Narangala the second peak of Uva (1500m)!

the map – Click to enlarge

I still remember how we first planned to do a trip together in 2010 but it only came true in 2013. Last year when Priyanjan suggested of climbing Narangala “I said I would not attempt it without him” and finally that day arrived during this August vacation. Actually Priyanjan was the one who found information about the route and etc other than that I only found some information posted by Kishan long time ago on this forum about Narangala. One would wonder why this mountain is so special. First it has two parts one a triangular shape peak and the other a rectangular shaped plateau. But the most astonishing thing is its location. Been at the edge of Uva and pointing out towards a gap formed between valleys of Uma oya, Badulu oya and Loggal oya opens up a wide view towards Mahaweli flood plains which extends up to Trincomalee.

So early morning we packed our stuff and headed towards Hali ela and reached Keenakele via Kandegedara. After inquiring from few locals we decided to halt our vehicle at the kovil close to Thangamale watta. From here onwards a local boy called Thiruchelvam agreed to show us the way. Within no time we were climbing through the tea estate until we met a pipeline which we followed until the estate road was met. Proceeding few hundred meters along the road Thiruchelvam showed us a mango tree and asked us to climb in a straight line from there onwards so we thanked him for his guidance and started climbing up through the turpentine trees though we had to climb about 50m the path was very slippery hence hindering our forward movement. After passing that stretch we came in contact with the mana area and decided to climb in an angle until we reached the foot path. We were now on the neck of the range and the summit seemed so close. We were feeling bit relieved but not for too long.

Narangala as seen from namunukula

Narangala as seen from kandegedara

Ragala range

starting point

new generation

climbing through tangamale division

the towers close to namunukula

namunukula and ella peak as seen from the tea estate

i have never seen a cow having tea

bowitiya

last tea patch

Welimada

the flat section of the mountain

the nest we found

the mango tree

these were the trouble makers

more to climb

the false peak

opening up

sha!!

along the path

the path

The summit we reached was a false summit and we had to walk along four more mini peaks to get to the proper summit view point but it was not going to be that difficult. From this point onwards it was an endless view towards Madulsima, Badulla and Namunukula areas. The walk along the foot path resembled a walk along mini Adams peak at Ella. There was a forest patch on the slope which had survived years of bush fires and it seemed there were some water springs starting from it. So my wild guess is that water could be found at this point if one plans to camp.

After a slow walk while enjoying endless scenery we reached the summit, where we took a rest while having some bread with onions, eggs and etc as breakfast before starting to look around in detail. From one side Randenigala Mountains, Rantabe reservoir and Uma oya joining it could be seen. Other landmarks we noted were Knuckles range (yahangala, Kehelpathdoruwa, Lakegala, Kalupahana..) , Hasalaka, Mahiyanganaya, Soro bora, Loggal oya reservoir, Mahaweli river, Ulhitiya, Kokagala, Kandeketiya paddyfields, Madulsima range, Meda pathana, Badulla town, Namunukula, Maragalakanda, Kandegedara, plenty of tea estates, Ella rock, St Catherine’s point (Nayabedda range), Haputhale, Idalgasinna, Welimada, Thotupola, Ragala and many other landmarks.. If the atmosphere was not hazy we could have identified many other landmarks because of the unique location of Narangala.

wow

wow again

rabbit droppings

Kandegedara town

tea pluckers

land is perfectly scaped

more to walk!

the last peak

the lonely tree

lovely petals

summit of narangala (1500m)

far away kehelpathdoruwa and yahanagala could be seen

pano towards Uma oya and loggal oya valley

pano towards badulla

pano towards madulsima range

the north eastern plains

Randenigala region

Loggal oya

Kandeketiya paddy fields

thotupola and horton plains covered with mist

idalgasinna gap and haputale gap can be seen

nayabedda and poonagala range seen

namunukula peak

breezy

beautiful loggal oya reservoir

drop

Kokagala seen faintly also ulhitiya reservoir

cleared off a bit

our breakfast

view from the summit

please clear off

winding round

uma oya meeting rantabe reservoir

nayabedda and st catherines point

monaragala maragalakanda could be seen far away

towards loggal oya

meda pathana badulla

Badulla city

difficult to say good bye

getting down

After shooting some pano’s and self-portraits we started our descend slowly and again the turpentine patch was like a sliding mat J we returned back to the kovil to end our hike within half a day and leisurely traveled back towards Bandarawela where I said good bye to Priyanjan and his family after having lunch. This was a hike I really wanted to do and at the end it was totally rewarding.

Namunukula the giant

looking back

what a seat

entering the forest

thotupola cleared off

Perennial Peanut / Pinto Peanut

back to the estate

where we were

colours of nature

Thanks for reading!