We got off the train from Badulla in the morning after a long 12 hour journey. The list of “must do” in Uva province was getting longer ever since Ashan started roaming in Uva and his reports started flooding into the Lakdasun forum. We were hoping to cover a few of those places and 5 of us were on a hiking trip, hoping to do 3 trails in 3 days. Our accommodation was close to Passara so we quickly did shopping and got into a Passara bus.

The sun was out and it was around 6.45am when we set off and I heard a dog shouting from the top of his voice to find out it was actually a puppy tied into a pole. He was making a big fuss wanting to be free and run about, looking very sad. I felt very sorry for the fellow but there was nothing I could do for him. The surrounding was lush green as the railway track lies through the Horton Plains.

This is an isolated mountain range which is situated in Anuradhapura District closer to Medawachchiya (මැදවච්චිය) and Kabithigollawa (කැබතිගොල්ලෑව). It’s highest point is about 121m high and whole mountain covers by the forest. Most of the maps of Sri Lanka show this mountain. First I noticed it’s name when I was studying social science at school. Later when I started to travel, I had a curiosity to visit there.

Arangala is a mountain I came across while browsing through Chalitha’s profile on Facebook and since then I also wanted to be there and enjoy the magical scenery around Mathale and Dambulla! This gigantic rock is also called Nalanda rock since it is located close to Nalanda village. And also been at the center of the island it holds a special place compared to other peaks. Arangala also has a past history related to Weera Keppetipola and Gongale goda banda who formed troops at this mountain.

This is a journey which I treasured a lot and at the end of it I was left with many unanswered questions. Few weeks back there was a news clip from a TV channel shared around Facebook about some paintings in Ella, Karandagolla. The uniqueness of it was enough to stimulate me to go in search of these paintings within few weeks! The monk at Karandagolla was my main resource person who found a guide and arranged everything. Let me share with you my little adventure and reveal few secrets of a forgotten era.

We came through Southern Highway and turned from Baddegama out. Then we came to Neluwa through Nagoda, Udugama, Hiniduma and Thawalama. From Neluwa you have to drive another16 KM on an extremely narrow road, through Kosmulla.

The perfectly square-shaped rocks had been put together by a very thin layer of a special mixture (about 1cm) and it’s really surprising that she’s been standing all these years. The mastermind behind this magnificent structure is Mr. P. K. Appuhamy, who was a resident of Keppetipola born in 1870 and died at 1951.

Few months ago Kokagala came across my visual path while I was on top of Olagangala hermitage. Never knew what this rock was until I noted it close up at Padiyathalawa. During my first visit to Padiyathalawa I requested from my trishaw driver to find me a guide and let me know and within few months I was all ready to conquer it. Though Amila planned to join me in this venture he couldn’t make it and as usual I was left alone.

We were interested on hiking from College life. While we were doing cadetting those days we were used to hike Alagalla, Wewalthalawa, Ahupini Ella, Batelegala and etc (Most of them were situated in our region). This time Rishad brought an idea to go out of Mawanella region and explore the beauty of Sri Lanka. He proposed us to hike Udamala kanda in welimada and then go to Pattipola station. When we heard the route we found that it was very adventures and interesting.

After the preceding days failed attempt in reaching Milla oya falls I decided to give it another try on the very next day. I never wanted to give up knowing that this hidden beauty will not flow as she had been doing all these years in few more months after the newly built mini hydro project starts functioning. So I reached Millebedda early as I could to try and reach the waterfall from the top because visiting it from Walas ella side was a failure.

This is the second highest water fall of Sri Lanka. It is situated in Nuwareliya district closer to Walapane town. Actually it is a cascade with two parts. (May be three parts). It’s origin is Kurundu Oya. Kurundu Oya fall is the tallest waterfall of Nuwaraeliya district and tallest waterfall related to Mahawali River. As it is situated in a remote area it has lesser tourist attraction. Reaching to bases of Kurundu Oya cascades is somewhat difficult.

Endagala is a unique place which I came across for the first time while going through a book called “Stone in Eloquence” and since then it was roaming around my dreams. One day while traveling to Padiyathalawa I noted a board saying Endagala put up by Uva tourist board and that was enough to stimulate me to go in search of it. I have only seen few pictures of a pond but I was sure that there were much more to expect.