Dream hike of the year-Sudugala (1618m) /සුදුගල

Year and Month	2020 January 25^th ,26^th and 27^th
Number of Days	Three
Crew	05-Kasun Lakmal, Kavinda, Keshan, Vikum and Myself
Accommodation	Back to back camping at Sudugala Bungalow
Transport	By bus, Hiking and Three wheeler
Activities	Hiking, Trekking, Camping and Photography
Weather	Excellent but misty at sometimes
Route	Day 01-Colombo->Kandy->Wattegama->Kabaragala->Kirigalpoththa->Sudugala Ex-Army commander Bungalow Day 02-Sudugala Ex-Army commander Bungalow->Sudugala-> Back to Bungalow Day 03-Sudugala Ex-Army commander Bungalow->Pitawala->Riverstone->Raththaota->Matale->Kandy->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Leech protection methods to be followed Google offline maps were our guides. Study maps well before go there. Download off line maps. Descend from Kirigalpoththa to it’s base is a strenuous exercise. Better move out of the peak as much as possible and then descend. It is essential to hike the mountain in between Sudugala and Sudugala bungalow to reach Sudugala. It is also again a hard work. The peak of Sudugala we conquered, can be approached by Gombaniya as well. According to our observations (drone videos and photos), other peak can’t be reached from this peak. It should be tried from Lahumanagala side. This is a moderate strenuous to strenuous journey. There are no water sources on top of Sudugala. If you are planning to camp there carry enough water. Walking from Sudugala bungalow to Pitawala is another time consuming one. (7-8 km walk). Most of the pictures included in the report taken by Kasun Lakmal.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Dream hike of the year-Sudugala (1618m) /සුදුගල

Sudugala Mountain in Knuckles forest reserve was in my To-do list for a long time. Sudugala has dual peaks and this mountain surrounds by another set of mountains in Knuckles range. It might be the reason for less people tried to conquer Sudugala and I haven’t come across any successful achievement on Sudugala among hikers.

Dual peaks of Sudugala. Here we conquered left side one.

Sudugala…Taken from Selvakanda

Sudugala is shown by an arrow. Taken from Ginikeliya Pathana.

Two peaks of Sudugala…from Kirigalpoththa

Sudugala in Google map

Here two peaks of Sudugala focused. But the significant gap between two peaks is not emphasized in picture

Two of my frequent fellow hikers-Kavinda and Kasun Lakmal were fond of Sudugala hiking and they insisted me on doing it as soon as possible. After map reading and discussion among us, we decided to get Sudugala approach from Kirigalpoththa side. Our initial plan was to hike Kirigalpoththa and then descend to the base of Sudugala. Let’s see how this three days journey happened.

Second visit to Knuckles- Kirigalpoththa / කිරිගල්පොත්ත ගමන

I have been at Knuckles-Kirigalpoththa in 2019 and this was my second visit. As usual we had breakfast from Waththegama town and got early morning Kabaragala bus. We have walked from Kabaragala town to the trail head of Kirigalpoththa. As we knew the shortest path to Knuckles-Kirigalpoththa after first visit, straightway we followed it from trail head. It was along the water stream and then we reached the place like small pond. Surrounding was misty when we reached the second peak of Kirigalpoththa where we had our lunch. Second peak of Kirigalpoththa is 1647 m in height and Erskine mark is situated there.

Good morning Kabaragala. Started to hike Kirigalpoththa.

Foot path through Enasal bushes to the top of Kirigalpoththa

One of Ensal dens. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Get into the stream

Along the stream

Nelu bushes-PC Kasun Lakmal

Reaching the pond like place…There was some water compared to last visit.

On top of Kirigalpoththa first peak

On top of Kirigalpoththa first peak. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Kirigalpoththa second peak. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Heading to Kirigalpoththa second peak

On top of Kirigalpoththa second peak

Erskine mark on Kirigalpoththa

Lunch of day 01. PC Kasun Lakmal

Descend from Kirigalpoththa top to it’s base / කිරිගල්පොත්තෙන් පහලට බැසීම

This was a challenging exercise. We have started from left side of Kirigalpoththa to reach it’s base. We already knew there is a sheer drop but expected some places to get down. Half way down, we were stcuked due to 90 degree slab rocks and returned back to much higher level. Then we decided to move further away and descend. At the end it was successful and reached the base of Kirigalpoththa. We spend about 3 hours to get down this =300m descend and all were really exhausted. (Didn’t get much pictures in descend)

We started to descend in it’s left side. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Lahumanagala and Sudugala were seen when we descend. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Two peaks of Sudugala covered with mist. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Acute drop of Kirigalpoththa in right side of the picture. PC-Kasun Lakmal

After so many ups and downs we have reached to the correct place

This picture might remind the hardness we faced to all members of the journey.

After three hours of strenuous exercise we are at base of Kirigalpoththa

PC-Kasun Lakmal

Path of descend from Kirigalpoththa

Trekking from base of Kirigalpoththa to Sudugala Ex-Army Commander bungalow / කිරිගල්පොත්ත පාමුල සිට සුදුගල බoගලාවට ගමන

Kirigalpoththa has majestic appearance from this side. Sharpen rocky surfaces are really attractive. I don’t think anybody will think of climbing Kirigalpoththa from this side due to scary appearance. There was a couple of abounded cardamom huts situated few hundred meters away from the base. We were searching for a place to stay that night and thought to check it. Actually we have seen these from top of Kirigalpoththa as well.

There were two cardamom huts (7.28474884, 80.448047) made by wattle and dub. But half of it was collapsed as nobody has been there for months. We didn’t want to spend the night there as they were not in good condition. Our next plan was to trek to hidden bungalow at Sudugala base.

Majestic appearance of Kirigalpoththa. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Delighted. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Two abounded huts with our interest. PC Kasun Lakmal

There was a water stream to be crossed to reach the place. It made a small waterfall. PC Kasun Lakmal

Searching…. PC Kasun Lakmal

Abounded cardamom huts. PC Kasun Lakmal

Seems nobody has been there for a long time

Abounded cardamom huts

The lantern…. PC Kasun Lakmal

It was his dream to be here. PC Kasun Lakmal

PC Kasun Lakmal.

View of Kirigalpoththa from cardamom huts. PC Kasun Lakmal

Scary appearance of Kirigalpoththa. PC Kasun Lakmal

There was somewhat clear a foot path from cardamom huts towards the Pinus patch. We crossed the branch of Thelgamu Oya. Our wild guess says this should be the connection with bungalow. Undergrowth of pinus forest is full of cardamom bushes. Later this foot path gets branches and we had to select one to be followed. We felt it was something we are going around the target and decided to get out of Pinus forest. Then it was a battle with thickly grown Mana but we were able to work out the path to the Bungalow. As the sunset was closer we had to reach the destination as soon as possible. Following the acute descent at Pinus-Mana border we reached the backyard of the bungalow.

Entering the Pinus patch. PC Kasun Lakmal

Cardamom was the undergrowth of Pinus. PC Kasun Lakmal

There were number of water streams flow through Cardamom bushes. PC Kasun Lakmal

There were number of water streams flow through Cardamom bushes.

We have noticed some waterfalls in Sudugala side when we descend to the bungalow. PC Kasun Lakmal

Reaching our destination at the last moment. PC Kasun Lakmal

Ex-Army commander bungalow at Bray estate (7.475890, 80.739431) / බ්‍රේ වතුයායේ සුදුගල බoගලාව

This bungalow is situated at a meadow of Thelgamu Oya. It is clearly mentioned in Google map and we all were curious to find this bungalow. Nobody was there to clarify our questions. It is a private owned estate called Bray estate mainly Pinus cultivation at the moment. The owner of the estate is a retired army officer (? Commander). Seems it is a well maintained bungalow but nobody has been there for weeks. There was an old house somewhere down the bungalow might be the care takers place. A gravel road runs from Pitawala to this Bungalow but it is only suitable for four wheel vehicle

Ex-Army Commander Bungalow at Sudugala. Note the garden is well maintained. PC Kasun Lakmal

Marshal’s seat…..Kind of a view point. PC Kasun Lakmal

We were at the garden of the Bungalow. PC Kasun Lakmal

The pond.

Care taker’s house

As there was nobody to get the permission, we pitched our tents at Veranda. This was the home for that night. Gombaniya and connecting ridge between Gombaniya and Kirigalpoththa were seen behind the bungalow. Thelgamu Oya flows in few hundred meters away the Bungalow. Sudugala is situated beyond Thelgamu Oya. We have worked out how to approach Sudugala from Sudugala bungalow with maps and our observations on the day. Everyone felt asleep in early as we have hiked more than 10 hours on that day.

Day 02 / සුදුගල සොයා යෑම

It was a brightened day and we woke up early with hope of hiking Sudugala. After breakfast we packed all our stuff and started the journey. There was a clear foot path from Bungalow to a bathing place at Thelgamu Oya. The mountain just in front of Sudugala bungalow is next to Thelgamu Oya. The main part of this journey was to hike this mountain to approach Sudugala.

Gombaniya and connecting ridge of Gombaniya and Kirigalpoththa. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Sun rise. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Breakfast… PC-Kasun Lakmal

Hidden waterfall. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Preparing for second day….

Morning view….

Sudugala Bungalow

What a place to have Bungalow like this….

Crossing Thelgamu Oya….

Small cascade made by Thelgamu Oya at bathing place

As I mentioned above if you are approaching Sudugala from Sudugala bungalow you have to hike the mountain in front of the bungalow. After crossing the stream we hiked the angle of 70/80 degree of short mountain segment and came out of the forest. We were able to work out where we descend yesterday from Kirigalpoththa.

How we came to the bungalow yesterday from Kirigalpoththa. PC-Kasun Lakmal

View of Sudugala Ex-Army commander Bungalow. PC-Kasun Lakmal

He is pointing out Kirigalpoththa

From this open area to the top of this mountain was about 1.5-2 hour continuous ascend and it was the most strenuous part of the journey. Sometime we hiked with aid of creepers as angle was 60/70 degree. There were dry water streams but we couldn’t find water there. Once we passed the top of this mountain we have come across a good water stream to fill our thirsty. Then we wanted to get on the ridge of Sudugala which comes from Gombaniya side. Here we have observed the front slab rock of the mountain which is not possible to conquer. Somehow we were able to reach this ridge of Sudugala in another 1hour time. It was fairly flat terrain with little ups and downs.

Bamboo were a common finding in this hike

Coming across the water stream.

The water stream

Crossing another stream. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

It was fairly a flat terrain till we reached Sudugala ridge

We were able to reach one of the dual peaks of Sudugala along this ridge. This ridge has forest cover at beginning but later it was short bushes like top of Thunhisgala. It was the place to study most of the mountains at Knuckles forest reserve. We were able to see Knuckles- Kirigalpoththa, Gombaniya, Yakkunge Hela, Knuckles Five Peaks, Alugal Lena Kanda, Thunhisgala, Wamarapugala, Kehelpothdoruwegala, Gerandigala, Manigala, Karagahathenna, Maussakanda, Riverstone, Pathangala, Yakunge Gala, Rahana Ketu Pathana, Ginikeliyawa Pathana, Duwili Falls and Ginikuru Falls etc.

Wide angle view…..

To get a clear view….

The view…

Unknown Waterfall. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Thunhisgala with it’s accessory peaks in side. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Wamarapugala, RKP and Duwili Eli. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Blind end of Sudugala. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Wamarapugala, RKP (Rahana Ketu Pathana), Ginikuru Ella, Duwili Falls and Ginikeliyawa Pathana. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Duwili Falls -Right side. Left side one might be a seasonal fall. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Ginikuru Ella. PC-Kasun Lakmal

Unique appearance of Thunhisgala. Kehelpothdoruwegala is seen left to Thunhisgala. Gerandigala is seen in right side. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Yakkungehela. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Yakkunge Hela and it’s ridges. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Along the ridge…. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Connection between Gombaniya and Sudugala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Alugal Lena Mountain (left) and Knuckles Five peaks (right). PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Karagahathenna with towers. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

One of a peaks between Kirigalpoththa and Gombaniya. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

A lot of known peaks. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Maussakanda. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Manigala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Yakkunge Gala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Five peaks zoomed. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Yakkunge Hela zoomed. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Connection with Gombaniya. We have joined it much closer to Sudugala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Towards the peak. Now the journey through short bushes.

Team photo

Along the ridge of Sudugala we were able to reach the top. The peak of Sudugala has almost complete forest cover except a small slab rock with bit narrow view than the ridge. There is a significant drop between other peak of Sudugala and the one we conquered. Due to various reasons we didn’t try to get on that peak. If someone tries, most probably can come to other peak from Lahumanagala side (would be our next journey).

On top of Sudugala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Happy faces after achievement. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

View from Sudugala peak. Here you can see more peaks behind Thunhisgala including Dumbanagala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

View from top of Sudugala. The peak just left to Yakkunge Hela is not known. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

The scary gap between Yakkunge Hela and Gombaniya. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

More clear view of Yakkunge Gala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Peaks around Thunhisgala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Thunhisgala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Kehelopothdoruwegala covered with mist. ?? Yahangala is next to Kehelpothdoruwegala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

View point of Sudu Gala. PC-Kasun Lakmal.

Aerial Photographs

Two peaks of Sudugala. The one we conquered is in front.

Surrounding view….Kirigalpoththa side

The ridge connecting Gombaniya and Sudugala. Therefore Sudugala can be tried from Gombaniya side.

Yakkungehela, Gombaniya and the ridge between Sudugala

Ridge of Sudugala to the peak

The peak of Sudugala we didn’t conquer

Narrow view point of Sudugala

Two peaks of Sudugala. The one we didn’t conquer is bit higher than the other one.

You can notice the gap between two peaks in this picture. Passing from one to the other is doubtful.

When we were at top of Sudugala

The height of the peak we got.

We have spent about 5 hours for the journey from Sudugala Bungalow to Sudugala peak. Though we carried the tent and other camping equipments, didn’t spend the night there as we had enough time to return to Sudugala Bungalow. Leisurely we returned back to the Bungalow and had a nice bath at Thelgamu Oya. That night was more relax than last night as we have accomplished our target.

Day 03 /සුදුගල බoගලාවෙන් පිටවලට

It was the day of return journey. Our initial plan was to get down to Etanwala and get return bus to Matale from Hettipola. We assumed this road will end at Etanwala.

Once packed our stuff we have walked along this road which was parallel to Thelgamu Oya. We were more interested on spiky mountains arising on the other side of Thelgamu Oya, including Lahumanagala. Bray estate was a large Pinus estate but only a small part of the land is functioning. We came across few waterfalls running to Thlgamu Oya in this journey. At one point, the road deviated from Thelgamu Oya. (Later we got to know a foot pathway to Etanwala runs from there). Later we understood this road go towards Pitawala, not Etanwala. After several kilometers we met the watcher of the estate (not the bungalow) and he gave some information about bungalow. According to him road joins with Matale-Riverstone-Hettipola road few kilometers down to Riverstone. So we had to walk about 7-8 kilometers to reach the main road and further 7-8 km to get a three wheeler to Raththota. It was the end of another most awaiting hike at Knuckles range.