This is the trip report from the visit to Galoya National Park, Nilgala, Makare, Ekgaloya, Ambalanoya tank, Pannalagama tank, Kumbukgolla, Bakmitiyawa, Siyambalanduwa. We started form the suburbs of Colombo at about 6.00 in the morning. There were 11 adults and a 7yr old child (3 families and 5 bachelors) in a Land Cruiser and two double cabs.

School holidays! Its trip time once again. We were getting back home to Bandarawela from Colombo….. a trip that we had done many, many, many times before. But, this time my father and mother suggested that we visit all the interesting places along the route so that I could write a Trip Report on the journey

We started our journey at about 5.30 A.M on 3 rd December from Colombo. Our crew consists of 10. (6 adults of between 45-55 and 4 children between 14-23.) Our first stop was at Kuruwita for our breakfast. After the breakfast we drove through Rathnapura, palmadulla and turned right to A 18 road and again turned off At Madampe and went through Rakwana, Sooriyakanda and Kolonna to see the Maduwanwela walawwa. During these days they have been commencing the restoration work of the old building.

We started form the suburbs of Colombo at about 6.00 in the morning. The crew was 5. We reached kandy at about 10.00 a.m. and visited “DALADA MALIGAVA” the temple of tooth. After that we took Gampola road and I turned my vehicle to “Kothmale Road” to reach the Kothmale dam. It was very nice and scenic road.

We had planned to visit Katharagama & Yala areas as it was the least visited areas for us. As Nuwara Eliya is good for relaxing, we thought of staying ther for two nights before proceeding to Yala via Sella Kataragama

After passing about 100M from Kande Ela Lake there was a sign board saying Kande Ela Educational & Information Center. I saw some vehicles parked inside the premises so thought of going inside and check out this place. (I have seen this place several times but had no time to check out) A persona at the gate told that there is a 1.5Km trek inside the forest with lot of educational stuff. So we purchased 2 tickets (29/- each) and entered the trek.

Passing some manioc chena(s), the two vehicles turned into a by road lead to Amithirigala, which started from Kirindiwela – Hanwella main road, just before the AGA office at Weeke. Having traveling less than a kilometer from Weeke, both were stopped for a while at the base of Medagama viharaya, a temple where one of the first 8th daughter-plants of sacred Bo tree (Jaya sri maha bodhi) at Anuradhapura were planted. Traditionally each vehicle passing this temple used to stop; pray and put some coins in the till box on the name of the rural god “Ranwala Dewiyo”.

Seven waterfalls (ඇලි හත) is a collection of seven waterfalls at the upstream of Seethawaka ganga (tributary is called Naya ganga). Even though the access route is from Deraniyagala, seven falls belongs to Nuwaraeliya district and also all seven falls are inside the peak wilderness sanctuary. This exciting adventure will take you out of busy homosapiens to calm and cool virgin green forest with pure water streams. This story begins by year 1992, when I was around 10 years old I could barely remember one of my uncles told a story about hiking “Eli hatha” which was an epic adventurous tour with full of fear, courage and excitement

We left early morning at 0500 hours from Colombo by car on 22nd October 2010. The first stop was at our favourite breakfast spot, Leyons, Hanwella close to the 40th Km post. We drove at a leisurely pace taking in the scenery of the surroundings and stopping to take photographs. We turned off at Pelmadulla and went through Embilipitiya. Past the town we stopped near the Chandrikawewa tank bund for a thirst quenching drink of king coconut water and then walked up the bund to enjoy the scenic view of the wewa.

A set of monks at Mahamewnawa monastery (Welimada & Buttala) had decided to visit Sripada peak in off-season so as to get worshiped the noble left foot print of Lord Buddha freely, because during the functional season this noble place is busy with thousands of pilgrims from all over the world.
This idea was spread over 16 of us with in one day.

We started our journey from Colombo Fort at 8 pm on a Friday eve. The crew was four. We booked the tickets for Badulla night mail train in advance. Even though I tried to get some sleep on the train it was really difficult for me. After eight and a half hours, the train arrived to Pattipola station around 4.30 am. We had to wait 1.5 hours till the sun rises to start our journey.

With the reopening of the Kumana national park early this year it had been on our priority list for quite some time and finally we managed to make that dream come true. The camp sites were booked more than three months in advance as there is no other accommodation south of Arugam Bay. Wildlife department is trying to rebuild the destroyed circuit bungalows and hopefully we will get to use them before long.