The map – click to enlarge

Konduru hela is a prominent peak in the east which could be seen easily from Arugam bay to Akkareipattu. Some people even mistake this as Thoppigala. It is located at one of the most isolated and unexplored area called Komari (Panama proposed) forest reserve. I had been eyeing on this peak for a while and during my previous visit I met a local guy called Ran banda who promised to help me if needed. As promised he had arranged Bandula for this adventure and we were very pleased with that. Before climbing the mountain we took a ride in the village and ended up at Morana lake which is the main feeder of the village. Unfortunately the spill was washed off during the last monsoons and probably the whole dam might give away during this year’s monsoon. It is sad to see how the respective authorities have turned a blind eye on these matters.

konduru hela as seen from kanjikudichiaru

Konduru hela as seen from Ambalan oya tank

ambalan oya tank

scenic tank

Morana tank

splendid

the spill is washed away and during the next monsoon the whole tank is going to give away

ancient spill

7 headed cobra

govinda hela as seen from the tank

paddy

one could spot about 60 ele’s in the evening here

a small attempt to save their tank

lovely and luxurious

starting point

We took the road starting from Bakmitiyawa post office and reached the base of the mountain and started hiking uphill at around 10am. Yes it was bit late but this is the ideal time to start the hike. If you plan to be on the summit at 12 you will be rewarded with a 360 panoramic blue sky but the heat would be a difficult factor. The initial climb was not that difficult and we always had the aid of trees. After a small hike we had some late breakfast before started hiking up again. The last bit was very difficult to climb because the dried leaves made us slip back despite all our efforts. We also came across a freshly killed Wild boar (Probably attacked by a hawk) and a wild bear which was chased away by Bandula. The tree canopy started converting into a shrub forest while we were closing on to the peak and the heat started to play its role. There were few caves which one could easily shelter during a rain but must watch out for bears. Once we got on top of the mountain we sat down for a while and refreshed ourselves before deciding to walk about and take pictures. The first viewing point was towards Monaragala and Ampara side and there were many peaks which I could identify easily because it was my backyard. Towards the east there were few lakes like Kanchikudichchi aru, Sagama tank & Rufus kulam. I also noted Arugam bay lagoon and bridge too. This is a splendid location to enjoy a breathtaking sun rise. As usual there was a pagoda which was built by kings and now been vandalized by treasure hunters? We also came across a carving stating A. Joseph who might have been a surveyor who used to do his surveying in this region in the early nineteen hundreds.

towards the peak

creeping through bushes

a moth

having a rest and a snack

දෙබරේ

a fresh kill

steep climb

creation of nature

kuda hela as seen from the summit

an english surveyor had been here

vandalized pagoda on the summit

Maragalakanda

Govinda hela and sugala devi tank

Wadinagala peak

Pannalgama tank

inginiyagala reservoir and danigala range

bakmitiyawa and far way mountains of kotiyagala

ambalan oya tank and malayadi tank behind it

Komari forest reserve

lahugala neelagiri hela and tank

hulannuge Karanda hela

the drop

lovely

Arugam bay could be seen

all of these rocky mountains are archeology sites

Kanjikudichchiau tank and the ocean also could be seen

a pano

more scenery

mottagala – sagama and thirukkovil

rufus kulam

angled

cave view

endless

chunky choc time

eastern ocean

Kanchikudichiaru tank and the caves facing the tank

we were like caveman

After having some snacks in a nearby cave we started to return back and it was like sliding down a snowy mountain. After returning to the village and thanking everyone we took off towards Pannalgama tank to enjoy a lengthy bath in a canal to refresh ourselves and later had a splendid rice and curry to complete our tiring yet rewarding day.

diggal hela and bakmitiyawa

on the way back

ah the sliding session!

where we were

Konduru hela

having a cup of tea

getting ready for the monsoon

a cool dip to end the day

pannalgama tank

Yakkuragala was an isolated mountain with height situated in Dambulla area in between Dambulla-Matale (A9) and Dambulla-Bakamuna (බකමූණ) roads. As it has no archeology or historical importance, no body tries to climb it. Locals only visit there to pluck “Gal Siyambala”. Later I knew they also miss their return pathway once they reach the mountain.

Villagers believe “Yak Ura’s” (‍යක් ඌරා)-Devil Pig’s footsteps can be seen on the mountain. Therefore it is called Yakkuragala. But actual Yakkuragala is situated closer to the main Mountain.

Yakkuragala drew my attention when I was travelling from Dambulla to Kandy. Then I have climbed a number of nearby peaks. Therefore this was the remaining peak. According to my map reading the best side to climb it is from Dambulla-Bakamuna road.

Where Yakkuragala is situated – click to enlarge

Different view’s of Yakkuragala

Yakkuragala was captured on my way back from Gal Koth Kanda

Yakkuragala was captured when we were at Pleasure Island

View of Yakkuragala from Gal Koth Kanda.

We got Dambulla-Bakamuana bus and got down at Kalogahaela area (in between 6-7km posts) and reached the base of the mountain at 10am. (This time we had a late start) We were seeking for a point to start climbing and one villager said to start from one end of the mountain which is closer to the main road. Other villager told us to climb via forest plantation site (There is a forest replanting site closer to base of the mountain).Then we decided to enter the forest just before the end which is closer to the road.

It was successful and we reached the edge of the mountain first and then climb up to the highest point. Initial part of the climb had forest with a lot of bushes with thorns. But later it became a typical dry forest. We reached the highest point around 1.30pm.

On our way to the highest point we have passed two view points.

First part of the forest..No ascend…Flat

Climbing started……

It has short episodes of rock climbing as well

Our destination was seen in back

Through a cave….

On top of first view point

Back to forest

Second view point

Heading to second view point

ගල් සියඹලා

Typical dry forest. No under growth

Interesting tree pattern

Interesting tree pattern

Reaching the destination-highest point

On top of Yakkuragala you can have nice surrounding view. Beliya Kanda in Galewela, Dambulla cave temple, Ibbankatuwa tank, Kandalama Lake, Erawula Mountain, Gal Koth Kanda and Gedaragala pathana were seen. Far away points were: Manikdena peak, Arangala, Sigiriya and Pidurangala. After photo shooting on top of the peak we left it around 2pm.

Other end of the mountain: Point A seems at same level of the point we were. Point B is somewhat lower but it might provide good view towards other side. We didn’t try to go there.

Ibbankatuwa (ඉබ්බන්කටුව) Lake. Red arrow shows Pleasure Island  and Black arrow shows Dambulla cricket stadium.

Beliya Kanda-613m.

Dambulla rock, cave temple and golden plated Buddha statue

Gedaragala Pathana (ගෙදරගලපතන).

Puswellagolla (පුස්වෑල්ගොල්ල )-579m

Erawula Kanda-695m is shown in black arrow and Gal Koth Kanda-631m shown in red arrow.

Road towards Bakamuna

Fainted view of Manikdena peak-865m -in red arrow) and Arangala (792m) (in black arrow)

Paddy fields and vegetable plots were zoomed

Kandalama Tank. Sigiriya and Pidurangala are shown in black arrow.

our return journey is shown by white arrow. Black arrow shows where we climbed up.

We decided to come down through forest plantation site. Therefore we descended straight away down towards forest plantation site. It was not a smooth journey as descend was tough. Somehow we reached Dambulla-Bakamuna road around 3.30pm. On our way back we were fortunate to find origin of tiny water spring to fill up our thirsty.

We had a nice bath at Kalundawa Oya (කලුන්දෑව ඔය) before we got into the bus.

Getting down

රෑහෑයියා

Getting down was a tough exercise.

Horn Lizard

Filling the water bottle.

Forest plantation site

Kalundawa Oya…Where we had a bath

Summary of the journey: Black arrow shows our way up and destination is shown by black star. White arrow shows the return journey.

Have a safe journey.

Rathnapura-Wewalwaththa-Balangoda road is 43km in distance and you can enjoy 13+ waterfalls in one day. This is my experience of waterfall hunting along this road. Enjoy it.

You can view following waterfalls along this road (order from Rathnapura to Balangoda)

1. Anda Ella falls
2. Goxin Falls
3. Pareyyian Falls
4. Katukithul Falls
5. Hal Ella Falls
6. Dehena Ella
7. Madanagiri Falls
8. Pandi Oya Ella Falls
9. Wewal Falls
10. Alupola Ella
11. Beruwaththa Ella
12. Unnamed waterfall
13. Madde Kanda Falls
14. Polwaththa Amuna Ella

We started the journey around 8.30am from Rathnapura and our first visit was Anda Ella falls.

Anda Ella Falls ආදා ඇල්ල

This 15m tall waterfall will come across at Galabada area. Waterfall is barely visible to the main road. You can get the foot pathway immediately before the bridge and walk up along the stream to reach it.

Direction towards the waterfall

Anda Ella Falls

Anda Ella Falls

Anda Ella Falls

Our next target was Goksin falls and Pareyyian falls at Halakanda area.

Goxin Falls ගොක්සිo ඇල්ල

Rathganga River makes this 50m tall waterfall at Halakanda (හැලකද) village. The British planter-Goxin was used to have aquatic sports at this waterfall to give this English name to the waterfall. It flows into a deep pool and it’s depth is not known. There were number of deaths happened here by falling down from the waterfall. Therefore villagers are scared to roam around the waterfall.

We turned from Nugepola (නුගේපොල) to get Dehenakanda (දෙහෙනකන්ද) road (this is the road to go to Sri Pada from Mukkuwaththa ) and got the turn at Kambiadiya (කම්බිඅඩිය) to reach Halakanda village. (There is a board mentioning Halakanda Vidyalaya at this turning point). After travel about 3km along this gravel road you will come across a bridge. Goxin falls is just below the bridge.

There is a foot pathway in it’s right hand side to reach the base. Fortunately there were two villagers to show us this foot pathway.

The bridge over Rathganga-රත්ගග

On top of Goxin Falls

Goxin falls and it’s base pool

Goxin Falls

Pareyyian Falls-පරෙයියන් ඇල්ල

Rathganga makes this beautiful waterfall after about 50m following Goxin falls. We continued the road through Halakanda village and got left hand turn to the village temple. After meeting chief priest of the temple we headed towards Pareyyian Falls.

There is a cement foot steps towards Rathganga there. They have built a nice “Kutiya-කුටිය” closer to the waterfall.

According to the chief priest there is a huge natural cave closer to the waterfall which can accommodate around 1500 people once. Then he mentioned about a drawing of a pigeon at the wall of the cave.

We didn’t attempt to reach the cave due to slippery rocks following rain.

Pareyyian Falls is about 20m tall.

Pareyyian Falls –For me it is like a pigeon

Pareyyian falls and it’s base pool

Pareyyian Falls

Pareyyian Falls and it’s natural cave

“Kutiya” facing Rathganga

According to the villager who showed the foot pathway to get down to Goxin falls, there is another waterfall about 1km above Goxin falls. It is called Uthurupath Ella. (උතුරුපත් ඇල්ල) But we didn’t try to go there.

We spent a lot of time on Goxin and Pareyyian falls and rushed back to Wewalwaththa road. Next three cascades were road side: Katu Kithul Ella, Hal Ella and Dehena Ella.

Katu Kithul Ella-කටුකිතුල් ඇල්ල

This 15m tall road side cascade will come across at Amunathanna (අමුණතැන්න) area. We have noticed thorny Palmyra trees around the upper part of the fall.

Two in 1. Katu Kithul Ella and Hal Ella

Katu Kithul Ella

Hal Ella Falls-හල් ඇල්ල

This 7m tall 12m wide road side cascade is found at Amunathanna area immediately next to Katu Kithul Falls. According to literature, there are some Hal trees at upper part of the waterfall to give this name.

Just before Katu Kithul Ella, there is a water stream flows towards the road. This is actually not a waterfall.

Hal Ella

Hal Ella

Hal Ella

Water stream can be misunderstood as waterfall

Dehena Falls-දෙහෙන ඇල්ල

After few turns from Kate Kithul Falls and Hal Falls we came across this tall beauty at 25^th km post. Dehena Falls is another road side cascade. Dehena Dola (දෙහෙන දොල) forms this 73m tall beautiful fall. During rainy season it will drizzle towards the vehicles on the road.

Distance view of Dehena Falls

Dehena Falls

Dehena Falls-closer view

Dehena Falls

Madanagiri and Pandi Oya Ella falls (මදනගිරි ඇල්ල හා පාඩි ඔය ඇල්ල)

Madanagiri and Pandi Oya Ella falls are situated close to each other and formed by Pandi Oya.

It is difficult to reach these waterfalls as you have to go up along Pandi Oya (පාඩි ඔය).

Both waterfalls can be seen from main road after you pass Pandi Oya.

Madanagiri Ella has 68m height and Pandi Oya Falls 45m is tall.

People are bathing at Pandi Oya

Madanagiri Falls (left hand side) and Pandi Oya Falls (right hand side)

Madanagiri Falls

Pandi Oya Falls

After passing these two cascades we got right hand turn at Diya Bibila (දිය බිබිල) junction to view Wewal Ella falls.

Wewal Ella Falls-වේවැල් ඇල්ල

This 15m tall and 24m wide waterfall is formed by Wewal Dola (වේවැල් දොළ). As there were ample of Wewal trees around the waterfall in those days, it was called Wewal Falls.

We drove along Batewela (බටේවෙල) road and asked about the waterfall from villagers at Waligoda (වැලිගොඩ) junction. They didn’t know a waterfall of that kind of name but directed us to a waterfall just below a bathing place at Wewal Dola. We drove back and reached that bathing place. But that small waterfall didn’t tally with our description.

A boy who was there told us about another waterfall at upstream of Wewal Dola. We crossed Wewal Dola and walked about 500m towards upstream through thick Mana bushes to reach the waterfall, might be correct Wewal Ella Falls.

It had low water level and it flowed under a bridge.

Crossing the stream to follow the foot pathway

Wewal Ella Falls

Wewal Ella Falls

Wewal Ella Falls

Wewal Ella Falls-Upper part

Wewal Ella Falls with it’s base pool

Wewal Ella Falls and it’s base pool

It was around 2pm and we came back to main road and drove towards Wewalwaththa junction. On our way we inquired about Bambarabotuwa waterfall (බඹරබොටුව ඇල්ල) which is situated behind Bambarabotuwa church. Nobody knew such a waterfall. But there might be a waterfall as we noticed few water streams drooling from the mountain which is situated behind the church.

Note the water streams drooling from the rock.

After having late lunch from Wewalwaththa junction (though it was a small town, had lunch at 2.30pm) we turned towards Alupola Estate road to reach famous Alupola Ella.

Alupola Ella-අලුපොල ඇල්ල

This 68m tall waterfall is situated at Alupola estate. Alupola Falls is formed by the water stream driven from Bathurugala (බතුරුගල) Mountain.

Alupola Falls.

Alupola Falls

Alupola Ella –Upper part

Alupola Ella-Upper part

Alupola Ella with it’s all parts

After climbing most lower part of Alupola Falls

Our next target was another famous waterfall called Beruwaththa Falls. You can continue along the road following Alupola waterfall or can come back to Wewalwaththa to reach Beruwaththa Falls. Either ways you have to join with Wewalwaththa-Balangoda road and driver further. But there are no board indicating the foot pathway to Beruwaththa Falls. It is in between 1km-2km posts. (Kilometer posts now starting from Wewalwaththa Town towards Balangoda).

View of Beruwaththa Falls from Alupola Estate. This can be view from several places.

Beruwaththa Falls-බේරුවත්ත ඇල්ල

Beruwaththa Falls is 50m in height and is formed by water streams origin from Rakshagala (රාක්ෂගල) Mountain. The water from Beruwaththa Falls later joined with Alupola Dola (අලුපොල දොල) and Ravula Dola (රැවුල දොල). Finally it joins with the longest River of Sri Lanka-Mahaweli River.

This is the land mark to get the turn to Beruwaththa Falls. There is a foot pathway immediate next to this house.

Heading to Beruwaththa Falls

The Beauty

Beruwaththa falls with it’s base pool

Beruwaththa Falls

Companions of the journey

We continued along Balangoda road and came across another beautiful waterfall after 3-4kms following Beruwaththa falls. It was about 15m tall and we could notice another one just above it. We stopped there for snapping and Dethanagala (දෙතනගල) was clearly visible from there.

Road winds around the waterfall

She is the beauty. Don’t know the name.

It seems to be a bathing place

Closer view

Dethanagala

It was time around 6pm and there were two waterfalls to be completed my list. We rushed towards Balangoda and stopped at Meddekanda junction. Meddekanda Falls is clearly visible at Meddekanda Junction.

Meddekanda Falls (මැද්දේකන්ද ඇල්ල)

There was a road in front of the school lane at Meddekanda junction. We drove along that and turned to first left hand side road. Then turned to first right hand side road and went till road ends. From there we followed the foot pathway parallel to the water canal and reached the base of the waterfall through mana bushes. It was a beautiful waterfall but we didn’t have much time to enjoy it as it was almost 7pm.

Meddekanda waterfall is 18m tall and earlier was used to bath elephants, called Ali Wala Ella (අලි වල ඇල්ල).

View of Meddekanda Falls from Meddekanda junction.

Meddekanda Falls

Meddekanda falls with it’s base pool

Meddekanda Falls-photographs are not much clear as surrounding was dark

Closer view of Meddekanda Falls

As it was not a good time to visit waterfalls we abounded our next plan and headed towards Balangoda. Our next day was allocated to Balangoda-Hatton road. At the end of that day we again came along Balangoda-Wewalwaththa road to finish our previous day targets. Last one was Polwaththa Amuna Ella.

Polwaththa Amuna Ella (පොල්වත්ත අමුණ ඇල්ල)

I got to know about this waterfall by amazing Lanka. This is situated at Bulathgama (බුලත්ගම) area in Balangoda-Wewalwaththa road (about 4-5kms from Balangoda town). Then we drove along the Vidyala Mawatha about 1km till we come across an area of paddy fields. We stopped there and got the help of a villager to reach this waterfall.

We had to go across the paddy fields (on “Niyara- නියර”) to reach this waterfall. But we only could grab the fainted view of waterfall as there was further walking through a tea patch to reach the waterfall. As my friend was hurry to go home I gave up that idea.

As it is situated in Polwaththa Amuna, it is called Polwaththa Amuna Ella. Not Amuran Ella. For my view, it is about 20m tall waterfall.

The way on paddy fields…Dethanagala is in back drop.

Somewhere down the main waterfall. This is kind of a bathing place

Distance view of Polwaththa Amuna Ella

Fainted view of Polwaththa Amuna Ella

Motor bike for the journey

Have a safe journey

Map around Dumpandurawa – click to enlarge

Map around Gal kotte – Click to elarge

Two years back I worked at Inginiyagala hospital and one day I came across a retired DWC officer who is well known because of the newspaper articles he wrote about Gal oya national park. Somehow we became friends and one day he mentioned about a special cave close to Mulgama where Vedda paintings could be found. With my hectic schedule and days passing by I totally forgot about it until few months back. Three months back I went to Himidurawa and on that day I got down at Dumpandurawa and inquired about the cave, the input I got was a very positive one. So I was determined to go there in near future. Few weeks back I decided to give it a go so I got Akalanka to join me on this venture.

We left early morning and reached Dumpandurawa at 6.30am. My god we were too early and the locals were still a sleep. Somehow an old man got up and welcomed us (at the last house of Dumpandurawa) and we were offered a tea cup too. He then went house to house trying to find someone to guide us there and finally we found Sugath. The walk towards the cave was a 1.5km hike from Bibila – Inginiyagala road and the initial stretch was through a short forest patch which ended at a huge chena area. The whole Chena was bordering a branch of Namal oya which was dried out due to the drought and it was the Provincial border as well. From the Chena we trekked further for about 500m’s through the dry zone forest until we reached a rock where the cave could be found.

branch of namal oya dried out

burnt for cultivation’s

entering the forest

the forest path

The first cave we came across was a small one and I didn’t see anything interesting there but few meters away there was a huge cave almost close to 200ft and the sight of it simply took me into a state of hypnotism. I knew there were cave paintings here but not so many. The whole 200ft length was covered with paintings and we didn’t know how to and where to start from. At the edge of the cave there is a view point towards Namal oya valley which flows below and the river is surrounded by mountains. This point would have been a good vantage point for them and aided them to hunt effortlessly. The size of the cave the length of it plus the valley below must had aided them to establish a settlement here for many years. To have so many cave drawings they must have stayed there for many years. The drip ledge suggests that this might have been inhibited by monks in the latter periods too. I think this place has cave art even more than the amount found at Wettumbegala (siyambalanduwa). This location needs archeological preservation as same as Wettumbegala. After having some “kavupee” we returned back to the main road and thanked Sugath for his guidance.

first cave we came across

200ft cave

view from the cave.. good vantage point for cave man

rest of the cave

plenty

hunter on top of an elephant

an elephant with a caveman on its back, the lower one looks like a smiley

and more

painted on dark background

wow

pre historic saliya asokamala :-)

may be a couple

more	have 6 fingers just like Neeththawas

hundreds

at a water hole… there is one guy on a bull

elephant and a porcupine

and more

a water hole?

An ele at a water hole

view towards the valley from the cave

කරඹ

returning back

a nearby lake at Nelliyadda

with her grandfather

Nelumbo nucifera

From here we left towards Pitakumbura side and at Maladanamabe we started walking towards Pammadilla oya. There is a hermitage which was done by King Budhdhadasa right across the river bordering the nearby mountain. After crossing Pammadilla oya via the suspension bridge we continued walking for 1Km through the typical Nilgala forest canopy. The hermitage has 3 well-built caves and two monks could be found meditating here. We did not forget to have a long chat with the monk before exploring the area. There were many Drip ledged caves in the vicinity but the most fascinating one was the one found with an entrance and an exit. There were broken brick walls showing off the glory of the past years too. This hermitage is actually located in the buffer zone and some locals are displeased with it because they cannot engage in illegal activities in the area. After a short stay we retuned back via the same path and headed towards Gal oya to have a bath and end our day

crossing pammedilla oya

pammadilla oya

where dane is offered

the foot path towards the hermitage

cave at Gal kotte

and another

another cave

more caves

abandoned

ah the best one

through the cave

remains

entrance

view towards the forest

place to meditate

returning back

mushrooms

aralu

The long weekend at the end of July was long awaited as it’s the only long weekend for 2015 until Christmas. We planned a train trip to up-country with cousins, an annual event during August school holidays.

However for the 31^st the train was fully booked so we had to reserve the train for the 30^th – which gave us a bonus day to enjoy the cool climes.

Podi Menike left Fort Railway station sharp on time and we enjoyed the new A/C carriage – similar to the carriages in the AC Express to Jaffna – with adjustable seats, TV etc.

The winding journey through lush green mountains was enjoyable and relaxing. We had our lunch (brought from home) in the train.  Finally the train reached Bandarawela around 3pm and we had our chauffer for the next three days waiting at the station to welcome us. His van can comfortably accommodate 10 adults.( with kids 12-13). (Samantha – 0779580177)

We bought all necessary provisions at Bandarawela Food City and headed towards our resting place, Public Administration Circuit Bungalows at Bindunuwewa – about 5km away. There are two identical large bungalows, each comprising of three bedrooms with three bathrooms and accommodates 7 in each bungalow. The bungalows are well maintained and have been recently renovated.  All six bathrooms had instant hot water showers. Both bungalows are managed by a single bungalow keeper and he prepares the meals as well. Reservation can be done through Ministry of Public Administration and is open only to public servants.

Enjoying the train journey

We relaxed with a cup of tea and then decided to visit Dova Rajamaha Viharaya about 4 kms away. It is an ancient cave temple adorned with colourful murals and dates back to King Walagamba’s time. The Buddha statue carved into a rock reminds the ruins at Buduruwagala – not too far away. Inside the cave temple is very cool and one can enjoy the fading away murals for hours.

Dova Rajamaha Viharaya

Murals inside the caves

We returned to the bungalow past 7pm and after a delicious meal of noodles, chicken curry and dhal called it a day.

Day 2:

The next morning by 8.30 we had finished our breakfast of milk-rice and headed towards Badulla in the van as we wanted to visit Dunhinda first. Tackling the downhill road with so many barriers was not an easy task with grandmas, grandpas and little ones. But we all made it down to see the Queen of Waterfalls – Dunhinda.  She was breathtaking as always and the tiredness was washed away just by seeing her. Finally it was almost noon when everyone climbed up taking their own time.

Dunhinda

Kuda Dunhainda at a distance

The next destination was Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya in the heart of the town. It wasn’t the ideal time to visit a temple – scorching in the hot sun – but we had no option. The temple was filled with devotees and those who have observed sill and we worshiped without disturbing them.

We bought lunch packets from Ja-Ela Hotel and headed towards Demodara. Bogoda bridge off Hali-Ela was in our to-do list but the driver said that the road is in a very bad state so had it give that up.

We then visited the Demodara Railway Station and with the permission of the Station Master we had our lunch there. It is a well-maintained station with drinking water and clean toilet facilities. As there were no trains for quite some time we decided to do a hike along the legendary “loop” and it turned out to be quite a distance going all the way round the hill and through the tunnel and finally coming out near the “Black bridge”.

Along the loop

Into tunnel No: 42

On Black bridge

At Demodara station

We would have liked to see a train going through the loop but the next train was scheduled at 3.30 which was quite late.  So we decided to start our journey and the next attraction was the Nine Arch Bridge.

Last year we walked up the bridge from Ella Station but we did not mind seeing this great architectural marvel again. The turn-off is at Halpe and the road is in a pretty bad shape and you have to walk the final bit to reach the railway line and the bridge.

Nine-Arch Bridge

On our way back we turned off at Kumbalwella towards Ella and headed towards Ravana Ella. Suddenly it started raining changing the entire landscape. We wanted to visit Ravana Caves but

had to give up the idea.  Finally when we reached Ravana Ella the rain had reduced to a drizzle and all got down to enjoy the road-side beauty.

Ravana Ella

We had tea from a nearby boutique and started our return journey. The sudden shower had revived Ella and the mountains along the road looked very fresh and green after the sudden shower.

Ella

It was past 6.30 when we reached the bungalow and we were welcomed by a warm cup of coffee.  Later we enjoyed a delicious meal of rice and curry for dinner.

Day 3:

We had the van waiting for us by 8am and we hurried after breakfast as we wanted to reach Lipton Seat before mist. From Bandarawela the road to Lipton Seat is via Nayabedda, which I would say is more scenic than the Damabethenna route from Haputale.

We had to buy tickets for the vehicle when we entered the Nayadedda Estate as we would be using estate roads to reach LS. But its worth the money as the road all the way up to LS is in a very good condition. We were fortunate as the weather was very clear and all the way up to LS we were enjoying the breathtaking views of endless mountains.

Endless views

Nayabedda Tower

We spent quite some time at LS trying to figure out the distant landscapes all around.  It was a very clear day and it was my first clear view from LS.

Clear sky and breathtaking views

At Lipton Seat

We came down via Dambetenna to Haputale enjoying the scenic beauty. Our next destination was Adisham Monestry.  It being a long weekend there was a string of vehicles along that narrow road and we abandoned the idea as we did not want to be stuck in traffic for hours while in Haputale as well.

We decided to make the return journey via Diayathalawa as that route is more scenic. We stopped near the pine forest and the kids had a grand time in the pine forest.

We reached the bungalow around 1.30 and enjoyed a sumptuous meal and decided to have a relaxing afternoon in the bungalow.  It rained heavily in the evening and we were glad that we did not have any plans for that evening.

Day 4:

Since our return journey was planned by the night-mail train we had the whole day to spare. We had planned to visit Ambewela and return by the 3.30 train which would reach Bandarawela by 5.00 pm giving us enough time to get ready for the night mail which would leave Bandarawela by 7.30pm.

We left the bungalow after breakfast and caught the 9.55 train towards Colombo.  It’s the Udarata Menike leaving Badulla at 8.30am and was packed since it’s the last day of the long week-end.  However we enjoyed the journey with endless tunnels and got off at Pattipola by 11.30.

Since the kids were eager on a railway hike we decided to walk from Pattipola to Ambewela which we missed in our last trip. (Ambewela – the Little New Zealand – and Along the Railway Track to Ohiya) We told grandmas and grandpas to get off at Ambewela and the rest walked the 3.5km from Pattipola to Ambewela. Though it has nothing much to offer – except the vegetable beds on either side – the kids enjoyed the walk and we had nothing to fear as the next train on the line was scheduled for 1.05pm.

Rail hike

Ma rath Mal in bloom

We hired three-wheelers from Ambewela Station and headed towards the New Zealand Farm enjoying the landscape. Farm was packed with people and we rested while the children ran from shed to shed enjoying the animals. We had brought our lunch and enjoyed it at the farm.

We called back the three-wheelers and started our return journey around 3pm as we had to catch the 3.30 train to Bandarawela. However when we reached the station we got to know that the 1.15 train has still not come due to some accident and it will be coming shortly.  It was packed as crowds waiting for the next train too had got in but we enjoyed yet another journey passing so many tunnels.

At New Zealand farm

We reached the bungalow around 4.30 and got ready for the return journey.  We had an early dinner of string hoppers and reached the station by 7.

The night-mail train reached the station around 8 and we settled in our sleeperates for the return journey.  However it was the first time I enjoyed the breathtaking night view of the passing cities – Bandarawela, Haputale & Diyathalawa basking in the moonlight looked magical.

We reached Fort RS by 5.30am and called “Kangaroos” to take us home. We reached home by 6am tired but with our hearts filled with pleasant memories.

Thanks for reading!

After hectic 3 months of studies and few “ordinary relaxing trips with family” I finally had little precious time to do some explorations. But as most us well aware that next difficult thing in planning a hike is finding partners. As I was free only on week days I decided to hike all alone. Then I needed to find a suitable place to hike as a lone trekker. I remembered Adara Kanda and contacted Ashan ayya, and got to know that the trail is well cleared and can do by myself. With bits of back ground work I departed from Colombo around 4am. I kept a close eye on weather at fallingrain site and knew there was low cloud cover throughout the day which could be resulted in rain if I was unlucky and accuweather even predicted 51% chance of light rain around 11am in the morning.

I went to my old familiar Ratnapura by my vehicle and upto Pambahinna by bus. I was able to get down at Pambahinna junction aroung 7am and walked forward along the Badulla main road until 161/4 bridge. At this bridge road takes an elbow bend. I was looking for a gravel road but was surprised to find a paved road. I walked along happily but after 50 meters it was a steep ascend and the paved part was over. After walking about 1 km along the road; suddenly road turned to a footpath. But after 25 meters it again turned to a proper road only to turn again to a footpath after another few hundred meters.

I continued to walk along the footpath which lies by the side of a small stream. I truly appreciated the beauty of this part of the trial only on return journey. People who have done this trail know what I meant. I wish British left us with few more rain & mountain forests rather than useless pine plots.

Footpath ends at a cave monastery. The real trail head lies at the end of the footpath. Trail head lies on the other side of the stream which I crossed just behind the toilet of the monastery.

The monastery

Tiny window…..

So many living things than a pines plot….

This is what I need to conquer….

At the beginning, I walked through the pines patch. Sooner it turned out to be a steep climbing. But as there was recent a sign of rain, the path was bit cleared without pines pins. In some areas the climb was not so steep and some areas it was steep. Same with the pines patch with on and off open areas.

Early morning rays….

The climb……

Finally off the pines plot

First sight of the target…. As emerged from Pines plot….

After the pines plot path is very very clear. Along the path in the middle section loosened white rock pieces are to be found which distinct the path. I’ll let the pictures talk until the Paraviyangala and the 1^st peak…..

Flat terrain along the way….

Now for the burning sunlight…..

Myself falling in love with the nature….note the brownish footpath…..

Hawagala….

What a view…..

Wow and wow………

Samanala wewa……

Wow…..

Warning signs… clouds are building……

Hawagala… more pics…

Udawalawe tank… far away….

Sabaragamuwa university………

Getting closer…. More to go…..

Getting close to Paraviyangala….

As I was steadily approaching Paraviyangala, I was able to visualize the Non-pariel side as well…. But Worlds end was covered in mist. And to my dismay considerable cloud was developing over me…. That didn’t stop me from stepping to Paraviyangala and proximal 2 peaks of the Adara Kanda range before turning back for the descend.

Paraviyangala……

Paraviyangala, seen from 1st peak…..

Nagrak road……..

Tea factory and the fall….. with winding road…

Worlds end covered in mist……

Peaks of Adara Kanda… see Dark clouds are building…….

Southern slopes of Gonmolliya and Balathuduwa range….

As previous reports have suggested, it was pure nightmare to climb down. I was lucky with fewer amounts of pine pines due to rain, but loose stones were pure nightmare. I was not sure whether there was single stone which was not loose.

The trail in white in distance and brown in proximity… But all are loose stones….

But after considerable difficulty, was able to reach the monastery around 2pm and returned Colombo with great satisfaction.

Mahaweli River exploration is one of my dream trips. Mahaweli River flows from Hortain plains and ends at Trincomale. If someone wants to go along the river (by boat or foot) it is possible only from Mahiyangana (මහියoගණය) to Trincomale. From Central hills to Mahiyangana, the river is guarded by major reservoirs.

During dry season (especially August and September) it has low water level.

My friend Siraj suggested me to walk along the River from Manampitiya as he has noticed the river with low water level when he visited to Thummodara (තුම්මෝදර). (Thummodara is the place where Mahaweli River joins with her main tributary-Amban Ganga-අඹන් ගග). Siraj did a lot of map reading and made a plan for two days. We planned to walk along the river from Manampitiya to Nuwaragala.

Mahaweli River (Great Sandy River)

Mahaweli River is the longest river of Sri Lanka. It is 335km long and begins from tributaries at Hortain plains-Kirigalpoththa and Thotupola Mountains. Then it flows north through tea growing region and turns east near Kandy: It then turn north across lowlands and receives its principal tributary called Amban Ganga.  It’s drainage basin covers one fifth of the total area of the country. Mahaweli River and it’s tributaries are dammed at several locations to divert water for irrigation and hydropower production.

We reached Manampitiya-Yakkure junction around 9am where road crosses the river. Here river banks are guarded by flood plains national park. There was a foot pathway in this park parallel to River (in left hand side) from Manampitiya to Yakkure. Yakkure is an ancient village where Weddas lived. But this foot pathway can’t be traced now. We attempted to go from Manampitiya to Yakkure in 2013-Octomber by this foot pathway. But it was abounded due to rain during middle of the journey.

Flood Plains National Park-ජල ගැලුම් නිම්න වනෝදයානය

Flood Plains National Park is one of the four national parks set aside under the Mahaweli River development project. The park was created on 7^th August 1984. The national park is situated along the Mahaweli flood plain and is considered a rich feeding ground for elephants. Flood Plains National Park is considered as elephant corridor for the elephants migrate between Wasgamuwa and Somawathiya National parks.

Major points of the journey in Google map. Total length is 16kms. – click to enlarge

Distances;

Manampitiya to Thummodara: About 5 Kms

Thummodara to Major bend:About 3 Kms

Major bend to small bend: About 4 Kms

Small bend to the end:About 4kms

After having blessings from Pullayiar shrine at Manampitiya junction we started the journey. First we walked parallel to the river in flood plains national park in it’s left hand side. There is a clear road up to certain extent due to sand mining in this part of the river. We didn’t get into the river in this part as it was deep due to sand mining. This jeep track became a foot pathway and it vanished. Then we got into the river.

Blessings from Manampitiya-Pullayiar shrine

Clear road towards sand mining area

Sand mining area

Manampitiya Bridge over River Mahaweli. This is the second longest bridge of Sri Lanka (302m). This was taken in 2013 when river was having good flow

Appearance of the River at sand mining area

Road becomes a foot pathway

Butterflies

Foot pathway get vanished

Get into the river……

Note the rive has become a sand pitch……

Design on the River

A rest

Brahminy Kite

Reaching an island

Great Thick-knee

River window

Sand pitch

River has low water level with intermittent sand patches. Bottom of the river was clear with sun light. Most of the time we walked from one sand patch to another. Around 1pm we reached Thummodara. At Thummodara Amban Ganga joins with Mahaweli River.

People visit at Thummodara frequently to spend their leisure time. Ancient Kalinga (කාලිoගය) city and Dasthota (දාස්තොට) Tank are situated in the area marked by Mahaweli River and Amban Ganga.

Thummodara – click to enlarge

Thummodara

View of Thummodara when water level is high-picture was taken 2years ago

A cart crossing Amban Ganga from Wasgamuwa NP.

River brim

After Thummodara, the right hand side of the river bank is marked with Wasgamuwa National Park. Foot marks of Elephants were seen as this was kind of Elephants corridor between Wasgamuwa (වස්ගමුව) and Handapan Willuwa (හදපාන් විල්ලුව).

Handapan Willuwa is situated at left side of the River. This Willuwa is a major feeding place of Elephants. (Refer trip report ).

Elephant foot prints from Wasgamuwa side

Elephant VS Human

A group

Great Sandy River

Mahaweli River and Wasgamuwa Park

.

Gradually we reached the major bend of the river of the section of we walked. Just after passing the major bend we decided to camp for the night. We could notice the foot prints of an Elephant about 500m away from our camp site.

Passing the major bend of the River

Our camp site, major bend of the River and Wasgamuwa NP. – click to enlarge

Dimbulaga (දිඹුලාගල) with it’s Akasa Stupa-ආකාශ ස්තූපය

This was one of the best places I have camped. As water level was not that much deep, we bathed hours and hours. It was not  that much difficult to find fire woods. The day was soon after Poya day. River and banks were bathing in moon light during night. Herd of village buffaloes were bathing in other side of the river. But  they didn’t come close to us due to bonfire.

We were chatting following our dinner and heard the crossing of an Elephant from village side to Wasgamuwa. It looked at our camp fire for a while and then ran through the water to the forest.

Though Elephants are ample in this area, this was the only experience of Elephants we had in this journey.

Sun set over Wasgamuwa

Mahaweli River and front line of Knuckles

Camp fire

The moon

Day 02

Next day early morning we prepared breakfast and had a dip in the river. We start the journey around 8.30am. Dimbulagala was clearly seen with Akasa Chaithya in our back drop.  It reminded me the chapter in River in the Jungle book. As it was a significant thing of this section of the river, they have visited the rock and Yakkure (යක්කුරේ).

In this day wind flow was high and there were good waves on the surface of the water. As we were walking up in the river waves were kind of an obstacle. Gradually Dimbulagala moved away from the scene. We walked further and reached the small bend of the River.

Good Morning…….

Preparing the breakfast

Having a dip

Camp site was cleaned

Moving away from Dimbulagala

Starting the journey back

This section of the River had good water level

It was not easy to see the bottom of the river with waves.

Moving away from Dimbulagala

Water waves

Sometimes water level was high up to my chest level

Walking along the border

Last part of Dimbulagala

Getting the lesser bend

A sand reef in left river bank

After passing the small bend, we had to walk on a straight section where river was full of sand pockets. First time we encountered humans in this journey at this section. Group of people from Yakkure with their children have come to enjoy the river. We had a chat with them for a while and clarified our end point with road towards Nuwaragala.

Next 1-2km till our destination was a straight section of the River. But we were stucked in a muddy patch on Wasgamuwa side closer to our destination. We ended the journey where river joins with it’s feeding canal closer to Damane Wewa (දමනේ වැව) village.

The straight section following small bend

Walking further

A log…

The Great Sandy River

White-bellied Sea Eagle

Children from Yakkure

.	River bank filled with mud

Stuck in mud

At this section river joins with a canal and there was an islet in between canal and River. This was our end point.

Last bath of the journey

Connect to the road to Damanewewa

From the end point there was a clear foot pathway to Damane Wewa village and we passed the elephant fence as well. Then we walked to Nuwaragala and hired a three wheeler to Pallegama (Closer point to Polonnaruwa-Mahiyangana road) to get a bus.

Hope to walk on other sections of Mahaweli River in future.

Thanks for reading.

We catch the Night mail from Pettah on Saturday and it took 8 hours to arrive Idalgashinna railway station. Then the time is around 4.00am. So, we slept on the rest room over there, since the climate is so cold. Even we couldn’t find a rail track also.

Sunday we start our journey around 6.30am after having a good tea from the only retail shop near the railway station. But we couldn’t have our breakfast since there are no bread yet. The bread will come from the Badulu Kumari around 7.45am every day.

So, we start our journey without having our breakfast. First up all we should walk from the top of the tea estate behind the railway station. It is about 250m from ths retail shop. Then we have to downward from the area to the forest. The forest (Hela) is fulfill with trees and rocks. We have to go down by catching the branches. Sometimes you might get fallen due to the ground instability. We went around 150m and found a rocky plain like an entrance to the cave. But that is not the exact place of the cave. It is the top of the cave and we can’t go in since it was covered with heavy rocks.

At Idalgashinna station around 4.00am

Early Morning around Haldummulla and Beragala area

Idalgashinna at morning sunshine

We started our journey

Down the Pallam

Lissana sulu hele bahina eka dangerous

Down the pallam

Gal thalawe harahata yamin

Gal udata nega pena pena yamin

So we went down again and it was little bit dangerous. Because there is no anything to catch and get down. By the way we put our fingers to the soil and came to the original place. OMG! It a amazing place, there is a small entrance and we sat down infront of it. There is no any path from the front of the cave since it is a Hela.

We get in to the cave and captured many pics, but we faced to a big trouble from the naughty bats. There are plenty of bats inside of this cave since it was their home. Nobody come to this cave since last 5 years due to a death of a guy around this place. He died in case of finding this place. This is really hidden from village. Any one can’t see this cave from the downward or upward. Since you come from a helicopter, you could not find this cave. Because there is a huge tree covered this cave from the front.

We spent 2 hours inside of the cave and walked along it. We jumped over the big rocks in side of the cave. We had a wonderful bath from the bats since there are plenty of their dirt. You have to touch rocks, but the all rocks are fulfill with their dirt. There is a small bad smell but you will fell it as a normal thing in few minutes. There are three ways in side of the cave so we explored every where and finally came back to the railway station to catch the train to Colombo at 12:45pm.

Uman kata

Ginimelayak gasa athule inna dangerous sattu elawima

Punchi ginimale

Uman katin pahalata basima

Umaga athule

Umaga athule

Umaga athule

Umaga athule

Umaga athule

Umaga athule

Api	Gal debokkawa

We captured a bat while it running away

Umaga thula newi gal kulu mathin yanawita

Gal kulu medin

Hard working

Peya 3ka research eka awasan karamin

Umaga athule api

Umaga idiripita ihala kotasa

Umaga idiripita ihala kotasa

Umaga idiripita

Newatha hela nagimin

Lassana mal

Meeduma wasagath hela

Meeduma wasagath hela

Idalgashinna at misty

We at there

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The day I saw this expedition on Lakdasun (by Dhammika), I really wanted to do this. But, after reading trip report, I was scared. After doing some research and watching the documentary from ITN (Wenasa), I decided to take the risk, but I don’t want to go alone. I wanted at-least 5 mates, I was sure that Kasun Janaka will join. I have several trips with him. Another mate was Kasun Priyashantha. We had a very good adventurous time at Great Western hike. Only at this trip I first met Shashika (Kasun Priyashantha’s friend). One other person is Ishan Uditha from my current work place also joined. Great team effort.

Planning begins, after reading the trip report by Dhammika I called Methananda, during April 2015, since it was raining heavily, he advised us to go during the dry season; waited. Early July, I and Kasun Janaka decided to do the expedition during later part of July. I confirmed Methananda that we will be coming on 25th July with 5 mates. Tickets booked for night mail train towards Badulla, and left Colombo on 24th. Before leaving we had a discussion what things to be taken; food items, lighting equipment and first aid. On the way to Badulla, I had a coffee on the train, you know something, it cost me 40/=. When I finish drinking the coffee, I realized if I had extra hot water, I could have had another cup, because that mush of coffee power was remain in the cup. Had a nice nap on the train, reached Ella station at around 6:30 am on 25th.

1. Nil Diya Pokuna Cave

Jungle walk……..towards Nil Diya Pokuna….

At the entrance…… having breakfast

We had bun and milk packets from Ella town got into Marata bus which goes from Bandarawella. We got down at 10th mile post and met Methananda. We went to his house and had a change and had tea and ready goJ. From Methananda’s home, we took tuk tuk about a 15 minutes travel from Ella – Wellawaya road. I have attached the KML file from Methananda’s home to ‘Nil Diya Pokuka’ cave entrance. Once get down from tuk tuk, we had a walk for about 15minutes through the jungle and al-last we were at the cave entrance. There, we had our breakfast got ready to move in.

Entrance to Nil Diya Pokuna

Expedition begins…….

Initial steps were easy move on and after that it was very dangerous, one single wrong step, that’s the end of your life. There were some places which was 50-60 feet 90 degree drop. Extreme concentration and control of body is essential.

Easy pathway…….

In some places, we had to rely on ropes to move on and one person at a time.

After going through the easy way, we encountered the first decent. Methananda advised us to slide slowly one by one. You have to take care about yourself, no one there is help. All the rocks are slippery and the floor is muddy. Think twice before each step. I was carrying by small backpack with some basic needs and my DSLR. There were times where I have to squeeze my body between rocks and slide in. During these time I had real trouble with my backpack. I was forced to keep the bag and take only my cam, and same advice was given by Methananda too.

This area is full of bats and flies. The flies are attracted to light, so it will be useful to cover your nose and mouth. Recommended to take a mask that covers your nose and mouth, unless you want to taste some filesJ. Bats were all over the place, few times they banged on my face also. These are the time that you need to be very careful, if try to chase bat when you are descending with the rope, you are deep danger. They are innocent, just don’t care even they banged on you.

And also you must get ready get some bat poops shower , this is un-avoidable.

Descending more in to mother earth….. towards Nil Diya Pokuna

Form here we had to descend further, this was my first extreme cave expedition, at some place it scared me. In my words, if you want to achieve this goal, you must have a very strong mind set team members and self-confidence. All our team members (Kasun Janaka, Kasun Priyashantha, Shashika & Ishan Uditha) are having a hard time descending.

Deep diving more and more……..

Expedition begins…….

After about 1-1/2 hours, we were able to view the spectacular view of the ‘Nil Diya Pokuna’. According to Methananda, the pond is 700-800m from the entrance.

Nil Diya Pokuna

The water was so clean and clear. No words to explain. Everyone should experience this view. I was thirsty, I drank lot of water from the pond and I am still alive.

Nil Diya Pokuna

Nil Diya Pokuna

One of our hiking mate (Kasun Priyashantha) started swimming in the pond. According to his verdict, the water was extremely cold. Even though we could see the bottom of the pond it’s too deep. And he swimmed around the pond and found a secret passage underwater. But we don’t want to talk a risk by exploring.

The Team…….. and the secret passage (right ride of the pond)

It took us about nearly 2hrs to see the pokuna, and we spend about an hour, for photography, swimming and for achievement celebration. During that time, Methananda told about the new mysterious cave that he discovered a week ago. We all decided to give a try.

We started ascending, this took more time that descending.  If I am correct it took more than 2 hrs.

2.  Hulan Kapul Cave

This is a new cave that Methananda and his friend discovered one week ago. One of his friend (from the same village) has noticed that strong wind is blowing out from earth few years back. But up to now, no one had made any attempted to explore. A week ago, Methananda and his friend has explored this new came. They have named as ‘Hulan Kapul Cave’, it’s because from inside strong wind is blowing out. If you drop a leaf at the cave entrance, it will blow out rather falling in. We are proud to be the first team explored with Methananda.

Hulan Kapul Cave…… entrance

The entrance is very very narrow, only a lean person can go in; its 6-7 feet 90 degrees descend. But once go it, the cave is huge in size.

Ishan is struggling to go in…. :-)

Entrance view from inside the cave……

The team is inside……

Extremely dangerous descend…….

Huge hall way………..

Once we came out, we all were dipped in mud bat poopJ. We went to nearby water stream washed and went to Ella station around 4 PM. The mail train is at 6:45 from Demodara, we decided to walk up to Demodara.

In my words, It was surely a life changing & threatening experience J

WARNING !! – The “Nil Diya Pokuna Cave” expedition, should not be attended or tested individually as it is definitely a life threatening activity where a single wrong move will take your very own life as well as the others involved.

The map(we took the opposite route shown by the arrows) – click to enlarge

Previously I did hike from Kalupahana to Ohiya on foot and I wanted to do this on my jeep but I never planned to attempt this in 2015. All started when my friend Dharshana called me and said “machan must go somewhere because I haven’t been anywhere in 8 months”. He had been stuck with his PG degree so was desperate and this was the main reason why we did this plus Amila also joined us on the last moment. We planned to descend because that would be easy for everyone to return back to their desired destinations. The whole ride took 3 ½ hours and we also had a dip on top of Lanka ella to refresh ourselves. The lunch was prepared at Bambarakanda Holiday resort. This would be a picture report so enjoy it and drive safe..

Winding roads at ohiya

Elephant foot

starting point

violet beauty

Udaweria factory to be restored

misty hill country

old direction board

view towards A4 from the factory

A4 zoomed

to be renovated

white beauty

that lovely bunch

African lily

more

captured by amila

icy cold

tall trees

better than the rest of the road

seen on a light post

rough map

ascending devils stair way

crossing the gap

ah they got some chocolates

mountain forest

it was misty

antique

view towards Udawalawe

unique

kichi kichi delica

hard life

faces

i love these

ah a clear view

towards kuragala

wow

scenic

a silent day

siblings

gommolliya covered

my beast

glimpse of lanka ella

lovely

this was a dream

Thanks Amila de Silva for the pic

Yahalatenna was lovely

V cut

ah the road was well paved from here onwards

kalthota plains

extremely dry August

trail to lanka ella

heaven

scenic

where we had a bath

standing tall

looking back and saying good bye

Hi there, hope everything is well with you. Now that you’ve read the title of this article, there’s no point in me trying to beat about the bush in a vain attempt to surprise you. I guess you’ve already see the video journey of this as well so let’s get straight into business, shall we? If you’ve clicked on the link given on Ulex, you might have a fair idea as to what it really is. It’s believed that this was introduced by the English or rather Scottish during the colonial period around 1800s as an ornamental plant in their gardens in and around Nuwara Eliya. After some time this got spread into Horton Plains, of course after Samuel Baker had killed all the elephants in the area.

Let me quote Wikipedia for what Ulex is just to give a brief introduction what it really is.

“Ulex (gorse, furze or whin) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises about 20 species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae. The species are native to parts of Western Europe and northwest Africa, with the majority of species in Iberia.

Gorse is closely related to the brooms, and like them, has green stems and very small leaves and is adapted to dry growing conditions. However it differs in its extreme thorniness, the shoots being modified into branched thorns 1–4 centimeters (0.39–1.57 in) long, which almost wholly replace the leaves as the plant’s functioning photosynthetic organs. The leaves of young plants are trifoliate, but in mature plants they are reduced to scales or small spines. All the species have yellow flowers, generally showy, some with a very long flowering season.

The most widely familiar species is common gorse (Ulex europaeus), the only species native to much of western Europe, where it grows in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils. It is also the largest species, reaching 2–3 meters (7–10 ft) in height; this compares with typically 20–40 centimetres (7.9–15.7 in) for Western Gorse (Ulex gallii). This latter species is characteristic of highly exposed Atlantic coastal heathland and montane habitats. In the eastern part of Great Britain, dwarf furze (Ulex minor) replaces western gorse. Ulex minor grows only about 30 centimeters (12 in) tall, a habit characteristic of sandy lowland heathland.

Common gorse flowers a little in late autumn and through the winter, coming into flower most strongly in spring. Western Gorse and Dwarf Furze flower in late summer (August-September in Ireland and Great Britain). Between the different species, some gorse is almost always in flower, hence the old country phrase: “When gorse is out of blossom, kissing’s out of fashion”. Gorse flowers have a distinctive coconut scent, experienced very strongly by some individuals, but weakly by others.

Common gorse is also an invasive species in the montane grasslands of Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka.”

Ok, hope you’ve got a better idea now. Right, it’s been a great threat for the Horton Plains ever since it got mixed up with the flora and fauna of HP. When I visited HP in 2000 (since then 21 times to date), there was no sign of Ulex even though I had no idea about its name the look of it must’ve made a big impression had it been there in abundance. However I first noticed this after about 5 years and since then heard that there were groups doing projects to control its growth to no avail as there was no consistency in those projects.

I’m sure you might have come across theories by many pundits claiming the usefulness of Ulex in many of their theories. Most of these pundits (as Ana rightly put armchair critics) haven’t even been to HP to see the real danger posed by the Ulex. It was as if fighting the terrorists from AC rooms in Colombo. The biggest theory is that Rhino Horned Lizards take shelter in these plants and nest in them. Well how did they survive before these were introduced? HP is not the only place where they live so how do they survive where there is no Ulex? Why the wildlife department is so anxious to get rid of them if they were that useful? So we decided to leave all the theories behind and take some action instead. As Sash rightly put in the forum under the Video Journey, “It’s better to light a single candle than blaming the dark” which is exactly what we had in mind.

It was during one of those casual chit-chats that this idea of doing something about Ulex came up. By then I had climbed Kirigalpoththa 3 times (KGP) within 18 months and had seen the fast and furious spread of Ulex covering the path at many places. So Ana as usual spotted the benefit this would give to the HP and pursued it further exploring ideas. Finally after a few dozen emails and hours of phone conversations we managed to find the best possible way.

Before everything else, Ana and Dr. D went to DWL (Department of Wildlife) office to present our proposal and get their approval. Our proposal was received with positive attitude and was given the green light to go ahead. We received the approval in black and white and managed to find our lodgings in the good old Anderson Lodge aka Ginihiriya Bungalow. Ana managed to stay up till midnight and book the place despite that particular time was a busy and long weekend. The dates were fixed on 31 Jul to 02 Aug. the group consisted of 9 people (after a lot of shuffling) which I’ve mentioned above. We had to take two vehicles and used Ana’s SUV and Atha’s car and were all set for an early departure on the Esala Full Moon Poya Day.

Day 1

As usual we left at 3am and drove towards Hatton. I was with Atha, Prasa and Sachi in the lead vehicle while Ana and the others trailed us about 15 minutes behind. The roads were empty except for a vehicle or two that were carrying the enthusiastic travellers to their holiday destinations. However the Sri Lankan tourists don’t even bother hitting the road till late in the morning. The dawn arrived slowly when we reached Hatton but we didn’t stop for a break. Even the beauty of Devon or the sorrow look of St. Claire couldn’t yield enough strength for us to pull over.

Mobile phones kept us in contact and we drove through Nanu Oya and Meepilimana before arriving at the Kande Ela. This was our rendezvous point for breakfast. While Ana and the gang were coming, we used the time for a comfy break and enjoy the breath-taking scenery unfolding before our eyes. Morning air revived our parched lungs having been battered by the poisonous fumes in Colombo. My tummy was growling signaling he couldn’t wait any longer for breakfast but we had very little choice but to wait for Ana.

Finally they arrived and we busily unloaded the buttered sliced bread, homemade fish cutlets and boiled eggs with salt and pepper. As the first mouthful of bread, cutlet and eggs hit the tummy, it stopped complaining and started giggling like a school girl. Ok, while we savor our delicious and sumptuous breakfast, you could enjoy some pictures. Here they are:

Good Morning!

Reflection on the placid water

Not sure if they use it

Can see the newly built FD Bungalow among the trees

With a steaming cup of coffee

After a strong cup of instant coffee, we resumed our journey. By now the sun was up and about we could enjoy the lush greenery of the Ambewela farm and surrounding. Windmills of the Ambewela farm kept circling in a slow pace generating more clean energy for the national grid. If only we could harvest the energy generated from the wind, sea waves and the sun, there wouldn’t be any need for killing the beautiful waterfalls, dangerous atomic power or harmful burning of coals and fossil fuels. If only the super powers put in more resources to experiment on them than arming with more nuclear missiles for the so-called WWIII. I know it’s just wishful thinking but I’m not gonna stop dreaming all the same.

Passing Ambewela and Pattipola stations which have given us sweet memories, we entered the forestry road towards HP. Still the road was pretty much isolated saying two things. The first that those who wanted to see the true beauty (I can safely say almost all of them are foreigners) of the morning had already reached the HP and the later comers are still struggling to get up from their warm beds (almost all of them are Sri Lankans). We reached the gate and went into to buy the tickets for our vehicles.

No vehicles?

From the ticket counter

The concrete slab path

Tiny pond off the entrance

Oh, me

The road to the heaven

Afterwards we met the park warden at the gate and went into talk to him. Unfortunately neither us nor Wildlife HQ forgot to inform the HP park that we were coming despite having granted permission in black and white. We were of course not aware of the fact that we had to inform them and were under the impression a copy of the permission would’ve been sent to HP. Well we should’ve anticipated the typical government work pattern and found the park warden was not expecting us. He said that only a fraction of the number of groups that offer to come clear the Ulex turn up so they’re kind of skeptical and wary of such requests. Again typical habits of our fellow countrymen. He said he could’ve arranged a few of the workers in advance as this was a busy weekend and the HP is usually bustling with tourists both local and foreign during weekends especially at long ones. We were inexperienced gardeners to be honest and couldn’t remember when we used one of the gardening tools so it required a bit of getting used to as well. To make matters worse, Ulex has these vicious thorns that rip at your flesh so we need to learn how to get at them without injuring ourselves as well.

We felt a pang of disappointment go over us but the park warden asked us to go report to the Farr Inn and find what we could do. So with very little hope we reached the Farr Inn and met our initial contact person, Sameera the assistant park warden. There were hundreds of vehicles already parked and we had a tough time finding parking but Sameera allowed us use their official car park. He welcomes us warmly and promised to allocate one of the rangers and two workers. Finally some good news so we got ourselves organized wearing long-sleeved t-shirts and cargo pants to protect us from the prickly thorns and used hat to shield from the sun. Most importantly Atha had brought thick gloves to use which came in real handy. We got together and marched towards the site where we were to combat these detrimental invasive plants.

Towards Thotupola

Side of the Farr Inn where they’ve opened a new cafe to cater for the overwhelming crowd

The team

Closer look

Off they go

Sameera is next to Tony

Grasslands

Pointed peak is the KGP

Where the trail to KGP starts and we had to clear the left flank

Just look at that invasion by Ulex

We are getting ready

Ok, let’s get sorted

Attacking the Ulex

We were given the left flank of the trailhead towards KGP to clear and chose a stretch about 60-70ft long and decided to go deep into the forest clearing them. We had a couple of machetes to hack the branches, long-handled Kethi to get at the base of the plant from a safe distance and spikes to remove the roots. We then used the rakes to collect and put the branches away. Everyone got their own job and we were asked by the ranger Harsha to pile them up on the right flank of the trail to for them to wither so that their workers can easily remove them. There are no leaves in Ulex but thorns. It’s full of green thorns and there’s a beautiful yellow flower. A plant can grow as tall as 6-8 feet and is a thick gorse bush with a diameter as large as 12ft in some cases. There’s no room for any other plant especially the grass which is favored by the Sambar.

You’ll surprise at the number of invasive plants in HP. Did you know that beautiful red flowers known as “Ashoka” plants are an invasive species? We didn’t and there are other plants such as “Maha Bovitiya” with a gorgeous purple flower and “Butter Cup” with that tiny yellow flower. Even the tiny plant with a beautiful white flower known as “Sudu Binara” is also an invasive plant. I took a picture of it during my last hike to KGP last April. It’s not all and there’s another fern like plant known as “Werella” which is the second largest invasive species found at HP after Ulex. Even the thick bushy grass found on the open plains is an invasive species and it grows so fast over the tiny green grass eaten by the Sambar reducing their grazing lands.

“Oh my gosh, then what’s left of HP if we discount these invasive plants?” is sure to be your question and it was mine too. There had been no or very little conservation efforts at our national parks allowing them to be grabbed by these invasive plants and the situation has become critical and done an irreparable damage already. So we need to act and act fast before they are fully covered with these useless invasive plants killing all the endemic plants and wildlife. Not only that, we’ll soon run out of the water sources at this rate as many of these invasive plants use a large volume of water. HP is one if not the largest of the catchment area of Sri Lanka that feed many rivers constantly throughout the year. We need to protect it like our eyes and lives.

Ok, now my team is busily hacking at the Ulex with the help of Harsha, one of the rangers and two workers Kannan and Naga. Even Sameera came in and helped clear some of the bushes despite his busy schedule at the office. He said that there are over 600 vehicles coming to HP at busy days and one day they’d recorded more than 700. That’s a lot of them and I wonder if the HP can withstand that much abuse from them. Tony teamed up with Atha and Kannan and got things going while Sheham, Harsha and Saching started in the middle while Prasa, Pritz and Naga started proceedings from the end. Ana, D and I kept helping clear the cut and uprooted plants and pile them on the right flank. Ok here are some pictures for you.

Getting geared up

Final instructions

What we have to destroy

Got some nice flowers as well

There closer look but look at those vicious thorns

Seedlings that spread it around

Off they go

The first one

With the prize, a huge gorse bush

The others, already the first line of defense gone

Thick gloves protecting from the fiery thorns

Digging deep for the roots

After about an hour and a half, we stopped for a tea break. None of us had used a gardening tool in the recent past so it was like an alien experience for us. Fortunately the gloves kept us from getting boils in our palms. Nevertheless the Ulex thorns managed to penetrate our clothing and gloves and prick us every now and then making us wince with pain. Our fingers and hands are better at tapping away at computers rather than hacking away at rugged plants such as Ulex. We soon got the hang of the techniques employed by Naga and Kannan and cleared quite a large area. You need to have long handled Kethi and attacked at the base of the trunk from a safe distance and cut it and fell the tree. Then comes the clearing crew and take the tree from the trunk or use a rake to drag it way. Sometimes you have to cut the branches first before getting at the base.

Then we used spikes to get at the roots. Ulex has a very complex set of roots spreading all over and it took a tedious effort to get them off the earth further reducing its regrowth capabilities. After a short tea break and a bit of chit chat we got back on the job. The sun made it real tough for us and we had to take constant breaks. Naga and Kannan were unfazed by the unforgiving conditions and kept on going. Here are some more pictures.

Checking the sharpness and ready for tea

Trying to rob the tea

Much needed break

Ok, back to work

Getting at the base

Can you see the edge is free of Ulex now?

Tony and Kannan, a good combination

Here close up of them digging up the roots

After about another one and half hour we stopped work for the day. We had gone about 15ft into the forest and had cleared a considerably larger area. We realized the difference of the look comparing before and after the clearing. Feeling happy we stocked our equipment in the storage and bid farewell to our friends and Sameera promising to get back on the following day at 7am. The circular trail was full of people and the car park was extended along the roads of Pattipola and Ohiya with a long line parked either side. We had a tough time getting out of the parking lot and managed to get on the road. Unlike Pattipola road, Ohiya was very calm and had very few vehicles. Pattipola looked busier than the 4-lane Galle Road. This was heading for a major issue that I can tell you for free.

What a difference from the morning?

Sachin, the one-man group

Pritz doing the clean up

Prasa and Naga chopping up

The pile is getting bigger

Trying to send it over the midwicket boundary

Bones of a Sambar

Kept going

Not a branch was left

That spike was very heavy to handle

They kept going in towards the forest patch

Another prize for Pritz

Water break before the end of work

Done for the day

Tony showing the clearing we’ve made

There goes Ana

Weary faces

Getting back

Here we go

After about 3-4 hours labor

KGP in the distance saying “Thank you”

Pritz and D

Look at the area we cleared, it was full of Ulex in the morning

The withering plants which were cut before

KGP through the trees

Our equipment

Just getting a bit relaxed

Taking the inventory

Going to store them

Final pose before going to the bungalow

Good bye Farr Inn

We arrived at the familiar Ginihiriya Bungalow and found Abeysinghe busily clearing the bungalow. We settled in and had hot water baths thanks to the solar powered units. After a snack lunch of breakfast leftovers, we took a small nap. Our bodies were used to trekking but not for gardening work so they ached all over. Later Park Warden and Sameera visited us to inquire about the day’s events. We then explained them of our plans and they seemed pleased enough. Initially the park warden seemed quite wary of us being able to do any work at all as our group consisted of many rotund bodies that didn’t quite convince of being able to walk half a km let alone cut down Ulex. Now after talking with Sameera he had apparently a different view and was friendlier than before. He then left saying he was going for vacation leaving Sameera in charge and we promised to resume our work the following morning.

In the afternoon, after a hot cup of tea we took a short walk along the road. We couldn’t do much as the clouds gathered and we heard distant thunder making us swiftly turn around and head back to the bungalow. There was a new visitor at the bungalow, a little monkey on the roof looking curiously at us. There was a family of mongoose and a jungle fowl towards the back of the bungalow as well. However those black monkeys we saw last time were not there. Maha Bovitiya was as usual full of gorgeous purple flowers and we didn’t even feel this was an invasive plant.

Here we are

We had lots of hot water due to the weather

The road towards the main road

Front

Beauties

Maha Bovitiya, a sexy and deep purple, can’t even think it’s an invasive plant

Buds	Full of them

Simply gorgeous

Out for a walk

Endless grasslands

Can you see the KGB in the distance?

Here	Shapely trees

Artistic branches

Dead tree art, one of my favorite things to photograph

Some more

Black Eagle hovering above us

It’s nice and isolated compared to Pattipola road

Smiling faces after a wash and a hearty meal

One of my pics too

Not looking good so heading back

Just amazing

Here’s more

Found by accident

The stranger at the bungalow

Found something to eat

Spotted us

Got a scratch

Continue eating

We passed time playing cards and having a chit-chat until the dinner was served at 7pm. Gosh, it was one of the best meals I’d ever had and we ate like refugees from South Sudan. Abeysinghe can cook like a dream and when it coupled with the cold climate at HP, you can kill rice as the old folk saying goes. The moon looked exactly described in fairy tales like a golden plate full of glowing gold ore. The shape of the rabbit was prominent and we saw the moon rising up through the branches of trees. We wanted to stay up and enjoy the beauty but the temperature dropped to 12 Celsius warning if we stayed out any longer, it’s gonna be a painful experience. So we got back indoors and were under covers by 8.30pm.

I slept like a log until a distant roar woke me up around 1.30am and was wondering if the leopard had taken another prey. HP officials said that the previous night a leopard had killed a wild boar and tried to take it up a tree while they watched behind the Farr Inn. About two days ago Harsha had seen a leopard with two cubs strolling away in front of their quarters near the dormitory while he was polishing his shoes around 6.30am. The stretch between the Pattipola ticket counter and Maha Eliya bungalow is famous for leopard sightings. “You won’t get to see any of them in the dark” I muttered to my curious self and went back to sleep until as usual Ana and others’ shuffling around woke me around 5am.

Day 2

I went out to see the moon in its final descent following the trajectory of the sun. He looked bigger than ever probably due to us being closer to him than those who at mean sea level. I managed to take a couple of pictures before we all washed and sat down for another hearty meal. I was surprised to have found room after the heavy dinner. We then all packed into Ana’s SUV leaving the car to take a break and headed for HP to commence our second day’s work.

Just look at that

When I shot with a slower shutter speed

Looks like a golden plate

Going below the tree line

Just before

Giant ferns in front of the bungalow

Dead trees

A rare sight of Ana with longs

Jam-packed into the back of the SUV

We arrived back at HP to find already a lot of vehicles parked. Sameera was already at office so we got the storeroom opened and collected our equipment and went towards our clearing area while we waited for two helpers from yesterday Naga and Kannan to come.

Farr Inn waiting for us

Had to wait for a long time to take a clear shot at it

Sun slowly coming up

Illuminating the tops of ferns

Back of the Farr Inn

Getting warmed up

Backlit

Plenty of these around similar to Japanese Ikebana style

We started our work and now that we’ve got the hang of it, we made good progress clearing deeper into the forest patch. The area slowly became clear of the thorny Ulex leaving only the occasional Ashoka plants among the grassy undergrowth. It’d gone 8.30am when Kannan and Naga appeared by then we had made good progress and deep inroads.

Ok, I’ll let you see the pictures of how we got on about the job than reading through it. Here they are till we finished the work for the day around half past 12 noon. When we checked at the end we had cleared a strip of about 60-70ft by 40-50ft so roughly around 3000 square feet. Compared to the whole of the area covered with Ulex, this is nothing but hopefully after reading my account, there’ll be more nature lovers coming into join the attack against Ulex. Come take this baton from where we ended and take it all the way to the finishing line.

From where we left

Here they go

Ana digging deeper

Atha and Tony

There’s Sheham

Pritz as usual doing the clean up

Prasanna took up Naga’s job

Thick gorse bushes

You need that kind of long handled Kethi

Now so much clear of Ulex

Trio got together to uproot them

Big effort

Sheham looking around the Ashoka roots for anything left

Harsha joined us

Now deep into the forest

You need that amount of strength

Digging it in

More to go

The sun made things nasty for us

See the pile on the right flank getting higher and higher

“Go for it”

1st look at that root

Now we are about 30ft from where we started

D kept digging up the roots along the trail

Tony and Sachi uprooting more

Prasa covered from head to toe

The tea break

See how tired we were, by the way, one couldn’t have stayed like this before our clean up coz this was full of Ulex

Taking a long break

Oh, selfie time

The first and only injury when Atha pricked near the eyebrow

The Cow Boy without the Horse

Just look at the cleared area

Back to work

Many more to be dragged along

Now it’s time to take the roots out

It’s endless

Naga into action

We felt happier every time we saw the amount of plants destroyed

Tony kept going with Kannan

Atha and Ana with the help of D

Time to call it a day

Sheham’s solar charger

Can you see the area clear of Ulex now?

Just a pleasing sight to the eye

Ok, time to go and hopefully we’ll do another clean up again

See ya

It was a far busier day at HP than yesterday. The vehicle line stretched as far as the Pattipola entrance and people got stuck in the middle of the road with no means of going here or there. I guess there has to be a proper planning of the vehicles and more space for parking especially at busy periods like these. Getting tickets from Pattipola counter is worse than a nightmare as only one counter was working and people parked their vehicles wherever they wanted blocking all the others adding more to the chaos. There were so many 2-doors Leyland buses too and I wonder how on earth they maneuvered around the narrow road with sharp bends. Heavily understaffed HP could do very little but ride with the flow.

We got back to the bungalow and devoured our lunch and instead of taking a nap decided to take a walk towards the Ohiya entrance. Ohiya was very calm and nice compared to the maddening Pattipola entrance. We found a green lizard (in fact a Black-Lipped Lizzard aka Calotes Nigrilabris, a species endemic to Sri Lanka) overrun by one of the speeding vehicles closer to Ohiya entrance and she had three of her eggs popped out of her belly and broken. It was a very sad seen but there was very little we could do about her. Afterwards we walked back to the bungalow and as usual passed time till dinner.

The following day morning Ana and his team would leave for Colombo while Atha, Prasa, Sachin and I did the circular trail. Oh I forgot to tell you before that Sachin hadn’t been to HP before so we decided to reward him with the circular trail and I too hadn’t done it for a long time. So it’ll be tomorrow morning and we’re gonna sleep now. Good night!

It was gloomy but we took to the road

Isolated

Dead trees

More

We had it for us

There the lizard mother I told you about

A real tragedy

Colorful

Tiny young leaves

See the frog?

In the evening sun

Towards Kalupahana

Time to go back

Had to take this one too

This is near the bungalow

Where’s our team?

All indoors coz the temperature was below 15 Celsius

Day 3

We got up as usual in the morning and got ready to leave. The jungle fowl that roams the ground came to see us off and bid a warm farewell but asked for us to visit again. The long lost black monkeys appeared after they heard we were at Ginihiriya so came in a big group to say hello. They were very sad to see us go on the same day though. After a hearty breakfast we bid farewell to Abeysinghe and left. In the meantime we said goodbye to Ana and the crew as well coz we’d be waiting a little longer than them at this wonderful place. So they left us and we drove slowly towards the Farr Inn but not before you see these pictures.

The morning sun fell on them

Golden

Hurray, the black monkeys are back

Looking at us

Having a bit

The jungle fowl

Curious fellow

Looking for something

Asking us to leave her in peace

Our group

Before one group left

She too came to see us off

Sambar Show

We were treated with beautiful clear views and found a group of Sambar (many females and one male) grazing lazily at the dew-covered young blades of grass. We enjoyed their company a lot and spent about 15 minutes watching them. Here you too take a piece of our encounter.

On our way

Towards Gon Molliya

Zoomed in

Here they are

Many females

Grazing around

Looking towards the forest

The sole male

Liked the way they were

Just look at that

Giving us tongue the

Gorgeous pair of horn

Again giving the tongue

Circular Trail

We started our trail and walked through the rigorous checking procedure which is really good. We walked happily but already a lot of people had entered the park but alas no Sri Lankans apart from us. That was something unique about us I guess. We entered the Red Bridge area and found Ulex has invaded this area as well and spreading menacingly. It proved what we achieved is just a mere triumph compared to the extent of its invasion. A lot of work still to be done and hopefully HP will get more support in the future.

We arrived at the trail separation point and headed straight downhill towards the Baker’s Falls or Gonagala Ella in Sinhala. I’d rather call it Gonagala Ella than a killer’s name but as it’s the most commonly known name, I’ll just let it go. After descending along the paved path, we reached another significant place known as Chimney Pond. There’s a campsite also next to it with a built in toilet. There was a group of campers already up and waiting for the sun to appear to get out of their comfy and warm tents. There was a thin layer of mist hung in the air and the sky looked laden with heavy clouds threatening to come crashing down. We had no protection if it rained but it held and soon the clear blue skies appeared ahead with sun coming up beating the clouds to a thin pulp. Some pictures anyone?

Farr Inn once again

After years on the circular trail

Near the Red Bridge and Ulex has overcome most of tiny bamboo plants here

The team except Prasa

The circular trail map

Endless grasslands

The path has eroded so much since my first visit in 2000, fifteen years ago

Beautiful bamboo which used to be jumbos’ favorite with Nelu

A thick fog invading us

Chimney pond in the morning

Not a lot of water and the campsite is beside her

The old trail used to run along that cement damn

Mist crept up on us

Beautiful, ain’t she?

Typical Ashoka Plants and they too are an invasive one

Breath-taking

There were many people along the road but had to wait for a long time to take a clear one

Either side

The sun managed to overpower the clouds and mist

Some clear blue skies

Another concrete slab bridge ahead

Here it is

A groupie

To the infinity

Now the crows getting a bit less

The stream that feeds Gonagala Ella parallel to us

Amazing color combination

Another

Through narrow bits

More dead tree artwork

Lone red beauty standing closer to water

The path to the high heaven

Endless

The stream taking turns

Buds of Ashoka

Another

Young leaves

A loner along the road

To the distance

World’s End is that way

Gonagala Ella

Afterwards, it was a straight run toward the forest patch where Gonagala Ella stays hidden. The water stream that feeds the Belihul Oya ran parallel to the path on our right. There were quite a number of foreigners either coming from Gonagala Ella having done the circular trail from the other side or some went past us at a faster pace. We just took it nice and slow savoring the beauty unraveling before us. The greenery took many shades and met with the tree line before giving way to the sky full of white clouds. Morning air chilled our bare skin but it brought a nice aroma of the grasslands.

Finally we arrived at the Gonagala Ella and went down the concreted path towards the falls. The path now is fully built of concrete steps in order to avoid it being washed down in the rains. There was a good amount of water but I’ve seen her rich and more beautiful. However being satisfied with what we saw, we got down to the base of her where all of the falls could be seen. Thanks to the steps taken by the HP officials we saw very little garbage strewn about so hats off to their tough but necessary steps to protect this place. Still some ignorant travellers had been careless to leave some garbage and plastic bottles behind.

I can remember it used to be that they’d allow a water bottle to be taken into the park but would put a note against the guests name so that when they return they have to show it to the officers at the gate otherwise there was a fine to be paid. It looks as if this was no longer in place probably due to the large volume of travellers. There were garbage pits full of plastic bottles which meant this was no longer the case. I hope they’d reintroduce it to avoid people being careless. Just before getting out of the forest patch we saw a wood pigeon but couldn’t get a better view.

Path down to the Gonagala Ella

There she is with very little water

Closing in

Portrait

Upper part

Centre part

Main section

Full section

Base pool

Top of the falls

Looking towards the left

Just got down here

Clear view

Looking at the main section

Lower base pool

From the lower base

Base pool and you can get down here carefully

Zooming in

All the way

This had more water but it’d look absolutely stunning when in full flow

The stream goes downhill

There’s another small falls beyond but not reachable

The wood pigeon I told you about

Last Stretch before the World’s End

The clear blue skies offered grandeur views than I’ve ever seen before. It felt like a lifetime since I’ve been on this trail but I could remember every spot as they’re etched in my brain. We kept walking passing many tourists on our way. The open terrain with its uneven shapes full of many different shades of green and yellow looked splendid. The dew on the blades of grass glittered like silver against the rays.

The path looked well-used and at places had eroded due to the water flowing along it creating deep craters. For the first time we saw a dog about 1km before the HP walking along the grass banks sniffing at this and that. Oh my gosh, what this is all coming to? First crows and now a dog at HP? How on earth it came all this way was a mystery to us all. Had it walked along the Non Pareil Trail from Nagrak or taken another path was a puzzle? We just carried on and reached the mighty drop of World’s End and all the fairy tales like stories came flooding back to me which I’d heard when I was a kid. Some of those stories said that one could see the Balangoda town from World’s End but now I’ve been to it and Nagrak division; find them to be just fairy tales nothing else.

Came out of the forest patch

Magnificent views

Here the path had washed away quite a lot

Crystal clear water

Away it flows

More to go

Can’t get enough of this

Stream followed us

The path and distant visitors

Looking back

The blades of grass were rustling in the wind

The path has lost its shape

The path eroded

See up close

Much much more to see

Flat terrain

Here the doggie

Many airliners cross HP

My team ahead of me

The bridge over water source

Close up

Crossed over

Bamboo plants bordering the water course

A cloud chased us

Closer now and see the road is well below

Blades of grass

Looking back towards where we came from

Ok, only 100m or more

World’s End

We arrived at the beautifully cleared location and could see as far as the eye could see. Somewhat dried up Samanalawewa Reservoir looked just like some endemic species of a butterfly and the water looked emerald green. Gon Molliya Range in front looked dark green and we could see the Non Pareil Estate below very clear. The estate road winding up towards Nagrak Bungalow looked like a long recoiling snake.

There was a group of Chinese tourists posing quite dangerously closer to the edge and I remembered the Dutch bloke who fell last February but miraculously survived until he was rescued by a group of Sinha Regiment soldiers on a training. I’ve been to HP now 21 times and must’ve been to the World’s End at least two third of the times but this was by far the best clear view. It was a treat to the eye and we enjoyed it to the fullest. Ok while you enjoy these beautiful pictures, we’re gonna start walking towards the Mini World’s End.

Here we are

Edge of Gon Molliya

Full coverage

Crystal clear view

Zooming in on Samanalawewa

Just look at that

Breath-taking

At the edge

See the Non Pareil Estate below

Close up

Another

Nagarak is beyond this

Never seen such clarity

Now some clouds

Here I am

Sharp edge

Sheer drop

Bright colors

This I love

Mini World’s End

We started walking and met the first batch of local tourists coming towards the World’s End. So they’re up and kicking at last. The path was sheltered somewhat from the trees and we saw the old man’s beard clinging onto the branches lovingly. It’s about 1.75km between the two drops and we reached there in about an hour. The view was still breath-taking and we saw the drop beyond the Gon Molliya towards Wangedigala too. So now that we’ve been either side of the Gon Molliya Range at Bambarakanda and Nagrak, the only place to go is the Gon Molliya itself.

We saw the old path that ran over the edge between the two drops now blocked and it’s been blocked for the past 10 years or so when a foreigner (if I’m not mistaken) fell through the bamboo cover into the gorge. Since then this was covered and it is a real pity as this was probably the most scenic trails in the whole world and on a clear day like this it’d have been spectacular. The first time I came to HP in 2000, we took the left hand trail at the fork and reached the Mini World’s End. Not knowing that this was the Mini World’s End (there were no sign boards then) we turned back (again not knowing this was a circular trail) and returned to the Farr Inn boasting to my school friends that we went to the World’s End. However in 2001, we returned to find that we were badly misled and even took the overhead path along the edge and that was an experience I’ve in my mind forever. I was lucky to use that trail for 2 times and wish we could do it more.

Towards Mini World’s end

The path is in bad shape

This towards KGP

The closed path I told you about

Same view

Clear still

Were lucky to see this

Well the road below we used to go to Nagrak

This is what I told you about Balathuduwa or Wangedigala

Back to Farr Inn

Feeling mesmerized by the sheer beauty, we walked on and after about another hour reached the Farr Inn. Seeing the Ulex on the side of the trail made me wanna stay long and cut them down but I had to be realistic. So we returned and went to speak to Sameera. Both he and Harsha came to bid us farewell and we promised to look him up if we came again.

Something like pre-historic

Just look at that

Looking back

Now the wide and easy bit

Met on the way

Shady and gorgeous

Little more

Getting closer to the circular trail head

After this bend

The plant at the bottome is Werella, another invasive one

There goes Atha

Sharp needles of Ulex

Black-lipped Lizard aka Calotes Nigrilabris

Hiding from us

Where we were

Other side

Time to say good-bye

Just keep this in mind, you have to help take them off

We got back on the road and drove towards Pattipola where we ate delicious Roti with Lunu Miris and Wadei. We felt stupid not to have packed some of the breakfast but it was too late by then. Finally having driven through many towns, we reached Colombo around 8pm about 5 hours after our friends. Well it took us about 5 hours to do the circular trail.

So folks you’d surely wanna see some of the Panos, wouldn’t you? I’m not gonna disappoint you. Here they are.

Pano 1

Pano 2

Pano 3

Pano 4

Pano 5

Pano 6

Pano 7

Pano 8

Pano 9

Pano 10

Pano 11

Pano 12

Pano 13

Pano 14

Well that’s about it from me and this was the first conservation effort we carried out as a group. Of course we did one before at the last Lakdasun gathering at Muthurajawela last March. Hope you guys enjoyed our project and this will inspire you to do more in the future for the benefit of our forests and national parks.

This is Sri saying goodbye and request you to join in the conservation efforts as often as possible. Remember don’t wait for that ideal moment when you get all your friends to join you or wait for the perfect weather or other things. Just get together whoever wants to join and do whatever you can no matter how little it really is. This world needs doers not armchair critics who try to turn things around in their headaches. Contribute to this environment not only with your theories but also with actions that will go a long way.

Take care!