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Year and Month | 14 Jan, 2014 |
Number of Days | 1 |
Crew | Tony and Me |
Accommodation | N/A |
Transport | By Bike |
Activities | Archaeology, Photography, etc… |
Weather | Excellent |
Route | Wattala->Ragama->Radawana Road off Kandy Road->Koskandawala Temple->Nellugahamulla->Turning left towards Warana Ancient Temple->Back to Nellugahamulla->Dikkanda->Left towards Galboda->Pettagankanda->Urapola->Attanagalla->Alawala Pre-Historic Caves->Back to Attanagalla->Haggala Junction->Algama and back to Haggala->Pasyala->Back to Colombo along Kandy Road. |
Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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Author | Sri Abeywickrema |
Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
After our (Tony and Me) first run through the Siyane Korale, which was a grand tour, we decided to continue from where we stopped covering the remaining archaeologically important places in Gampaha District. 14 January looked like a perfect choice coz we both were free, unfortunately we missed Hari’s hike to the Sacred Sri Pada via scenic Maray Watta and Sandagala Thenna route as we both had to work the following day despite it being a Poya Day. This made Hari as mad as a lone Elephant in Maduru Oya.
We called it a day at Maligathenna the other day after a marathon run of exploration of Siyane Korale, Tony vowed to come back to do the rest of it and that’s exactly what we did at the end.
Tour Highlights:
- Koskandawala Temple, Koskandawala (Yakkala-Radawana Road)
- Warana Cave Temple, Warana Temple Road off Nelligahamulla
- Pettagankanda, Galboda off Dikkanada Junction
- Alawala Pre-Historic Cave, Alawala, Attanagalla off Attanagalla-Galapitamada Road
- Uduwaka Falls, Algama off Haggalla-Algama Road
Koskandawala Temple
Take the Yakkala-Radawana Road and after about 2km you’ll see the temple onto your right facing the road itself.
Warana Cave Temple
Go further along towards Radawana take the left Warana Temple Road at Nelligahamulla Junction.
Pettagankanda
Get back to Nelligamulla and go further towards Radawana till you come to Dikkanda Junction and turn left towards Galboda. Ask the directions from the villagers.
Note: The rock where they called the Pettagankanda has been a victim for quarry workers. They had broken the face of it nearly in half endangering the Temple and the Meditating Monks who live there. The constant noise must’ve been a great burden for those monks. They simply ask us to put it so that someone will take notice the damage done to this place. When we visited, there was a lorry and someone was breaking the stones. The ground was a big hole full of rain water and the surrounding area must surely be full of mosquitoes as a result. It’s really surprise the PHIs or the Police don’t take any action against these people who are doing this damaged with the greedy politicians’ blessing in the area. I hope someone will take notice and take some action.
Dikkanda Walawwa:
I’ve posted a pic of this seen from Maligathenna and apparently this is a huge bungalow with 80 rooms according to the folklore. The villagers claim that the owner of this place was to marry an ex-president but it didn’t happen. This bungalow was built in the hope of living here after the marriage. The area belonging to this place is said to be roughly 3000 acres. The bungalow itself is located on top of a hill giving it a panoramic view of the surrounding areas. The owner is supposedly remaining single to date.
Alawala Pre-Historic Cave
From Galboda take the same road towards Urapola. Take left of Veyangoda-Ruwanwella Road until you reach Attanagalla. From Attanagalla, take the right Pasyala-Attanagalla Road and just about 100m along there’s a turn to the right with a sign board for Alawala Cave. Follow it for 8km along Galapitamada Road and you’ll see another similar sign onto your left after Alawala Junction. Along that road about 500-600m away is a temple and ask the directions from there. There are very helpful young boys playing around and they’ll happily show you the way.
Uduwaka Falls
Back to Attanagalla and continue towards Pasyala till you come to Haggalla Junction. (Don’t get confused with the Nuwara Eliya Haggala). Take the right along Algama Road till you get to Algama where the famous bathing place of Algama Falls is located. Unfortunately when we visited it was swarming with drunks in different stages of getting drunk. The waterfall is not so high and the water levels were too low so we decided not to push upwards along the stream zig-zaging the drunkards. We went further along towards Uduwaka Falls. It was no better as a huge pile of garbage was near the waterfall and again full of drunkards. However we managed to shoot a few pics and do check the reckless behavior of those stupid travelers here. Wails of Uduwaka Falls
Check the Panos here: