1 road (commonly known as the Colombo - Kandy Road or just the Kandy Road) is an A-Grade trunk road in Sri Lanka. It connects the capital city of Colombo with Kandy.
Contents
Map of A1, Sri Lanka
History
Commonly known as the Kandy Road, the A 1 was the first modern highway in the island. Construction began in 1820 under the orders of the British Governor of Ceylon, Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton, 3rd Baronet. Construction was carried out by Captain William Francis Dawson—who died during the project—along with Major Thomas Skinner. In the memory of Captain Dawson, the Dawson Tower was erected at Kadugannawa in the Kadugannawa Pass.
Route
The A1 highway begins at Colombo Fort. It passes through Peliyagoda, Kelaniya, Kiribathgoda, Mahara, Kadawatha, Kirillawala, Imbulgoda, Balummahara, Miriswaththa, Yakkala, Weediyawaththa, Thihariya, Nittambuwa, Pasyala, Wewaldeniya, Danovita, Warakapola, and Ambepussa. At Ambepussa, Kurunegala, Mawathagama, Paragahadeniya the A6 Highway branches off the A1, heading towards Kurunegala. The A1 continues east, passing Tholangamuwa, Udukumbura, Nelundeniya, Yattogoda, Galigamuwa, Ambanpitiya, Ranwala, Kegalle, Meepitiya, Karandupana, Molagoda, Uthuwankanda, Anwarama, Mawanella, Beligammana, Hingula, Kadugannawa, Pilimathalawa, Kiribathkumbura, and Peradeniya to reach Kandy.