The government is developing Belihuloya in Balangoda, which has an unparalleled natural ecosystem, as a tourist zone, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Governor Champa Janaki Rajaratne said.
She made this statement during a special discussion on the development of Belihuloya as a tourist destination and a tourist zone, held at the Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat Auditorium recently. In this discussion, which was attended by many government institutions including the Ministry of Tourism, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Plantation Industries and private entrepreneurs, it was revealed that the world’s leading ecosystem as well as the favorable weather and climate factors in the Belihuloya area can be effectively utilized for the promotion of the tourism industry.
Accordingly, this tourism promotion programme is being implemented focusing on the Belihuloya area under the Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat Division. Under this project, two new access roads are to be developed to access the World’s End, which has attracted the attention of tourists. Accordingly, local and foreign tourists will have the opportunity to access the World’s End via the two routes from Bakers Bend to Hortonthenna on the nonperial road and from Kettupothuthenna to Hortonthenna on the Upper Galagama Road. Historical information states that the British, who were once engaged in economic crop cultivation, accessed Belihuloya on horseback through Ohiya in Nuwara Eliya district. This road connects the two districts of Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya.
Once developed the area as a tourist zone, tourists can experience the beauty of the cloud forests consisting of waterfalls, mountain valleys, valleys, and plateaus on this journey. Also, after being developed as a tourist zone, tourists will be provided with the opportunity to play water sports in natural water sources and hill climbing. Tourists also have the opportunity to visit Surathali and
Pahanthudawa waterfalls, play water sports in the Hirikatu Oya and Samanala Lake, and climb the mountain ranges includingHawagala.
Tourists also have the opportunity to visit the Kataragama Devalaya in Uggal Aluthnuwara, the Saman Temple in Boltumbe, ancient iron ore smelting furnaces, iron extraction technology, the small World’s End, and the village of Nagrak located at an altitude of 7,000 feet above sea level. Also, the Nagrak Holiday Resort, where Governor Frederick North stayed during his trip to Nanperial Estate in 1805, and the evergreen ecosystem of Belihuloya, are many beautiful and enchanting places in this tourist region.
