Timagama gala (263m) and Nathagane ancient caves

Year and Month	August, 2019
Number of Days	One(half)
Crew	3 adults and a 3 year old
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Pajero
Activities	Archaeology, Photography
Weather	Sunny mornings and Gloomy evenings
Route	Chilaw -> Wariyapola -> Immiyangoda -> Thimmagama -> Returned back on the same route
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Take a bottle of water Do not carry Plastic items (Minimize), Make sure you bring back everything you took. Ask directions from locals Where clothes which cover your body Explain your intentions clearly to locals Get intermission from the Archaeology officers ta Nathagane prior to visiting the caves
Author	Ashan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Timagama gala (250m) and Nathagane ancient caves

Once when we were loitering along Wariyapola -Kalugamuwa road we noted a rock close to Bamunukotuwa and we planned to hike it someday with our kid. So when my brother in-law visited us after many years we decided to take him on a small hike and Thimmagama gala was the ideal rock for that. From Wariyapola we took the Kalugamuwa road.

On our way our first stop was at Gonnawa Sri Vishnu Devalaya (7.589837, 80.240062) which is an archaeological site.

board

steps

Vishnu devalaya

part of the old wall

history

Next we took a left turn from Dumbuluwawa junction to reach the base of the rock with paddyfields. Crossing few paddyfields we reached the tail of the rock which we started ascending along. Its better to avoid the forest patch which is full of thorny bushes which we avoided while descending. Though the hike was a relatively easy one, carrying a baby made it a moderate hike for me. On top of the rock it provides a 270 degree view and to to get the rest of the missing view one needs to walk around a bit.

The map

as seen from Kalugamuwa – Wariyapola rd

close up

paddyfield

yellow beauty

thissawa and medagama kanda

Kadiragala

Weherapola

last climb

framed

wellagala

wariyapola

Deduru oya reservoir and yapahuwa seen far away

Deduru oya reservoir and yapahuwa

Diyabete and galgiriya

part of dolukanda

more to go

From the summit one could appreciate near by Nathagane, Yakdessagala, part of Dolukanda, Athugala, Kurunegala town, Handurukanda, Parape range, Medagama kanda, Thissawa kanda, Weherapola, Kadiragala, Wellagala, Yapahuwa, Galgiriya, Diyabete kanda, Deduru oya reservoir, and many more landmarks. There is a pond on top of the mountain which will be useful to anyone who wishes to set a camp. We got down all the way along the rock and refreshed our selves from a mini pond located close to the paddyfields to end our mini hike.

nathagane

yakdessagala

Ibbagala, Athugala and kurunegala

handurukanda and parape range

summit

plucking flowers

getting down

years of experience was made use of

tricky part

on the tree

Next we reached Nathagane archeology site (7°33’52.2″N 80°16’46.6″E) which lies on the western slopes of the Nathagane hill. For me this is must visit place. They are currently excavating the old sthupa and one could have glimpse of the excavation process too. climbing the hill half way will take one towards some well preserved caves too. Before we departed we also payed a brief visit to Nathagane Pattini devalaya (7°33’49.7″N 80°16’48.9″E) which was located nearby.