| Year and Month | 2014 July 26th and 27th |
| Number of Days | 02-Part of three days trip |
| Crew | 05 Myself, Harinda, Ashan, Amila, Sadaruwan |
| Accommodation |
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| Transport | By bus |
| Activities | Photography and Just travelling |
| Weather |
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| Route | Colombo -> Rathnapura -> Kalawana -> Pothupitiya (පොතුපිටිය) -> Rakwana (රක්වාන) (After visiting at Ilumbekanda Duwili Falls) -> Sooriyakanda (සූරියකන්ද) -> Morning side -> Sooriyakanda -> Embilipitiya -> Colombo. |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Related Resources | |
| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
My morning side trip is a long awaited one and finally arranged for two days. After finishing our blood donation journey to Ilumbekanda Duwili Falls Amila, Sanadaruwan and I stayed the night at Rakwana. Ashan joined with us in next day morning at Rakwana from Moneragala.
First we travelled to Kadamuduna from Rakwana to visit at Sooriyakanda and Sinharaja Buddhist Hermitage. On the way we enjoyed 10hair pin bends at Buluthota (බුලුතොට). Harinda came all the way from Colombo by his bike and joined with us at Sinharaja Buddhist Hermitage
 Bridge is under renovation |
 Passing Buluthota ten hair pin bends |
 The byroad at right hand side at Kadamuduna to Sinharaja Buddhist Hermitage and Sooriyakanda |
Sinharaja Buddhist Hermitage
We visited at Sinharaja Buddhist Hermitage and then followed the foot pathway towards ancient cave situated within the premises of hermitage. The place where they plan to build new Buddha statue provides nice surrounding view. When we were coming down from the temple we noticed a beautiful pool which is used by estate owners in their visit. Though this area is popular for bird watching we didn’t see many birds.
 Junction of the road. Red arrow is the direction to Sooriyakanda Towers. Black arrow to Hermitage |
 Entering to the Sinharaja Buddhist Hermitage |
 Nowadays most valuable tree in Sri Lanka |
 This hermitage functions as a Pirivena also |
 Beautiful foot pathway towards ancient cave. Good site for bird watching |
 Common tree I have seen this area |
 Ancient cave |
 Snapped behind it |
 Old Buddha statue and manmade pond |
 Stupa |
 Hariya is entering the scene |
 The place where new Buddha statue is built. This provides a good surrounding view |
 Rakwana Town zoomed |
 Kabaragala 2 is seen. (1291m) |
 Nearby tea estate called Aigborth estate |
 Pool used by Estate owners |
 Sinharaja rain forest |
Harinda provided transport facilities to us by his bike to transmission towers of Sooriyakanda. There are three transmission towers situated there: SLT, SLRC and ITN. This is not the peak of Sooriyakanda. At this place you can have a good panoramic view with blowing wind. Famous Sooriyakanda burial is also situated close to SLRC towers (later I knew). No need to permission to go there but if you visit at one of transmission towers then need permission. This is 4km walk.
 Transmission towers at Sooriyakanda |
 View of Gongala (ගොන්ගල)-highest mountain of Sabaragamuwa Mountain range. Sooriyakanda occupies government transmission towers in contrast Gongala is the place for transmission towers of privet channels |
 Where we came |
 Sooriyakanda peak (1310m) is behind SLT tower |
 Kadamuduna (කඩමුදුන) Holiday Bungalow made during colonial age |
Turning point of Kadamuduna to Sooriyakanda is situated about 2km before Sooriyakanda town. We bought necessary things for cooking from Sooriyakanda town and hired 2 three wheelers to reach the starting point of 7km walking to Morning side bungalow. This road starts about 2km from Sooriyakanda town towards Deniyaya.
Walking to Morning side bungalow is first through the Carlton tea estate and then through the forest was a nice experience. Gongala-highest peak of Sabaragamuwa Mountain range was seen and southern plateau was visible beyond that. Road may get confusion at two sites. One is within initial 2kms. At this junction road divided and we had to follow right side one. Last junction was just before Morning side bungalow. Initial part was a continuous ascend through tea estate and forest patch. After one point climate changed from dry clear weather to typical morning side weather-misty cool weather. When we are close to the bungalow we were heard songs of some afternoon visitors of the bungalow. It took about 3hours to reach there.
 Shopping at Sooriyakanda Town |
 Starting of Morning side road (Black arrow). Tarred road will continue to Deniyaya |
 Notices |
 Southern plateau |
 Gongala transmission towers |
 Bad condition of the road |
 Having a rest |
 This is the junction where road gets divide. Note this building construction. Take right hand side pathway. But it is not difficult to find the correct road |
 Sinharaja Forest |
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 Sooriyakanda Towers |
 Handapanthanna side (හදපාන් තැන්න) |
 The way through the woods |
 Don’t know the name |
 Last junction. Black arrow towards Morning side estate and white arrow shows Morning side forest bungalow. But before this junction you may notice the forest bungalow in right hand side bit far away |
Morning side and Morning side Forest department Bungalow.
Morning side is situated in east corner of Sinharaja rain forest. As it is always covered with mist it is called Morning side since colonial age. Mist and drizzling is part and parcel of morning side weather. Though it is similar to Hortain plains weather, temperature is not that much low.
Forest department bungalow has two rooms containing 10 bunk beds. Thilakasiri-care taker of this bungalow supplies meals when you provide food items. They have a solar panel to supply electricity but if not possible they will use generator. Therefore Thilakasiri is always careful in using electricity by visitors. They will not provide pillows or bed sheets for beds. Two bathrooms are there but not repaired for long time. Basically this bungalow is not in good condition, if can tolerate with average conditions you can stay there.
 Misty bungalow |
 Gloomy |
 What you can see when you looked out |
Rest of the day we relaxed at Bungalow.
Activities can be done at Morning side
1. Get relaxed
2. Visiting at Morning side tea estate. On the way you can visit at Morning side water fall.
3. Bathing at Natural pool at morning side tea estate.
 Though Thilakasiri was the main cook we had our own cooks |
Next day morning following breakfast we walked to Morning side tea estate. Road to morning side tea estate is mostly clear and distance about 2km. After about 1km the foot pathway to Morning side waterfall is situated in left hand side. This foot pathway is a clear one and sound of the water fall can be heard. It is about 5m tall waterfall
 Get ready with Alum before walk |
 Misty road |
 Misty forest |
 Early morning jogging |
 Directions to water fall |
 Morning side waterfall |
 Road side beauty |
Then we entered Morning side tea estate. As this was a Sunday nobody was there. Newly built bungalow and old estate bungalow could be seen.
 Entering to Morning side tea estate |
 Morning side new bungalow |
 Morning side tea estate |
 Black and white |
 Old bungalow under renovation |
 Fill with mist |
We followed the road towards Iththakanda (gate is there at the beginning) and after about 1km, the foot pathway was noticed in right hand side towards natural pool. (This is the border of tea estate and forest). We walked there about 500m to reach natural pool which is a nice place to have a bath.
 Ashan shows the foot path to Natural pool |
 Crossing a water stream |
 Important junction where take left foot pathway to reach the pool |
 Natural shallow pool |
 Risky job over the pool |
 Water stream above the pool |
 Mini waterfall |
Following our lunch we made our return journey in 1 and half hours. On our way back we got caught to rain. We waited at Sooriyakanda town for a bus to Embilipitiya about 3hours and somehow reached Embilipitiya around 7pm.
 Team with Thilakasiri –Man in saron |
 Adapted for wind |
 Way back |
 Lonely man |
 Ghost |
 Good bye morning side |
Thanks for reading.