Land Marks (Click to enlarge)

It’s been while after my last report. I did Wangedigala Hike on September 2014. It didn’t go well because of bad weather condition so I didn’t write a report. Then I planned to hike to HP via Kalupahana – ohiya on December. Again unpredictable weather  condition  stopped me. So I decided to go Ella.

Two of my office mates joined with me(Nishan & Thilak). They came to my house 25^th of December. On 26^th of December morning,  we left to bandarawela. Around 10 am we came to bandarawela and went to buy our checklist items. Then we came to the bus stand to take bus to KithalElla. But we had to stay until to take next bus to KithalElla. Then Someone said it will be take 1hur to next bus. So we decide to hire Tuk tuk to kithalella. Around 11.00 am we came to the Kithaella station. We stayed about 15 minutes at station because Nishan & thilak wanted to some photos of a train and station . After that we start our hike to Ella rock.

To Kithalella Station

Landscape (By TK)

Nishan and Me

At the Station

By Tk

Nishan is ready to Capture the Train

The Train – By TK

Thilak aka TK 😛

Here she come – By Nishan

Smile – By Nishan

We walked about 100m  towards to Ella side until finds the trail head that mentioned in previous reports. There is Bo Tree on the left side with foot path. The footpath will take you to the Ella rock. There ware few villages and we asked directions from them. Then we walked considerable distance  on the footpath until we realized we took the wrong path. There was a junction and we took the left side path.  So if you use this trail take the Right side path on “Y” junction. Somehow we manage to get onto the right path.  We came to the shop with summer hut. The trail of the Ella rock Summit goes near the summer hut So we Followed the path and it took us straight to the summit.

First Bridge that we crossed

Searching something to Capture 😀

.	TK Waiting for us

Trying to Find the Path

Being Lost

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Landscape – By TK

Finally

The Shop With Summer Hut

We met lots of foreigners On the trail. We had a few breaks until reached the 1st view point of the Ella rock. It was a bit flat area and there was a nice view. You can see the Punch Sri Padaya (Little Adam’s Peak) clearly on this place.  While enjoying the view, Nishan and TK stared to clicking :D. So we stayed about 20 minutes there.

Path to the Haven

TK Trying to Click

Land Marks

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Still Climbing

Before the 1st view point of the Ella rock

Few More Steps

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.	Lovely Place

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Shade

The Team at the 1st View Point

The Gap – By Nishan

Beautiful Soundings

Towards to Buththala – Wellavaya Area

Little Adam’s Peak

Land Marks

Land Marks

We started to hike around 12.30 pm. From there onwards the trail continues to ascend. It continues until the summit. So we had a few breaks while we climb. It was a bit difficult to climb with heavy backpacks but it was fun. We really enjoyed. We reached the summit around 1.10 pm. We started to rest after a long climb :D. Then we had lunch around 2.00 pm. While we reach the summit there were few foreigners and there was and old men Among them. His name was Jinasena (AKA jine). He sells Tea, Soft drinks etc. for visitors. He said he came every day around 6.30 am and stayed until visitors gone.

Started Again

The trail still Ascending

Drinkable Water

Foreigners

Helping Hand

Climbing With heavy weight

Happy Face

Finally Came to Some Flat Area

Uncle Jine – By Nishan

We Made It

A Wallpaper – by TK

Back to Campsite

We started to prepare our camp site around 2.30. we pitch our tent. Then We went to collect some firewood for Campfire. Firewood not a problem in that area. But be careful when you going for camp in Dry season. Lot of Wildfires in Ella area also your camp file might be a reason for a wildfire. Around 3.30 pm we repaired our camp site. We were ready to spend the night on the Ella rock.

Setting Up Tent 1

Setting Up Tent 2

Setting Up Tent 3

Setting Up Tent 4

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It’s Done

Perfect Campsite

Land Marks

Uncle Jine helped us to Prepare the Campsite

Around 6.30  we lit up our campfire and it was light up fast because of the wind. On night wind was very high and few showers fell down. We had toasted bread and BBQ for dinner Nishan Had a vegetarian thing :D. We had little chit chat and we went to sleep. Around 11.30 we got up and came outside of the tent. There was heavy wind around the area and sometimes mist covered whole area. We went to the edge of the rock and we could see the lit up Ella area clearly. Then we came back to the tent and went to sleep.

BBQ Man

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BBQ	Campsite at Night

Our tent – By Nishan

By Nishan

Campfire and the Tent – By Nishan

Nishan Trying to Some Artistic Work with Camera – By Nishan

By Nishan

Our Campsite – By Nishan

While Night Walk 😀

On the next day we got up early, the whole area covered by mist and few rains came down. Around 7.00 Am we went to the other side of the Ella rock at that pint you can notice Rravana Ella Observation point of the Ella-Vallawaya Road and Rravana Ella Upper Division. Then we came back to the camp site. Rain stared again. We went inside of the tent and had Breakfast and Packed our backpacks to leave.

Campsite at morning

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Preparing Coffee

Helping Hand

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.	Need Some sugar ?

.	Happy Faces

Ready to Morning Walk

Living in the woods

Straight – By Nishan

More Mist – By Nishan

Lady with Kettle – By Nishan

More and More Mist – By TK

The rain stopped. We packed our things and cleaned up the campsite and left summit around 8.00 Am. We came back to Kithalella Station around 9.45 am. Then we walked to Ella station and Took Train to Demodara to visit The famous Nine arch bridge. Because nishan wanted to take some photos. Then we came home after a Successful hike.

By TK

At Ella Station

The famous Nine arch bridge – By TK

Light – By Nishan

Special Thanks to Nishan and Thilak for the help that they gave to Success this hike and their Photos. Lot of Photos of this Report Taken by them. 😀

Thank You for Reading !!

The End.