Welanhinna Fort

Welanhinna Fort was located in the Badulla District of Sri Lanka. Today, there are no visible ruins of the fort, but a trench remains at the top of the mountain. The trench is about 3 meters deep, 3 meters wide, and 15 meters long. Unfortunately, human activity in the area has completely changed the landscape, leaving little trace of past events.

There is very little research available on Welanhinna Fort. Most of the information comes from books, journals, articles, and local interviews. The builder and construction date of the fort are unknown, which has led to debates among historians. Some believe the fort was built by the Dutch, citing folklore related to Dutch deployments in the area. Others think it was built by the British after they conquered the Kandyan Kingdom.

Welanhinna Fort and a Strategic Location

Since there are no signs of permanent buildings at the site, it is likely that Welanhinna Fort was not a traditional fort. Instead, it may have served as an observation post and communication center for the Kandyan forces. This would have complemented the Portuguese Haldummulla Fort, which is about 13 kilometers away as per today’s walking distance. The terrain between the two sites is difficult, making it a challenging journey.

The location of Welanhinna Fort was geographically significant. It was situated near the Idalgashinna Pass, which was a key access point to Kandy from the Uva region. The fort is about 5 kilometers from the Idalgashinna mountain range and roughly 30 kilometers from Badulla city. With its 360-degree view, the site offered an ideal vantage point to monitor enemy movements in the area.

Purpose of the Fort

Given its strategic location, Welanhinna Fort likely served as an observation post or communication center. From this site, the Kandyan forces could easily keep an eye on the Idalgashinna Pass and respond to any threats. The fort’s visibility from the surrounding area suggests that it could have also been used for offensive purposes.