It was just one of those times when one HAS TO get away – and badly too. As we had never been to Wasgamuwa, we planned a 4 day trip to visit the National Park and also drive along along two routes that we had not travelled before.

We were able to get a booking at Aligama Village. It was not a place recommended by anyone and it so happened that it came up on my Google search and we just liked the details on their web site. The main attraction was that it could accommodate only a small number of people – 2 cottages and 3 rooms – and we wanted “a quiet place that was green – away from all mankind”, so to speak! They responded very quickly to my email and booking was done in no time.

Charges were very reasonable – Rs 3500/- per day for the Cottage which can accommodate 4 adults comfortably and an additional Rs 850/- per person/day for all 3 meals.

The route to Wasgamuwa took us via Kandy, Matale and Riverston. We managed to bag two lifers on the way

A plum headed parakeet having his breakfast

Common kestrel

The view of course was spectacular…….

View along the Matale – Hettipola Road – somewhere near Riverston

Across the plains

Along the way

Road towards Thelgamu Oya

Thelgamu Oya

We stopped near Thelgamu oya for a short break and a cup of Ranawara

Preparing Ranawara

Sampling

I would strongly recommend anyone passing this way to have a cup of Ranwara from Tikiri Appu

The rock pool further upstream – NOT for bathing

Aligama Cottage

Aligama Cottage is about 10 km after Hettipola. The road from Hettipola to Wasgamuwa along Minipe – Yoda ela scheme is not in a good condition with large pot-holes but can be managed with a car. The turn off to the place is before you reach Dunuwila tank and is marked.

Road to Aligama Cottage

Aligama Cottage – 2 cottages side by side

Bed room

Toilet with modern facilities

Inside the room

Aligama is bordering Gamburu oya and we had a bath in that too

View from our cottage

View from the dining area, which is separate from the cottages

Aligama is great for birding. One wakes up to the raucous calling of red-wattled lapwings with their “did-heee-do-it”. It is pure biss after that and if you are into photography, this is the place to be! You get a chance to see some village life too!

Alexandreen Parakeet – completed all parrots in Sri Lanka for us

Pied kingfisher

Landing gear down……………………..

…….. and away he goes!

Aligama is great for other little creatures too….

Resident in our cottage

Some privacy would be good here!

A Plain Tiger – nothing plain there!

A Common Crow

There was a colony of Baya weavers (පන් වඩු කුරුල්ලෝ) just outside the premises and we spent many happy hours watching them ……………….

Which one is mine?

This is MINE!!!

Aligama Cottage belongs to two brothers – Lakshitha and Luke Abenaike. Luke was our host during our stay and you couldn’t wish for a better host! The food is typical village type and tasty. I just loved their egg curry with string hoppers – just yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Village life………………

Time for the evening bath

Working together……..

Fishing …. And we got to taste their catch!

Play time!

Aligama cottages has a large rock in their property and once you are on top of it…………………………………….

All the way to the Knuckles range

The sunset from there is spectacular!

spectacular Sunset

spectacular Sunset

“When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator” – Mahatma Gandhi

.

.

Wasgamuwa National Park

“You will be disappointed with Wasgamuwa, nothing much other that elephants!” was what I was told by a friend who heard I was planning a trip there.

As only 10% of the park is open for visitors and the roads are also not very close to waterways compared to Yala, one has to work hard to see birds and other animals. But “Nothing much”???? It was life in every form at Wasgamuwa! What more does one want?

Just opening…..

Nesting

Streaked weaver bird (රුක් වඩු කුරුල්ලා)

A pair of spotted doves

A baya weaver busy at work

The eagle has landed!!!!

Speared!

Our driver Samitha was great! He wasn’t used to people who wanted anything more than elephants – “සුද්දොත් එක්ක යනවා වගේ මහත්තයෝ, කුරුල්ලොමයි බලන්නේ!” was his comment to Luke Abenaike after the first safari But he was quick to learn and respond to our requirements and the second safari was perfect! As the park is not so crowded and as Samitha drove slowly, we had two great game drives!

Samitha waiting (im)patiently

And of course, the famous Wasgamuwa elephants……

famous Wasgamuwa elephants

famous Wasgamuwa elephants

Our return was through Mahiyanganya and the daha ata wanguwa road to Kandy and then to Colombo.

The road was a dream to drive. We had to make many stops as we just had to photograph the view The bends are numbered – starting from Kandy side and at the time we went, they had done up to 10.

The view towards the East was great and I would give a lot just to be on that road at sunrise!

One of the hair-pin bends

The road from Mahiyanganaya

At the second bend we met some relatives!

Bend 2

Family portrait

“Look!! It is HER!!!”

“See what I found ”

View from the 2nd bend – Sorabora wewa in the distance

Then it was the Knuckles range and once again the view was amazing!

The many shades of green

Somewhere in Knuckles

Knuckles range

The only “negative” bit was the Kandy traffic! We spent nearly 2 hours trying to get to Peradeniya from Kandy!!! Wish there was a road that bypasses Kandy, maybe….. I should send a suggestion to the Powers that Are