As usual, we spent longer than we could afford with her (not unusual when you’re at the bottom of that massive falls towering over you like a mother Panda trying to cuddle her babies.

Last year when we hiked brandy rock I did note a nearby mountain range obscuring the view towards Matale and knuckles range. Since then I was eyeing on this peak (Wiltshire/Alu vihare Kanda), almost after and year I was all ready to venture on but as usual couldn’t find any companions. Amila who promised to join me also couldn’t make it because of a bike accident. I arrived at Matale on the previous day and stayed at Selina guest close to McDowell Fort. Next day early morning I wondered around the fort wall and entered the cemetery which lies in the fort premises.

One of my favorite hiking places is knuckles. I can still remember my first trip to knuckles about decade back. It was in 2003 and we went to Meemure and hike Lakegala Mountain. After that I went several times to Knuckles range with different entry points. Last time in April 2013 we hike Knuckles peaks. After this I had a dream to climb highest peak in Knuckles range, its Gombaniya Mountain. I read a trip report published in LAKDASUN.

We started from Gampaha at about 5 o’clock in the morning. The crew was five in a car. Could not book a bungalow inside the park and since arranged to stay @ L.L.T safari hotel close by wilpattu park. Owner Tiuder is a very nice and honest guy. He has few jeeps as well. Charges were very fair and helpful as well. Contact him through 0714187083 and try to arrange the driver named Dammika. Very nice and a great guy who will go for that extra bit to show us the best.

I had to go to Matara to meet some of my foreign friends and next day I was supposed to return back to Monaragala. I didn’t want to waste my visit by not visiting few places so I picked up few random locations which I could drop in without much of a difficulty while getting back.
First I went to Mulatiyana and headed towards Mawarala and few Kilometers away from Mulatiyana Kos gaha dola falls could be found on the right hand side of the road.

So on the 16th 2 of us left Delgoda at 4am picking up the 3rd member on our way from Dambadeniya. By about 6.30am we were at kurunegala and proceeded towards ibbagamuwa as we intended to take the dodangaslanda – yatawatta road to matale.
The 38km distance from ibbagamuwa to matale was a gradual ascend. The scenery as we gained elevation was breathtaking.

Year and Month July, 2013 (12th to 15th) Number of Days Four Day Trip Crew 3 on 12 & 13 July & 4 on 14 & 15 July (Age: Classified) – Tony, Lasantha, Dimuthu and Me with our helpful host Nava mama Accommodation Nava Mama’s House (081-3804191) – Best place to stay with a real village […]

There are some places one must visit and Nilgala is one of those places. Finally after 1 ½ years been to Monaragala that day seemed to be closing in. I was determined to visit Nilgala during the Esela weekend and only needed few guys to accompany me but at last I had a huge crew. First of all my office staff was ever so willing to venture on and later to be joined by few of my Lakdasun friends. Though I was disappointed with the wild life department because of all the messed up bookings, I was not going to give up this time and decided to camp the first day at the park entrance.

There are several pathways to approach Namunukula. Once I have been there from Namunukula village (a decade ago). I want to go there from 3rd mile post in Badulla-Passara road. It is accepted as the easiest pathway to climb the highest peak of Namunukula. Because you can reach the base of the mountain by a vehicle and then have to go through the tea estate till you meet the last part of the trail through forest covering.

Have you guys heard about a village located in the valley of Loggal oya where they do not have a road even and they have to climb an abyss to get to the nearest city (Madulsima) for 3 hours. Yes still our fellow citizens do live in the dark where even some of the basic facilities are not available. The sun is seen only at 9am and it vanishes in few hours at around 3pm, even when the sun could be seen the thick layer of mist covers it off and deprive them with their right to enjoy the sunlight. And yet these 200 odd people have managed to survive happily despite all of their troubles. After some recent media programs these people have got some hope and they are looking forward for a brighter future.

I was used to travel from Colombo to Pollonnaruwa by morning train (Udaya dewi/උදය දේවී) in one part of my life and accidently noticed an isolated mountain just passed Konwewa (කෝන් වැව) station. I could notice this mountain till I pass Moragollagama (මොරගොල්ලාගම) station. As it was large and situated on a surrounding flat ground, aroused my curiosity and found to have it as the longest isolated mountain of Sri Lanka-Galgiriya mountain.

Tony and I had a nice little chat along with our snacks till we reached Kandy around 8.30am. Dimuthu was still in Ambepussa which means good two hours for us to kill. Having taken some pics of the bunnies in the front garden of the station, Tony and I headed towards “Dalada Maligawa” but couldn’t try to go inside as I was in shorts. So when we were passing Maligawa, suddenly a thought struck me. I had been trying to visit “Garrison Cemetery” for a long time and this looked like a very good opportunity.