Kurunegala is about 100 kilometres north of Colombo and sits at a major road junction, making it easy to reach from most directions.
From Colombo, buses run frequently throughout the day and take about 2.5 hours. Trains on the Puttalam line also stop at Kurunegala, though the train is slower than the bus on this route. From Kandy, the journey by bus or car takes about 1.5 hours through the hills.
If you are travelling the Cultural Triangle — visiting Sigiriya, Dambulla and Anuradhapura — Kurunegala makes a natural stopping point. Most travellers arrive and depart by bus, as connections in all directions are frequent.