An “Ambalama” can be described as one of an important public building in ancient Sri Lanka. There were series of “Ambalama(s)” located along the roads, being land marks & resting places for travelers for free. It was a convenience and comfort to people traveling far; going on pilgrimages or visiting relatives by foot or cart. Usually “Ambalam” were built in a chosen spots such as by the side of a paddy field or stream. Facility of portable water was provided with a “pin-thaliya” (a pot of water) or a well

We reached Thalgasmankada Bungalow at around 2.30 p.m. We learnt that we were the first party to stay there after it was closed about two years back following an LTTE attack on the army camp which used to be there in front of the bungalow. Until lunch was ready, we walked around the bungalow and spent some time at the river which was almost overflowing.

If you take the back roads rather than the coastal road, the environment is quite different. We were rather surprised to find such a lot of lovely wawes. When we passed Lenabatuwa wawe (between Akkurassa and Kamburupitiya) it was too late for photos but it seems a very very lovely place. There is a little guest house just on the side of the wawe which looked like a potential base. There was a board for the Lenabatuwa Bio Diversity Park and someone told us that walking in the forest is quite interesting. It certainly looked lovely.

This was also one of our dream hikes that we had to postpone several times because of the rain. But finally we had some fine weather and we decided to do it. But it was the starting day of a long weekend and the queues for the buses were miles long. We got into a Badulla bus after a one and a half hour wait in the queue. It was 2 am in the morning. After a four hour ride we reached Belihul Oya around 6 in the morning. Although we couldn’t take a good sleep previous night we were eager to start the hike. We had our breakfast there and took two three wheelers to reach the trail head.

We were heading Lulkandura / Loolecondera Estate, the first commercial tea plantation of Sri Lanka, which was located in a distance of 35km from Peradeniya. Just after the University premises, the climb was began. The road was bit narrow but had been maintained well. It was nice scenery of hilltops at Gampola area visible in our right hand side, especially the Govijana Seya of Ambuluwawa. The road was run through natural rain forests, pathana and pines lands.

We stopped at a night hotel somewhere near Nittambuwa as two of my friends were out of dinner and drove up to Dambulla without stopping. We re-fueled from Damdulla around 3.00 am and drove to Pallegama. We stopped in a night tea shop somewhere near Pallegama to have a cup of tea. We arrived at the Park Entrance at around 5.45 am and proceeded to the bungalow after completing the formalities at the entrance office.

We were due to travel on the Kurunagala – Puttlam road with some time to spare. So I looked up a couple of books for some diversions and came up with two interesting sounding places – Tonigala Inscription and Paramakanda Viharaya – in සිරි ලක අැසු දුටු තැන්. We never made it to Tonigala (one of the largest inscriptions in SL) as we were so taken up with what we found in Paramakanda. Turn off a few km past Anamaduwa by the sign board for Paramakanda Purana Viharaya. Driving through very flat land you suddenly see this huge rock outcrop ahead.

After hours of traveling we were at another grate irrigation wonder of our ancients. That was the grate tank at Kantale, which was built by Kind Mahasen the grate and renovated by the Kings Agbo II and Grate Parakramabahu. We turned right at Kantale to visit Seruwavila. While passing few kilometers in that road, we realized the difficulty of driving a vehicle with low ground clearance, in such a road being under constructed. Our vehicle was fully utilized & loaded. This was our annual family journey of the year 2010.

We started our trip from Colombo at about 5 a.m. And we came to Kandy at about 8 a.m. We had our breakfast from a little restaurant but to be honest it was a horrible meal. After that we got in to a bus which goes on the rout ” Kandy – Udu Dumbara”. Also you can go to Hunnasgiriya by a “Mahiyangana” bus. we were in Hunnasgiriya when it was 12.30 p.m. We had our lunch there. It was awesome. They have two vans which go to Meemure everyday. only two vans. They come to Hunnasgiriya in the morning and leave at about 1.30. So we got in to one of those vans.

I would like to thanks our two guides “Gopal” and “Kalu Ayya” who gave remarkable help to us to make success this journey. I believe this information would be helpful for people who are planning and willing to go to visit Ali-Hatha (seven water falls). I have a kind request from those people; you may go, visit these places and enjoy your self, but please do respect to these places and keep it for our future generations

Outward bound:6.05 am train from Colombo Fort. A long long train which seemed to be going everywhere – Anuradhapura, Pollonaruwa, Batticaloa, Trincomalee…so make sure you sit in the correct carriage or your destination may change! Real great fun was watching the train ‘change tracks’ at the Polgahawela, Mahawa, etc. After the Anuradhapura carriages were detached, we suddenly found ourselves at the end of the train rather than the middle

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.