We started our journey at about 5.30 A.M on 3 rd December from Colombo. Our crew consists of 10. (6 adults of between 45-55 and 4 children between 14-23.)
Our first stop was at Kuruwita for our breakfast. After the breakfast we drove through Rathnapura, palmadulla and turned right to A 18 road and again turned off at Madampe and went through Rakwana, Sooriyakanda and Kolonna to see the Maduwanwela walawwa. During these days they have been commencing the restoration work of the old building.

Restoration works at Maduwanwela walawwa

After visiting Maduwanwela we proceeded towards Embilipitiya, and turned off at Padalangala and went through Adi seeye road (100 ft wide road) to Sooriyawewa and again turned left to visit new cricket stadium at Migahajandura. But the security people not allowed visiting the grounds due to construction work of the new flood light system. Then we have taken some photographs and returned.
After the lunch at roadside we drove through Mirijjawila, Bundala to Wirawila.
At Wirawila petrol shed the people have informed us the road to Tissa was flooded due to overflowing of Lunugamwehera reservoir. Due to this situation we returned to Bundala and turned off to Kirinda road and poceeded to Palatupana.
Finally we were at our destination at about 4.30 p.m.

Circuit Bungalow of Palatupana salterns

Scenery in front of the Bungalow

It was a lovely place with the saltern in front and beach behind. There are 3 rooms with decent attached bathrooms and each room has one double bed. The caretaker Mr. Dhammika is an expert cook. Meals are superb and tasty. Only thing we need to do is to give him the provisions. He is a kind person and really helpful. Whatever the menu we want he was ready to supply delicious food. Water is pumped from Lunugamwehera and 24 hour electricity supply and great place to stay because very close to Yala and Nimalawa monastery and good for birding during the migration period.

Palatupana beach

This is not an avalanche

Sun rise at Palatupana

After a nice relax evening at the beach, we have planned next day Yala visit with Tharindu’s Leopard safari jeep service. But unexpectedly one of our member fallen sick in the night, and due to this situation we have cancelled Yala safari and informed Tharindu, because he could have time to fix with another group. Further we have promised to him that if our member is o.k. definitely we will be ready for next day for our safari.

Anyway after breakfast our sick member is o.k. and we have planned to visit Nimalawa monastery, which was 15 mins drive from Bungalow.

That was a calm quiet place inside the forest. The 2nd priest of the monastery was very keen to show us all the places and new Wewa, still construction going on. Monastery will open to visitors till 11.00 a.m.only.

Nimalawa monastery

After the Nimalawa we went to Tissamaharama temple and back to circuit bungalow for our lunch.

After the late lunch, we could not go to Sithulpawwa temple, as planned, due to heavy rain in the evening and stay inside the bungalow with relaxing. Dhammika’s tasty dinner was ready little early and went to sleep without a proper plan for next day. Fortunately next morning was sunny and our luckiest day and got up early morning and ready for the Yala trip arranged as agreed with Tharindu and his safari jeep. After a breakfast of milk rice and lunumiris (chillipaste) at about 7.00 a.m the jeep came.

The old Land rover jeep was driven by Tharindu’s father who was really a nice guy has keen to show us a leopard and drove through the park more than 6 hours with wonderful sceneries. Unfortunately we couldn’t see a leopard but it was a really worth trip. Pictures will definitely show you the trip memories.

Changeble Hawk eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus)	Spot billed Pelican (pelecanus philippensis)
An Albino wild pig	Painted stork ( Mycteria leucocephala )
Common hoopoe - පොරෝ කුරුල්ලා (Upapa epops ceylonensis)	Heen thamba seruwa (Dendrocygna javanica)
Dancing star (Pavo cristatus)	Punchi Binguharaya (Merops orientalis orientalis)
Grey heron(Ardea cinerea cinerea)	Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor)
Saluting us for the Photo (Elephas maximus)	Common iora (Aegithina tiphia multicolor)

This female elephant suddenly Collapsed and stay few seconds and stands up and return hurriedly to the forest. At that time the baby elephant came from other side of the forest and ran to the adult. She may be sick or pregnant. Anyway we couldn’t know the exact reason for this behavior.

Crocodile road block for painted storks

J R Rock at Yala	Group of jackal attacking to a wild boar
Looking back, but nothing else other than our foot prints	Palatupana saltern

After a wonderful safari, returned to the bungalow and hurriedly finished our delicious lunch cooked by Dhammika and packed our things, because our checked out time was 1.00 p m to return from the bungalow.

Caretaker Mr. Dhammika

In return due to the floods of the Wirawila area we drove through Tissa, Ranminithanna and turned off left at just passing police road block at Katharagama Gum udawa, then Lunugamwehera, Thanamalwila,Udawalawe,Thimbolkatiya, Palmadulla,Rathnapura,Awissawella and arrived to Colombo

Set of the inside of Galle fort At Ranminithanna

In Ranminithanna tele cinema village a ticket for an adult charged Rs.50/= and children Rs.30/= and that is actually expensive and not worth to the money.

The road condition was very bad from Katharagama to Lunugamwehera (Lot of pot holes) and again Thanamalwila to Udawalawe (road construction was going on).

After a very successful trip we returned to our home at around 10.00 p.m on 5th .