| Year and Month | Day hike: 10th December 2016 Camping: 06th January 2018 |
| Number of Days | Two different days |
| Crew | Day hike: Kasun, Maduranga and My self Camping: Keshan, Nuwan, Nirosh and Myself |
| Accommodation | Night camping at Diyathalawa Mountain |
| Transport | By bus, three wheeler and hiking |
| Activities | Hiking, Photography and Camping |
| Weather | Excellent |
| Route | Colombo->Kandy->Rikillagaskada (රිකිල්ලගස්කඩ)->Dimbulkumbura road-> (දිබුල්කුඹුර පාර) Kunan estate (කූනෑන් වත්ත) ->Kukulagala->Returned in same route |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Related Resources | Ashan’s trip report is the first documentation about Kukulagala.- Kukulagala (Diyathalawa) Surveyors vantage point (1530m) Thanks for Chamara Perera and Maduranga for their support. Chamara had a superb view of surrounding mountains. Refer his face book album. |
| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
Kukulagala /Diyathalawa (කුකුළාගල/ දියතලාව) is a mountain range situated at Rikillagaskada town in Kandy district. Initially I thought these two names are synonymous for the mountain range but there are two mountains in the same range named as Diyathalawa and Kukulagala. As it has a rock seems like a cock, it is called Kukulagala. But we didn’t see this rock. The highest of the range is called Diyathalawa. If you are hiking to Diyathalawa anyway you will pass Kukulagala as well.
Other important point is it a measuring point used by surveys. British surveyor called C. Erskine has been there in 1910 and his engraved letters can be found at top of Diyathalawa Mountain. Other than Erskine, some other surveyors also have visited there. (Ambeek in 1924)
 Where Diyathalawa Mountain is situated in 1:50000 map. Click image to enlarge. |
 Diyathalawa Mountain is seen when we are trekking from Mahakudugala to Mathurata. |
 View of Diyathalawa mountain from Ragala Rock |
Hiking to top of Diyathalawa Mountain is an easy task which spends about 2hours. There are different routes used by villagers. This range is almost covered by pines forest therefore it is a journey through Pines. There are forest patches and bushes in between Pinus. The basis of hiking is passing the Pinus and get on to the neck of the mountain. Then you can get on to the top of Diyathalawa. There are different shaped rocks found on top of Diyathalawa/ Kukulagala.
On top of Diyathalawa Mountain you can get a superb view towards surrounding. Once I have been there for a day hike and it made me to do a camping on top to enjoy the sun rise.
Day hike to Kukulagala
We have reached Rikillagaskada town around 9am and my friend Maduranga was waiting for us. Maduranga is working closer to Rikillagaskada and he has a sound knowledge about the mountain to be our guide for the day. As it was a day hike we kept our unnecessary stuff at one of his known place and started the hike. First we went along Dimbulkumbura road then got different turns to reach Pinus patch. Once you enter the Pinus patch it is all the way up along it till you reach the neck of the range. There were some tags at trees made at recent hiking event done by school boys. It made the tracing of foot path easy. During the hike we could observe the view towards Rikillagaskada town. There is a foot path on top of the mountain to reach the peak of the range. Different sizes of boulders can be seen on top of Diyathalawa. There were number of letters engraved on them and we were able to identify Erskine’s mark out of them.
 Diyathalawa / Kukulagala is seen to Rikillagaskada town |
 We went along Dimbulkumbura road |
 Sri Lankan grey Hornbill |
 ගල උඩ පන්සල |
 Get the turn to Pinus patch |
 Leeches are fairly common at Pinus patch |
 Hike through Pinus patch |
 Maduranga is leading… |
 Tags made at recent hiking event |
 Ascend along Pinus forest up to neck of the range |
 Ascend along Pinus forest up to neck of the range |
 There were some boulders to overcome |
 Climbing up… |
 Slippery Pinus patch… |
 Kunan Pinus estate |
 Collection of Pinus Resins |
 Small forest patch |
 Can you notice the foot path? |
 Reaching the neck of the mountain |
 Foot path in between two rocks |
 Foot path in between two rocks |
 Different shape of boulders on top… |
 Different shape of boulders on top… |
 We have moved from one rock to the other |
 This flat rock slab is ideal for night camping… |
 It might be a good place to enjoy sun rise |
 It seems like a cave where people have stayed overnight.. |
 It gives a nice surrounding view…. But we were unlucky to have a clear view due to gloomy weather |
 It is a like a seat… |
 Supposed to be the highest point of Diyathalawa Kanda. |
 Erskine mark… |
 Three man team on top…. |
In a clear day you can view Rikillagaskada town, Dolugala mountain-දොලුගල කන්ද (opposite to Diyathalawa), Hewahata area, Loolkandura, Hanguranketha, Piduruthalagala range and it’s towers, Ragala range, Mahacoodugala, Narangala, Namunukula, number of peaks of Knuckles massif.
Randenigala reservoir was identified between hills at Walapane and RRV reserve. We could notice Raja Mawatha laid at the edge of Walapane Hills. Victoria reservoir was next to Randenigala and Mahaweli River was situated in between them.
 Rikillagaskada town is captured on our way up… |
 Zoomed view of Rikillagaskada town |
 Nearby Lake zoomed… |
 Raja Mawatha at the edge of Walapane hills |
 Raja Mawatha at the edge of Walapane hills |
 Dolugala range is situated just opposite to Diyathalawa range. Rikillagaskada town is situated in between them. Gloomy weather obstructs the view of Hewahata and Loolkandura area. |
 Other end of Diyathalawa range |
 Wilpasa Lake. This is situated at higher level of Diyathalawa mountain range. It feeds water sources at Galaudagala village. |
 Piduruthalagala range is seen as second line. |
 Pointed peak is Mahakudugala |
 Dried Mahaweli River between Victoria and Randenigala reservoirs |
 A construction was noted at one end of the mountain |
After enjoying the surrounding view we started to get down. It was the same foot path we followed till the neck of the mountain and turned to other side to get on to the estate road. On our way back we have passed towers and reached the village situated at other end. It was a nice day hike.
 Getting down… |
 Getting down… |
 Getting down… |
 A mushroom |
 Reaching the proper road. This road starts from Kunan estate and ends at Wilpasa Lake. |
 Some parts of the road is covered with bushes |
 Supposed to be the highest point of the range. It was noted on our way down. |
Camping on top of Diyathalawa
I was waiting for a camping night on top of Kukulagala as it has a flat slab rock which is good to pitch a tent comfortably. And Diyathalawa Mountain is an ideal place for 360 degree view. As this hike doesn’t need more than 2hours we planned to do another hike at day time. Keppetigala was our 1st journey for the New Year but we spent much time than we expected for this mini hike. It was around 3pm when we returned back to Kandy and we were on the fence with the decision of going to Kukulagala or not. Later we decided to stick to our initial plan.
Here I decided to use a different route to get on to the neck of the range as we were behind the time. We hired a three wheel from Rikillagaskada town and it drove along Dimbulkumbura road. Next turn was to the road to Wilpasa Lake. This road passes the Pinus estate called Kunan estate where we got down. It was around 5.15pm when we started to walk along the road at Kunan estate. First we walked along Pinus estate, followed right hand side road at T junction and then followed a foot path from the road to reach the neck of the mountain. Latter half of the hike happened with an aid of head torches. By 7.30pm we were able to reach the slab rock where I planned to pitch the tent.
I didn’t get any pictures till we set the fire on top of Diyathalawa. Rikillagaskada town was illuminated with multi colour lights. This place was directly exposed to the wind and our tent was about to fly in the wind. It might be one of the coldest nights I have spent and we recorded night temperature as 8 degrees.
Early morning we gathered at flag point (some one has set a flag here) to enjoy the sun rise. It was a repetition of same structures but with morning version. I was not fortunate for the second time to get clear view due to haziness. Though we expect to get it clear with time it didn’t happen.
 Around camp fire. We have brought dinner from Rikillagaskada. Therefore didn’t need to cook. |
 Around camp fire. We had to move somewhere down to collect firewood. |
 Waiting for sun rise at flag point of Diyathalawa mountain. |
 Ragala range and Mahacoodugala– Just before sun rise |
 Second highest peak of Uva province-Narangala is seen. (Second line) |
 Towers end of Kukulagala and Wilpasa Lake. |
 Boulders on top of Diyathalawa. Just before sun rise. |
 Our camp site. This slab rock is ideal to pitch 2/3 tents. |
 Ragala range, Mahacoodugala, Piduruthalagala range. Wilpasa lake and towers end of Diyathalawa are seen clearly now. |
 Piduruthalagala towers |
 Another mountain with towers on top of it. Must be Single hill tree or Kikiliyamana. |
 Good morning Rikillagaskada |
 Rikillagaskada town, Dolugala range, Hewahata area, Loolkandura. Hills at right upper corner must be Hanthana. |
 What a place to camp and enjoy the sun rise |
 Other end of Diyathalawa range/ Kukulagala |
 Towers end of Kukulagala is clearly seen now. |
 Sun rise at Kukulagala |
 Sun rise at Kukulagala / Diyathalawa |
 Sun rise at Kukulagala / Diyathalawa |
 Sun rise at Kukulagala / Diyathalawa |
 Sun rise at Kukulagala / Diyathalawa |
 Sun rise at Kukulagala |
 At flag point… |
 At flag point |
 Where we camped…. |
 Enjoying the sun rise |
 Moving to highest point |
 On top of highest point of Diyathalawa range |
 Early morning view of Hanguranketha |
 Hanguranketha area was zoomed |
 View of flag point and the place we camped at Diyathalawa Mountain |
 Might be a visit of some other surveyor. KRASLAH. Seems this triangular shaped mountain was a popular measuring point between surveyors. |
 Galauda village (ගල උඩ ගම) |
 Group photo on top of Diyathalawa Mountain. Thanks Nirosh for capturing. |
 Remaining of night camp fire. |
 Brighten sky and moon. |
 Fresh in colour |
 Getting down…. |
 This was kind of a tricky point and you need to pass your bags first to get down. |
 Back to Pinus plot. |
 Back to Pinus plot. |
 Clear foot pathway |
 Getting down in Pinus patch |
 Mushrooms |
 Slight mist with sun rays… |
 It was nice to walk here |
 Might be a rest station of workers. |
We had a bath from a water stream was found at the end of Pinus estate. It was the end of the trip and I was happy to accomplish my plan on camping on top of Kukulagala after one year of 1st visit.
 This is our workout. |
Thanks for reading.