A drive down the eighteen hairpin bend road of Mahiyangana

Making the way from Kandy to Mahiyangana the eighteen hairpin road used to be a picturesque but a break neck drive, which made heads spin and stomachs turn. Yet the latest US$ 50 million facelift has made the drive along this very twisted road a breathtaking one.

The daha-ata-wanguwa or the road with eighteen bends had been the nemesis of many a drivers, who attempted braving its tricky eighteen hairpin bends up and down the hills of Mahiyangana, since its inception in the 19th century by the British Colonists, who built the road to transport tea and spices to Colombo.

Despite its difficult terrain and challenging drive as much as 1800 vehicles slowly zigzagged their way up and down these rough roads on a daily basis with the 70 km bus ride from Mahiyangana to Kandy taking more than four hours.

The renovation project covered a 41-km stretch of the road and included 8 bridges, 320 pipe culverts and the widening of another 37 pipe culverts.

For drivers, the ‘broad' shoulders at each bend mean no more aching arms or use of both hands to steer the vehicle at a slow speed. Few years ago most bus or lorry drivers had an unwritten understanding, a move-forward,
move-backward routine to negotiate the bends as they were too narrow for large vehicles.

The mist-laden mountain range and the still plains around the hairpin bends create picture post card views and in addition concrete embankments had been adorned with gratifies of views of Sri Lanka. School children had made under water landscapes, elephants and jungle fowls come alive with a skillful hand on these protection walls adding more color to the already colorful drive.

The beauty of the road, almost two to three times wider than the old road, to regular travelers, lies at each bend. Drains neatly line roadsides to allow a smooth flow of rainwater. Retaining walls have been constructed along the road as well as protective fences and signboards to guide travelers. Stainless-steel reflector mirrors alert drivers of vehicles coming from either side of the bend. The shoulders at the bend are so wide that they provide ample space for motorists to park and enjoy the view.

Some bends have allocated space which serve as impromptu viewing platforms from where the travelers can look over rivers, lakes, streams and valleys as far as the eyes can see and the rest of the daha-ata-wanguwasnaking it way down.

For the adventurous, the 18-bend stretch of the Kandy-Mahiyangana Road is the perfect motorcycle-ride. Armed with a pair of long-range binoculars a slow ride on the motorbike could be the best way to view and feel the drive on the new Mahiyangana-Kandy road and the glory’s surrounding it.

At the bottom of the long winding road is Hasalaka while seven km further to the East is Mahiyangana, an ancient city graced by Lord Buddha. Situated by the fringes of Sri Lanka's longest river, Mahaweli, Mahiyanganahad been an old and favorite stop on pilgrim path. Nearly 10 km further East is the village of Dambana, one of the few settlements of the Veddas,Sri Lanka's indigenous people and all these are open to the travelers through the new daha-ata-wanguwaroad.

Scenic Beauty of Mahiyangana

Eighteen hairpin road