Blue = Brandy rock | Black = 3way junction | Purple = Etigala or Whitshire kanda (Click Image to Enlarge)

Brandy rock is a unique rock and similar to Bathalegala in shape, when seen from Alawatugoda while travelling (on left hand side) on A-9 route towards Mathale. The rock is close by to Mathale but it’s hidden by the Wiltshire/Etigala kanda which is bordering the Mathale town. This rock is a well-known hiking destination but unfortunately there’s very few online literature.

Three of us met at Mathale town at around 8am to get the Madiwela bus but it had left earlier than we thought. At around 8.45am we took an Etipola bus where we had to get down and take a 5Km walk towards Asgiriya division simply because we missed the Madiwela bus 🙂 🙂 . The Brandy rock and adjoining Etipola Kanda could be seen all the way throughout our walk. We reached a 3-way junction after travelling about 5km’s from here we took the road (right hand side) which goes Parallel the mountain range.

Kissed by the clouds

The paddyfields

Good morning

Colours of nature

not yummy i guess

Brandy Rock & Etipola peak

A different view

Snapping around

the snap

the 3way junction

Religious statue at the junction

The rock

After gathering information we preceded about300m where we found few houses on the slope of the mountain. There is a small path above these houses and at one point we had to start climbing along the rock hanging on to the mana (if it’s raining it’s not easy to climb). After conquering the mana patch we climbed further up through the bushes until we came across the main path. The path towards the summit from here was quite easy. After travelling 50m we reached the neck of the Brandy rock. Brandy rock is actually a projection of Etipola mountain range and there is forest area in between the two parts and its rich in water streams too, this is a wonderful place to camp considering all aspects 🙂

four weel hike

the path

path continues

Water stream

Walking along the neck of the rock

The final rock cave

The path we came

few more steps to climb

The last path was trough a rock cave where you need to squeeze your self-trough. Summit is a vast area of Flat rock where you can enjoy a spectacular view. From the top you can appreciate Etipola kanda summit, Etipola gala/Whiltshire kanda(which obstruct the view of Mathale town), Makulussa mountain range, Ambokka Peak seen far away, the paddy fields and tea estates, Alawathugoda & A9 road, Knuckles range with reverston peak also could be seen.

the surface

we are on the top of the rock

the drop

Yeppee

wow	the flat surface

the flag put up by monks

Adjoining Etipola kanda(1265m)

Etigala or Whilshire kanda

the coloney and the 3way junction

the factory

Paddyfilds seems like an arm less T-shirt

Panorama Mukulussa range & Atigala

more paddyfields

temple zoomed

more views

more to walk

wondering about

Knuckles range seen on the left of Etigala

Knuckles range seen on the right of Etigala

knuckles range and reverston peak

Ambooka, Makulussa range surrounding the paddyfields

Ambokka zoomed

Time for a nap

the team

Rare shot of a jet

framed

macro

in search of

Alawathugoda and kandy road

Asgiriya estate

Makulussa range

Paddy fields & tea estate kissing each other

leaving

running back

After enjoying the view we got down within 20minutes and returned back through the same road towards Mathale and ended our journey.

our friends

last glimpse

what a place to have a chaitya

last shot for the day