We had started our journey around 7.30AM from Peradeniya and we had planned to reach Nuwara Eliya without the normal route (through Gampola and Ramboda). Actually Padiyapelella Ragala route is one of most beautiful route to reach Nuwara Eliya.

This journey was a mob hike which me and my group of friends organized within a day and took off. Our hope was to start the journey from Sarasavigama, then reach the Uragala summit, which is the highest peak of the range and then to hike along the range ( Katusu Konda, Hanthana1, Hanthana 2 and get down to Hanthana Udugama road.)

Kondagala is a beautiful and attractive Mountain situated in the First commercial tea estate of Sri Lanka called Loolcandura. It is a property of Sir James Taylor in Eighteens, he is a famous British trader where he done a great service to the Sri Lanka.

Wewelthalawa is a plateau located in Amanawela – Yatiyanthota region on the mountain top, above a height of 2,800 feet. It lies in the center of a ring of mountains like a bottom of a basin. This belongs to Halgolla Estate of Kelani Valley Plantations Ltd.

We were enjoying hiking and trekking since 2011 after we entered the University of Colombo. This time we wanted to end the year (2016) with a novel experience. So we decided to camp on a beach and selected the amazing Kalpitiya (Kudawa) beach to fulfill our dream.

Galpadihela/ Kosgolla (1105m) mountain is situated closer to Mahiyanganaya. Ancient foot pathway from Ududumbara to Mahiyanganaya was at the base of this mountain. The lake Sora Bora Wewa was built by the giant called Bulatha and his wife has kept about 2000 stone steps along this foot pathway to make “Galpadipela”.

Every year February signifies that it’s time to walk along a stream exploring cascades and this journey was not even in my wildest dreams. It was picked up randomly after noting few cascades on Google earth in January while we were hiking Gal padihela.

Maduru oya National park (මාදුරු ඔය ජාතික වනෝදයානය) is one of four national parks created in Mahaweli Development project. It is situated crossing two districts: Polonnaruwa and Ampara. There are few isolated mountains situated at Maduru Oya national park. Omunugala is the highest of it (513m).

Thunhisgala (1627m)/Kalupahana is a prominent peak of Kncukles massif sitauted at center of Knuckles forest reserve. This was my back to back journey to Kalupahana within two weeks after attempted hike to Thunhisgala but ended up it’s side peak.

Thunhisgala/ Kalupahana is a prominent peak of Knuckles massif with 1627m height. It is situated at center of Knuckles area-Kalupahana which was covered with Cardamom estates 30 years ago. The reason for the name Thunhisgala is due to three peaks in climbing. (Thun+His+Gala) (තුන්+හිස්+ගල). Alternative meaning is three ridges meet together to form the mountain.

This is a less known forest reserve within less than 2km from the Kandy City and is the only forest reserve in Sri Lanka maintained by a Municipal Council (MC of Kandy).

Kandy is considered as one of the main and historically important cities in Sri Lanka. In 1371 King Wickramabahu established his kingdom and named this city as `Senkadagala’ in remembrance of the Brahmin called Senkanda’ who lived in a rock cave in Udawattekele forest. Thereafter all the kings who ruled took appropriate measures to conserve `Udawatte-kele: forest and regarded it as a part of the Royal Palace.