We leave Colombo by hired van at around 7AM and able to reach Bambarakanda rest at around 1PM. After having lunch we started to climb. We go alone the road heading to top of Bambarakanda falls. The road goes through the Udaweriya tea state. Before getting dark we were able to reach near the devil’s staircase. On a side of a road in a level surface we were able to put up our two tents. It’s a beautiful full moon poya day. We can clearly see the bright stars all over the sky.

This trip report does not cover any really new sites…thought of writing it up to share some pictures and also as a thank you for all the information provided for this trip by Lakdasun. Its quite amazing how places we go so often can still turn up enjoyable surprises, and its also very nice to be able to visit areas which we did in our childhood but then were not so accessible till recently. The sea in the Yala area is not so safe, but the beach is really worth exploring. And if you know your zoology? Biology? It’s a tremendous advantage!

Drove from Colombo to Kandy, took the scenic route along Raja Mawatha, past Victoria, Randenigala and Rantambe reservoirs and along the Minipe canal to Mahiyanganaya. It was almost dark when leaving Mahiyanganaya after visiting the temple. From there to Rathkinda, we took a long route for the fear that the causeway at Ulhitiya might be flooded.

The best time to visit these parks is during the drought season during July to September but usually yala is closed for visitors during the month of September so I thought of doing this trip on late August but then again when I checked with my contacts @ yala I came to know that this time the park will remain open so shifted my plans to September where the affects of the drought is much more severe so our chances of sighting leopards is @ high.

We started from Colombo at 6.00 a.m. in the morning. Had morning Tea at Hingula and stopped for lunch at Loggal-oya. We reached Bulupitiya Junction [22km from Bibile town] around 3.00 p.m.
Few of us decided to walk [10km to the camp site from Bulupitiya Junction] watching birds and butterflies as older people and few others decided to go by the tractor. We reached the camp site by 6.00 p.m. We saw few birds and heard the “Painted Francolin” as well. Few Jumbos were there too close to the camp site.

This was a hike that we were planning to do since few months back, but lack of information was the main problem. At last we decided to this however, so on Friday we got into a Hatton bus at around 4pm and left to Bogawanthalawa but because we got late we decided to stay somewhere in Hatton(Hatton has many small places offering lodging services). Next day early morning (6am) we left to Bogawanthalawa & from there took a three-wheeler up to North-cove Cabana at around 9am. The Cabana was a wonderful place; we loved the place a lot. The caretaker was helpful in finding some guides who were Gem miners & we are thankful for the hospitality showed by the young assistant manager of the estate who we bumped into by chance!

Bundala National Park is an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. Bundala harbors 197 species of Birds, the highlight being the Greater Flamingo(WHICH IS NOT SEEN RECENTLY), which migrate in large flocks. Bundala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and redesignated to a national park on 4 January 1993. In 1991 Bundala became the first wetland to be declared as a Ramsar site in Sri Lanka. In 2005 the national park was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, the fourth biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka.

We wanted to leave Colombo as early as possible but it didn’t start too well. We could only leave Colombo by 9.00am, its bit of a strange time compared to what I am used to. But it’s the way when you are travelling with a little one. We managed to drive without any major stops until Lellopitiya where we had stopped for lunch. First major target attraction was Kirindi Ella falls. The turn off for Kirindi Ella is just about 200m before the Pelmedulla town on to your left.

The plan of this trip was quite straight forward. Take the night mail on a Saturday night, reach Ohiya early morning, Relax the rest of the day at Ginihiriya wildlife bungalow, walk along the Dayagama trek on the following day and catch the intercity express from Thalawakele (3.00p.m.) back to Colombo. Still there was one important thing which we overlooked. We did not book the train for the return journey assuming that we will be able to buy tickets from Thalawakele. In the back of our minds we thought that even if we miss the train we could catch a bus back to colombo.

Our 2nd day objective was to do the Kirigalpotta Nature Trail and My Engagement on top of Kirigalpotta. But it previous night it rained….. Tent got damaged… didn’t have a good night sleep and crew members wanted to return home so we did Circular Trail. We finished the trail around10AM we had our breakfast on campsite and returned to the Van. But I had hope in getting Engaged on top of Kirigalpotta and I convinced my crew members to agree on doing the “Kirigalpotta Nature Trail” But they didn’t agree with me at first.

We booked the camp site 3 from Wild life department which was the totally isolated from crowd but unfortunately when we reach there, the camp site numbers had been changed by Wildlife Dept. Earlier site number 2 had been changed to 3. We got the camp site in between the two (1&3 earlier)

This was a real disappointment but anyway its bit isolated from the bakers trek. So its better to call and find out before booking.

This is a continuation of a 4 day trip. We camped First Night and before going to sleep our objective was to complete the “Kirigalpotta Trail” on next day. It was a special trail because I was planning to get engaged on top of kirigalpotta.

But unfortunately there were heavy showers at night with extreme wind conditions. Our tent got damaged. Water came in to the tent and we had to take a decision and there were no alternative other than returning back to our Van. It was 11.30PM and we started walking on the rain to the Van. Phew! This was a once in a lifetime experience. I don’t think anybody have ever walked around 12AM inside Horton Plains.