I had been looking forward an opportunity to visit the Hiyare Forest Reservoir since long time as I have never got a luck to visit this place even if I have born and grown in Galle up to 20 years of age. Still I am regretting to miss that great chance to visit this during my early stages. This located just 10Km away from my Parents place.

Hiyare Forest reserve is located just 18 km (about half an hour’s drive) Galle town. The 55 acre reservoir was built in 1911 to supply water to the Galle city and was only decommissioned in 2002. In 2003 the reservoir and 600 acres of the surrounding low country tropical rainforest was turned over to the Municipal Council of Galle. One part of Hiyare is managed by the Sri Lankan Forest Department and the Wildlife Society of Galle administers the reservoir area.

Route Map (Click Image to Enlarge)

In addition to this there is a Biodiversity Breeding Centre and an Animal Rescue Programme, which provides medical treatment and rehabilitation for injured wild animals, they are treated, rehabilitated and then released back into the wild.

Among its many activities, the Society also carries out educational workshops and conducts regular classes to interested parties.

Some of the injured and rescued wild animals under medical treatment.

Purple -faced Leaf Monkey (injured)	Eagle
Baby Slender Loris	Baby Slender Loris
Crested Serpent Eagles with damaged wings	Forest Eagle-Owl
Black Naped Hare	More Black Naped Hare
Injured Pangolin – Hide & Seek	Hog Deers
Hog Deers	Baby porcupine
Baby porcupine different pose	Natural forest surrounding Hiyare Reservoir
Natural forest surrounding Hiyare Reservoir	Natural forest surrounding Hiyare Reservoir
Natural forest surrounding Hiyare Reservoir	.
Natural forest surrounding Hiyare Reservoir	Natural forest surrounding Hiyare Reservoir

Boats are ready for a ride

For some time now, I was waiting for an opportunity to do hot air ballooning. I once inquired from Kandalama hotel but it was an expensive affair at the list price of LKR 18,000 per person and it could only be done during the NE monsoon season (apparently November to April is when the wind conditions are suitable for balooning in Sigiriya/Kandalama area).

This year annual office trip was planned to Sigiriya in November. Luckily it was the season for ballooning.  When I mentioned the possibility of hot air ballooning to the trip organizers they managed to negotiate a bulk discount of 50% with one of the operator called Air Magic. It was still expensive but we thought “worth doing” at LKR 9000 per person!

The first day of the trip was literally spent on the raod! It was around 2.00 p.m. by the time we reached Hotel Sigiriya.

Since we had about 15 people who opted to go Ballooning, the operator planned two flights on the two consecutive mornings. I was in the first group to go on the very next morning.

We were supposed to meet the operator in Dambulla town at 5.00 a.m. (Yes, you read it right it is 5 in the morning!). They sent Van to pick us up from the Hotel and we were at the Kandalama Tank by 5.30 a.m. Dawn at Kandalama tank was a sight to see!

Early Morning - Kandalama Tank (5.45 a.m)

Daily Routines start Early

By that time we reached the location  the crew had arrived in a truck with the balloon in the trailer. Setting up started in no time.

The Balloon and the crew came in this truck with the trailer	Laying the balloon on the ground and attaching it to the basket
Pumping cold air to inflate it using two large fans	Pilot checking things out (particulalry the control lines) before burners are fired for hot air
Burners are ON and hot air gushing in to the balloon	The gentle giant rising with the Kandalama Lake in the back drop

Time was 6.25 in the morning when the balloon fully rose up and the pilot said “Get in; we are about to go”. We had been told how to climb in to the basket and where each one of us should stand in it well in advance. So in a matter of seconds all eight of us were in side, pilot released the anchor cable and we gradually started to climb up.

Balloon fully inflated, burners at full throttle - We are ready to be air borne

Rising over the Kandalama Tank - It was 6.30 a.m.

There was a second balloon which took off few minutes after us from a nearby location. Apparently there are two operators currently operating in Sri Lanka. We were with Air Magic and the other out fit is operating from the Kandalama Hotel.

After we took off, we steadily climbed up about 100m from the ground. The scenary around was heavenly. All we could see was the Kandalama Lake in a veil of mist on one side and tree tops reaching out of a sea of mist on the other side.

The second Balloon took off few minutes later	Kandalama Lake in a Veil of mist on one side
Tree tops reaching out from a sea of mist on the other side	Sigiriya and Pidurangala

The pilot told us that once in air its all up to the wind to decide where we go! He had very little control over the direction of the flight. All he could do it to control the altitude. Pumping hot air (burner at high throttle) would gradually elevate us and if he keep the burners low, air inside the balloon will cool down and we would gradually descend. apparently the direction of wind at different elevations can be drastically different. He was trying hard to make sure that we float away from the lake and not towards it! So it was a series of gentle ups and downs. Sometimes moving up as much as 200m and some time touching the tree tops and occasionally climbing down as low as couple of feet off the ground.

Minutes later, first rays of the sun started to break out from the Kandalama lake side. The whole scenary on that side started to change and came to life by the minute while the side opposite to the lake was still burried in the mist.

scenary on the side of Kandalama lake started to come to life with the first rays of the day breaking through the mist

Sun rays braking through the veil of mist

Breathtaking!

While the side of the lake gradually came to life, the opposite side continued to be burried in the sea of mist

The side opposite to the lake continued to be buried is mist

The golden temple of Dambulla

It was great to have some company!

Wow!

For the next 30 minutes or so, we continued to drift toward Habarana over diverse landscapes passing paddy fields and other crops with people occasionally stopping by to wave at us. We climbed up and climed down many times, almost hitting the ground at certain points.

Over Paddy Fields	..and the mist had not given up completely
Well above the ground sometimes	All most touching ground at some other times
Flying over farm Lands	..and paddy fields which looked more like a geometrical drawing
Life as usual below us	Occasionally stopping to wave at us
Over plots of Banana	papaya
Coconut	and colorful land prepared for cultivation
Balloon and the Burners	Gas Tanks and the Control Lines
Pilot Busy at Work	Pilot's Dashboard was very simple
He had an altimeter	Something to find out wind direction and a GPS in his watch
We were up again	..and down in the next moment

We had been flying for about 45 minutes and it was time to land. First of all, the Pilot had to find a suitable place for landing. It should be clear of electrical lines, should be dry, flat and has enough space to deflate the giant balloon, clear of any crops and have some road access so that the truck and the trailer can approach to recover the balloon and the basket. And remember, the pilot had little control over were he was going!

Obviously it took several attempts and about 20 minutes to complete the landing process. Finally when we landed, we learnt that we were in Pelwehera CIC farm! The Balloon’s buddy too landed somewhere close by few minutes before us.

Over the Pelwehera CIC Farm	Finally found a place to land
Our buddy was on the ground before us	We had quite a number of CIC employees watching us landing in the middle of their farm with no prior notice!
Touched down and some from the audience volunteered to help us position in on the ground	All good. We have finally landed!
The giant gradually collapsing	Half way down
Horizontally on the graound	Relaxed Pilot
Ready to be loaded in to the truck	The recovery team had arrived!

Elevation Profile of the flight route - Lots of "Ups and Downs" (Click Image to Enlarge)

While the crew was busy loading the ballooon in to the truck. We had some drinks with the pilot and more imporatntly received our Air Magic Certificate!

Celebrating the successful flight!

Air Magic Certified!

The van which picked us up from the hotel in the morning came to the landing site to pick us up and we were back in Hotel Sigiriya by 8.45 a.m.

We began our journey from Kohuwala at 8am on Friday morning. After brief stopovers at Ratnapura and Balangoda to purchase some items we reached Bambarakanda Eco Resort.

Bambarakanda Eco Resort is run by Mrs Sera Mayakaduwa and her nephew Parashara. It’s a perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of day to day life in the city. While the facilities are very basic, the “back to nature” concept is very appealing. Waking up early morning to the sounds of birds and seeing the waters of Bambarakanda falls cascading down in all its glory is an unforgettable experience. The wonderful hospitality shown to us and the delicious food made us wish we could stay a few more days at Bambarakanda Eco Resort.

Bambarakanda Eco Resort with Bambarakanda falls in the background

Having stretched our legs a bit after the long journey and having had our lunch, we set off for our first hike.

The first hike of the day was to Lanka Ella falls. While at first we were contemplating skipping this, Mrs. Mayakaduwa strongly recommended that we do this hike and it’s a decision that we did not regret. The hike at first began through a pine forest and this was the trickiest part since the ground was very slippery.

The trail leading through the pine forest

Thereafter we hiked through a grassy mountain and then reached a forest patch before emerging near the base of the waterfall.

Walking through the grassy area

Walking through the grassy area

Lanka Ella falls was quite breathtaking. A sheet of water cascading down into a pool that is shaped like Sri Lanka. The pool is said to be extremely deep and legend has it that a portion of King Walagamba’s treasure can be found at the bottom. We were warned not to even think of swimming in that pool since quite a few people had drowned there.

Lanka Ella falls

Lanka Ella falls

Our next hike was to the top of Bambarakanda falls. The last portion of the hike was once again through the pine forest with sheer drops on both sides. This part of the hike was tackled with extreme caution, one slip and the consequences could be disastrous. Most of us took off our shoes/slippers and did this part barefoot which helped. However the leaches enjoyed it too

The trail to the top of Bambarakanda with sheer drops on both sides

Just before reaching the top of Bambarakanda falls we reached a rocky outcrop which allowed us a virtual 300 degree view of the surrounding. Again we were extremely cautious when venturing out on this outcrop since there were sheer precipices on three sides.

300 degree view from a rocky outcrop

Finally we reached the top of Bambarakanda waterfall. There was another smaller waterfall cascading down into a pool at the summit. The flow from this pool then headed off into sheer space and as it began its descent formed the start of the Bambarakanda waterfall. It felt great to stand at the top of Sri Lanka’s highest waterfall and to enjoy the spectacular views all around.

Small waterfall at the top of Bambarakanda falls	Bambarakanda Eco Resort seen from the top of Bambarakanda falls
The start of Sri Lanka’s highest waterfall

Since dusk was fast approaching, we began our descent back towards the resort. On our way back we stopped over at the base of Bambarakanda falls and three brave souls decided to brave the freezing water and have a bath. It was pitch dark once they were done, but luckily we had all brought torches and didn’t have much difficulty in finding our way back to the resort.

Pool at the base of Bambarakanda falls (taken during a previous trip)

As day two dawned, we prepared for our main hike. The intention was to walk along the road from Bambarakanda Eco Resort all the way up to the Ohiya – Pattipola highway. Depending on energy levels, we would then do the Worlds End hike as well. The driver of our hired van was given instructions to pick us up near the worlds end ticket office. The poor guy had to travel over 50 Kms by vehicle while we had a mere 13 KMs to hike (or so we thought ).

While the original plan was for the six of us to do the hike on our own, we had an unexpected companion join us. Duke – one of the dogs resident at Bambarakanda Eco Resort decided to accompany us as our guide (even though we later found that he had not done this trail before ).

A short distance after leaving the resort, the concrete road gave way to a rubble path with patches of tar here and there providing evidence that in days gone by this was a better maintained road.

Concrete road gives way to a rubble path

Bambarakanda falls seen from the road to Ohiya

A couple of KMs later we realized that this hike was going to be a lot more testing than expected. The road kept continuously ascending and the next way point in the Lakdasun trail guide never seemed to materialize . After about 1.5 hours, we reached the area known as the V-Cut – A passage through the mountain that is considered a holy place by some. A small altar was visible in the middle of the passage.

The V-cut

Altar in the middle of the V-cut

The V-cut seemed to be a passage marking two different worlds. The hike upto the V-cut was a twisting road through mountains with breathtaking scenery looking upon the Bambarakanda waterfall and the surrounding areas below. Soon after passing the V-cut, the scenery changed to an estate setting with mountains towering high above us.

Change of scenery after the V-cut

A short while after passing the V-Cut, we arrived at a place where a stream flowed across the road. This stream is what feeds the Bambarakanda waterfall.

Duke inspects the stream across the road

After taking a short break for breakfast, we continued with our hike towards Devil’s staircase. The road now traversed through the estate and line houses continuing its steady ascent towards Ohiya.

Breathtaking scenery all along the trail	Breathtaking scenery all along the trail
Breathtaking scenery all along the trail	Breathtaking scenery all along the trail
The top of Lanka Ella falls visible from the trail	One of the many mini-waterfalls we passed on the way

The more we climbed our energy levels kept dropping. However, we were in no hurry and took our time enjoying the scenery and taking as many breaks as needed. The key was that no one was in any mood to give up and resolved to complete the hike no matter whether we reached our destination at 2pm or 2am the next day.

After another couple of hours, we reached another passage through the mountain similar to the V-cut. This marked the start of the Devil’s Staircase. The Devil’s staircase was a concreted stretch of the road with very steep hairpin bends descending sharply. When viewed from a mountain opposite, this stretch of the road looks like a series of massive stairs – hence the name Devil’s staircase.

The start of Devil’s Staircase

Devil’s Staircase

After passing Devil’s staircase, the path was fairly level with a mild descent. A short distance before the turn off towards Worlds End we met Raju, a local guide who was recommended by Mrs. Mayakaduwa. Raju then accompanied us for the rest of the journey and helped cut short the journey by guiding us via shortcuts through estate paths.

A few minutes after meeting Raju we reached a fork in the road. The descending road lead to Ohiya which was approximately 9 KMs away. The other road was a sharp ascend up to the Ohiya – Pattipola highway which was our route. Our energy levels were now so low that we had to take short breaks at almost every turn in the road. So near and yet so far was the phrase that came to mind. Less than 3 KMs to go… but boy wasn’t that tough.

One of the many shortcuts we took towards the end of the trail	The final 3 KMs
The final 3 KMs	The final 3 KMs
The final 3 KMs

Having had a short break for lunch en route we finally reached the Ohiya – Pattipola highway around 3pm that afternoon. Here we had an amazing piece of luck. We had asked the driver of our van to meet us at the World End ticket counter which was a further 1.5 KMs away, however just as we emerged out into the road our van passed by and we were able to stop it.

All of us thankfully filed into the van. Duke who accompanied us all the way also decided to take the easy option of taking the van back home rather than walking all the way back.

Five of our team then went on to do the Worlds End trek while I remained in the van resting my poor feet and keeping Duke company.

Day three was a quiet day assigned for rest and recovery. After breakfast, we headed back home stopping en-route at Eheliyagoda for a river bath and lunch arranged by one of our group.

We started at 5 am and reached Sinharaja via Mathugama/ Kalawana (Kudawa Entrance) at 7am. Unfortunately we had to park the vehicle 1 km before the ticket office at the regional forest office as a bridge was under construction.The climb to the park entrance was steep and by 7.30 we were inside with the tracker Somapala( 045 7210845)

May be Brown Shrike (migrant)

Green pit Viper

We came across the 1st bird flock around 8 though there were only about 6 species consisting of Orange billed Babler, Crested Drongo, Malabar Trogan, White faced Starling, Laughing Thrush and Schimeter Babler.

Malabar Trogan	Greenish Wabler (migrant)
Dark fronted Babler	Brown Breasted Flycatcher (migrant)
Orange billed Babler	White faced Starling
Female Jungle Fowl	Yellow fronted Barbet

It was a perfect day with the Sun up and was a very good session for photography.The best thing was finding a Frogmouth couple inside the shrub.I hope that some of the Birding members might enjoy looking at the photos.

Blue Magpie	.
Frogmouth	.
Sri Lanka Laughing THRUSH	Crested Drongo
Asian Paradise Flycatcher	Schiemiter Babler
Black Headed Bulbul	Kunakatuwa (a Pit Viper)

Giant Squirell

Nelu flower blossoming every 4 years

Back at the Entrance

While returning from Sinharaja yesterday, from Mathugama we turned towards the highway and after checking the credentials of my friend who carried a special pass we were allowed to proceed. We started at 3.15pm and by 4.45 we were back at Kottawa exit.

There were some work been carried out to finish before the opening on the 27th and the different colours of the carpet due to re-doing at places were seen but it was a good experience but it will be a different ball game when the full vehicular flow starts. The noteworthy concern was the number of dogs staying near the middle fence but hope that the necessary action will be taken to sort this out.

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We( 5 of us) started at 2.15 am on the 4th of November from Colombo and reached Yala office at 5.45 am. We were joined by 5 others who had come the previous day from Kandy and had stayed in Thissa.The group consisted of 3 families and 2 others who opted to leave the families behind. Buthuwa was booked for the 1st day and Ondaatje for the 2 nd night.Our tracker as usual was Shalika( t/p: 0776808666 ) and we went in at 6.10 as the office opens at 6 these days.

By 7.30 we had seen 3 leopards ( One at Rukwila) and a tusker as well.

1st at rukvila	2nd and 3rd
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Tusker (Gamini)	Tusker
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After making the round as planned we had breakfat near the river and crossed to go to block 2.We had to tow the Hi-Lux cab 3 times as there were mud and water from the rains in the previous days but it was expected and we wre prepared for that. We wanted to go upto the devalaya( Okanda) but came back as there was a noise in one of the jeeps.

.	Black Eagle
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Very Close	Ches nut Headed Bee Eater
Lesser Sand Plover	.
Jackals

Aferwards we proceeded to Buthuwa and after having lunch went to Thissa and got the jeep repaired.By the time we went back to the bungalow it was 7.30. We had a barbeque and some refreshments before dinner as well.It started raining heavily with lightning and thunder and we only could hope for the best.

The following morning when we woke up at 4.15 the stars were shining and we started at 5.30 and by 5.45 the sun rose and it was a beautiful day.And then the Leopard fiesta started and we were entertained by 9 leopards during the day. One was seen by only the jeep in front and 2 others were seen only and could not be photographed but it was so exciting and fulfilling.

4th	4th
5th	6th Crossing
6th Crossing	6th Crossing
7th	7th
7th	Button Quail
Croc	In full swing
In full swing	In full swing
Wild Boar	Changeble Hawk Eagle
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.	8th
8th

We missed the bear may be by hours but had left the unmistakable foot prints .

Bear marks..	Grey headed fish Eagle
Honey Buzaard	Common Iora
Whiskered Tern	9th Leopard to see
9th	9th
Yellow wattled lapwing

The 2nd night was spent at Ondaatje where the surrounding area was fantastic but the place was realy rundown with no maintenenace done which was sad to see and also annoying as we paid good money and also the income in Yala has risen dramatically.Though we made another trip inside the following morning also we could not see anyone though it was hot and sunny day but we were quite content , happy and thrilled as our mission was fully accomplished except the fact that there were very few elephants around.

Jungle fowl

This is my second trip report (I never thought I’d finish even one). We had our plans to go on a trip by our study group at the university which never came true until this December.

The trip wasn’t planned extensively but was well executed at the end. The trains were booked from the Fort railway station just that morning. Third class sleeper-rest was our choice (quite economical) and due to the fact that it was a Monday evening of a non-vacation time we were able to book the train on the same day. We were able to get contact details of a cab to do the day traveling in Nuwara-Eliya. Pello Resort was booked by one of our group mates.

We got to Fort by bus around 7.00 p.m. by bus with all our packs ready. Train was due to leave Colombo at 8.00 p.m. We got on to our relevant seats and got ready for the journey. Train left on time to my surprise. We had good time in the train singing, reciting jokes etc. Tried our best not to disturb the fellow passengers who were a minority (13 to 8).

Music in the train

We got some things ready to eat bread, seeni-sambol, salmon and had it around 10.00 p.m. The train was heading slowly but seemlesly to our destination.

Dinner in the train

Then it was time for some jokes from the past, things went out of hand sometimes. Then people wanted some nap. Some never slept though. When we were up again around 2-3 in the morning it was Hatton and we knew it was only few stations from there. Then people started seeing a UFO outside the train (I never believed). It was 4.30 a.m. When we reached Nanu-oya (We were planning to get there 1 hour early). I was chilling to the maximum around that time. Our transport had arrived 1 hour early to the station and he was waiting eagerly

Nanu-Oya station

We got to Pello Resort by 5.00 a.m. and we washed ourselves and got ready for the day-off. It was still chilling and was a wonderful experience.

Pello Resort near Gregory Lake, Nuwara-Eliya

From the balcony of Pello Resort

Breakfast due at 7.30 a.m. and we had a walk in the Gregory lake for site-seeing.

Pony by the lake	Our Pro
This is what he was aiming at	Sun rising on to the Gregory Lake
Birdy by the roadside	He too was busy
Good project	Not very far from the lake
Bell was ringing (In the tummy)

Tea was ready. A hot tea would be second only to water. Then we spent some time inside the resort singing until breakfast. Breakfast was ready by 8.00 p.m. We were surprised by the arrangement. Well above what we expected and the food was awesome too (Special thanks to the cook).

Indian cuisine

It was time (actually way out of schedule) to start to Piduruthalagala mount top. The area is controlled by the army and arrangements have to be made beforehand to get to the mount top. The journey was through the Galwaysland National Park. It’s a bird park but we never so any birds.

MaXXXX Jeep	Galwaysland National Park
Galwaysland National Park

Then it was just five kms to Piduruthalagala, of course a 15 minute drive thanks to the good roads. Maha-rath-mal was a frequent flower we saw by the road. It was so misty and cold on the way. We comfortably passed through the army posts due to the pre arrangement. It was chilling on the mount top (stayed alive due to the jersey). Yes! We reached the top of the highest peak of Sri Lanka (I felt like Sir Edmund Hillary – not seriously), but it was a land mark I wished I visited for a long time. Special thanks to the soldiers who showed us the way.

Road to Piduruthalagala	Road to Piduruthalagala
Stone marking of the mount top	Our group
Nuwara-Eliya from the mount top – It was misty and we never saw anything	Nuwara-Eliya from the mount top - It was misty and we never so anything

We were not allowed to take much pictures due to the security reasons and we paid due respect to that decision. There were many antennas and the Rupavahini Co-operation antenna was one of them.

Our next destination was the Lover leap Falls which was on our way back to Thalawakele. What a beautiful waterfall. It looked like man made at first sight. It was a 300-400m walk in a high steep road to get to the base of the waterfall.

On the way to the Lovers Leap Falls – Flowers by the road	On the way to the Lovers Leap Falls
On the way to the Lovers Leap Falls – Flowers by the road

A Swedish family was enjoying the beauty of the waterfall. We were mesmerized. This is a good time to go on a waterfall hunt.

Lovers Leap Falls	Lovers leap falls
From the base of the waterfall Nuwara-Eliya town was clearly visible

The time was 11.30 a.m. when we go to the waterfall. Spent some time there and came back quickly as time was passing by. Then it was a long 1-1 ½ hour journey to Thalawakele. The tea estates by the side were so beautiful.

Tea

Tea

Our next destination was the Devon’s falls. It was almost 1.00 p.m. by then and was clearly short of time but we never worried because there was no strict schedule (it was anyway a getaway)

Devon Falls

Time spent by the Devon’s Falls

Then we went to the world’s largest tea museum (source- our friendly driver) The Mlesna tea castle. There was a huge sculpture of James Taylor, some historic pictures of tea in Sri Lanka and lots of kinds of tea. There was a Restaurant run by the same company but we resisted our temptation due to the high price tag

Tea Castle	Tea Castle
James Taylor

Time was 2.00 p.m. and everybody was hungry by that time but we couldn’t find a good shop to have lunch. Most shops did not have finished serving by that time.Our next destination was the

It was so beautiful and the rain did not stop us from going close to the falls. The purple flower tree close the falls drew our attention.

St. Clair’s Falls

St. Clair’s Falls

Then it was clearly the time for lunch and In-between snacks were un-compensatory. We found a descent place Just after Thlawakele and they offered fried rice for a reasonable price. Food was good but the service was pretty bad. We had no other option but to stick to that place because Nuwara-Eliya was 1 hour drive away. Had to stay for half an hour for the food.

It was almost 4.00. p.m. when we finished our lunch and we knew that it was the end of our journey. All other plans had to be cancelled and we directly came to the Nuwara-Eliya town. It was 5.30 p.m. Did some shopping in Nuwara-Eliya town (mainly fresh fruits to take back home) by then and we got to a pastry shop to grab some stuff to eat on the way as well as to have a hot cup of tea.

When we went to the bus stop the last bus starting from Nuwara-Eliya to Colombo was been parked in the stands. We quickly got on to it and reserved our seats. Bus started to Colombo around 6.30 p.m. It was a new CTB bus and the seats were like made out of rocks. It was a very uncomfortable journey back in the first 100 km where there were huge turns. Oh yes bus stopped for tea and some of us had hot coffee.

We got to Pettah by 12.00 p.m. Then it was three-wheelers that helped us get back to our destination.

This is one of the best quick getaways I’ve experienced. Nuwara-Eliya is a town that is always to be enjoyed.

Thank you for the photos by Madura and Jalitha. These are some other beautiful pics taken in our journey

Beauty	Beauty
Beauty

We started the journey around 6.00 am from Kottawa using a hired van. I had some places of interest in my mind (found from the Lakdasun site itself) to be visited on our way to Pidurangala, some of which were Arankele monastery and Kaludiya Pokuna.

Just after passing Kurunegala we turned left to reach Arankele Monastery. The road was not that smooth, but it was ok. There were places where the road was quite damaged due to heavy rains on the previous night. If not for a van or off-road vehicle, it would have been impossible to tackle those obstacles.

At about 10am we reached Arankele which was also declared to be a silent area probably to maintain its tranquility. At the entrance to the site we witnessed ruins of a hall and after exploring it we walked along the main path and reached an office there. The person there was very helpful and acted as our guide to rest of our visit at the monastery. We visited only the main archeological sites with the help of our guide, as the total area of the monastery is said to stretch for hundreds of acres.

Latter part of the road to Arankele was not in a good shape	Arankele Monastery entrance
Ruins of an ancient hall seen as we entered Arankele monastery	Path to infinity ?

A Panoramic view

This was painted on a rock inside Arankele temple premises (Click Image to Enlarge)

We asked the driver to bring the van to the Arankele temple where the journey through the site ends at. After finishing our trail through the monastery and reaching Arankele temple, we continued forward along the same road by which we reached Arankele, which lead us to Ibbagamuwa town (few km passing Kurunegala)

We reached Pidurangala (about 2km after passing the Main entrance to Sigiriya rock) at about 3pm and arrived at Back Of Beyond (BOB)-Pidurangala which is also called as Kurulu Uyana. We were amazed to find out the beauty of the place blending perfectly with the natural surroundings. The place was designed in a simple but a stylish manner with all the necessary facilities.

Entrance to Back of Beyond – Pidurangala	Simple but awesome
Feeling of being surrounded by a jungle	Dining area
One of the coolest designs I have ever seen …	A frequent visitor to BOB

After relaxing for a while we decided to climb the Pidurangala rock which was resting few meters away from the place we stayed. It was a steep climb but not a difficult one as steps were there up to the point where we found a large resting Buddha statue, from where we could witness a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding area.

From that point onwards the path to the top of Pidurangala rock was not clear so we had to search and finally reached a place where we could see the top of the rock. After a considerable effort we managed to climb to the top of it. On top was one of the greatest views I have ever witnessed. We could see the Sigiriya rock almost at touching distance, but in a different angle to what you would usually see. The rest of surroundings were lush green forestry stretching far. It was pretty much flat and rough on the top and we could walk almost to the edge of the rock while the smooth breeze gave us such a refreshing feeling that tempted us to stay there forever.

Buddha statue on the way to the top of Pidurangala rock	Wow ! spectacular view seen opposite to Buddha statue
View of Sigiriya rock from top of Pidurangala	Breathtaking!
In the middle is the lake we visited the following day morning	Side view of Sigiriya

New Pidurangala temple seen from top of Pidurangala rock

As it started to get dark we started descending and reached the bungalow in about half an hour.
We enjoyed our usual Barbecue made by ourselves (headed by our chief cook Lakshitha ) at night. We also met a couple of uninvited wild guests who happened to visit one of our rooms and fortunately did not cause any harm for us.

Next day morning around 7.00 am we went to visit a nearby lake (don’t know its name) which provided a spectacular site of both Sigiriya and Pidurangala rocks which looked as if they are competing against each other . We also enjoyed the sight of peacocks there but they quickly flew away as we tried to move closer.

Site of a peacock resting on top of a tree	Two giants standing close together
Creating a mirror image	Pidurangala vs Sigiriya.. Which one is taller ?

Tribute to our faithful guide

After spending couple of hours enjoying the surroundings we returned to the bungalow and immediately had our breakfast as we were feeling really hungry. Subsequently around 10 am we went to visit Sigiriya museum which was located opposite to the Sigiriya rock main entrance. It is a very useful place where you can gain a lot of knowledge about Sigiriya Era. (We did not visit Sigiriya rock due to limited time we had and all of us had visited it several times previously) We returned to the bungalow around 11.30 am. We had lunch and had to leave this wonderful place sadly at about 2.00 pm

Entrance to the Sigiriya Museum

Paintings at Sigiriya museum

The entire set of paintings

On our return we visited Kaludiya Pokuna for which we had to turn left from Kimbissa and travel along Kandalama road and again had to turn left and travel about 2 km on a gravel road. As we were approaching Kaludiya Pokuna area it was like entering a thick forestry area giving us a soothing feeling. We had to explore the area by foot in search of Kaludiya Pokuna, but unfortunately we missed it since we could not locate the path leading to it (the entire area was said to have consisted of 40+ caves). Nevertheless we enjoyed our walk through the jungle having plenty of enormous trees, natural caves and ruins.

Remains of a Sthupa at ‘Kaludiya Pokuna’ area

Are we this small?

Caves like these is a frequent site

Panoramic view of Kandalama lake

On the way to Dambulla we spent some time near Kandalama lake and enjoyed the beautiful scenery there.

We reached Kottawa at around 9 pm ending a splendid and unforgettable journey.

Thank you very much for reading and I hope you have enjoyed the trip report

The Galgamuwa Tusker

The Galgamuwa tusker whom many now call Parakrama, was the largest wild tusker in Sri Lanka.I first heard about this tusker in 2009 when my friend Namal said that he had a friend who went on foot and photographed this guy, and that he we like no elephant he has ever seen before. My heart started to race, and I immediately started looking around, trying to find contacts in that region. Tuskers have always been my obsession and to see and photograph such a majestic animal will be my life’s ultimate goal. During this period I was searching for another big tusker who visits Kaudulla once a year. But sadly I am yet to come across him.

Due to the remoteness of the region and due to commitments at work I kept my plans of going to Galgamuwa on hold. I had just graduated and started working, therefore I could not afford to gallivant due to the lack of leave and the fact that I was on probation. But during a conversation with one of my colleague at office, he happened to mention that this particular tusker was shown in a local TV program named Attapattama. As I have only heard about this guy from reputation, I was desperate to see what he looks like. I searched all over youtube and finally found the video. I almost got a heart attack when I saw him. His tusks were only few feet from the ground. The clip was only about 5 seconds. Now this gave me new motivation to find the guy. I asked all my contacts if they know anyone in that area. Finally my old safari uncle Rohan said that he knows of a wildlife officer who is stationed there, and that he is part of the elephant capture and relocation team in the north central province.His name was Upali. The problem was that we couldn’t contact him for over 6 months as he is in all parts of the country with the team in the field, capturing, relocating problem elephants , as well as treating wounded and sick animals. Finally during October I thought I would just try his number again, and to my luck he picked up. I explained my interest, and he said that he knows of the tusker, but that this is the wrong time to track him as its the rainy season and it is difficult to find him. Therefore I decided to patiently wait till 2011.

Then during November 2010 while at work I suddenly received a call to my office line, it was Upali from the elephant team. He suddenly said that the tusker had killed two people early morning, and that they have been given orders to capture and relocated him to a safer place, as his life was in danger. He told me to come there as soon as possible in order for me to take part in the capture. I immediately told my boss the situation, as she is extremely understanding she allowed me to leave immediately. I got hold of Rohan uncle, hired a van and left for Galgamuwa. We reached there by night, and during the next day set off into the forest with Upali, Vijitha, Dr Prasadh and the rest of the elephant team. I was surprised that such a big tusker would live in such a small pocket of forest. Galgamuwa was a big village with small patches of forest here and there. Human elephant conflict is at its highest in this area and it is a surprise that this tusker survived for so long.

We trekked around 2-3 KM into the dense forest. Due to the overgrowth because of the rains the journey was hard. And me being quite unfit made it even harder. I stayed at the back of the line, and allowed the team to venture in front, as there is a real risk that the tusker will charge. Suddenly the trackers in front stopped and signaled that the tusker has been found. I couldn’t see a thing as it was dense foliage and I was far behind. Vijitha ventured further and fired the dart gun. There was a big commotion and next thing we know the elephant has bolted. Thereafter he followed the path the elephant had created through the forest and we ended up on the main road which the elephant had crossed, gone through the local school and ended up in a paddy field bordering the forest. By the time I reached there I was gasping for air, but when I saw him for my own eyes for the first time I forgot all my ailments. He was undoubtedly the king of all elephants. His tusks were around five feet in length and perfectly symmetrical.

He was undoubtedly the king of all elephants

I walked up to him with Upali and took a few photographs, thinking that he is docile due to the sedative, which I found out that I was thoroughly mistaken. He suddenly charged at us, and I turned round and ran, tripping and falling in the process. Upali managed to halt the charge with his commands. The team knows very well that to stop a charging elephant one must stand their ground and challenge the elephant. His technique worked, and after a while the tusker collapsed in the chena cultivation next to the paddy field. Even though the tusker was down he had enough strength to swipe aside four of his captors with his tusks while they were attempting to tie him down. After a few hours they managed to successfully secure him with massive ropes which were tied to strong tree stumps.

After a few hours they managed to successfully secure him with massive ropes which were tied to strong tree stumps

Tired after a long and tiring day, and with the rush of adrenaline from this encounter, I retired to for the night at a local guest house. While in bed at night I couldn’t get the tusker off my head. The entire night I he was in my dreams.
Early morning the next day we headed for the site where the tusker was tied up. The team updated me that the plan is to relocate him to Madhuru Oya National Park, well away from tourists and human intervention.

His tusks were around five feet in length and perfectly symmetrical.

They were awaiting the arrival of the relocation truck from Anuradhapura. Meanwhile a backhoe was digging a larger ditch where the truck will be reversed into for easy loading of the elephant. By this time there was a large number of villagers who had gathered around the elephant. By mid afternoon the truck still hasn’t arrived and it was getting late for me. Thus I decided to head back to Colombo, as I need to get to work the next day. Therefore I bid my farewell to the team and took a good look at the tusker before parting ways.

I bid my farewell to the team and took a good look at the tusker

I was in a state of euphoria all the way back to Colombo. I had achieved one of my big goals in life, which is the photograph a big tusker. I was so happy the next day morning while dressing up for work thinking that now the tusker would be in a safe place free from poachers where he could be protected, when I got the call. It was Upali, he was sobbing and crying, and I figured it was what I dreaded the most. The majestic tusker was dead. He said that they tried all they can to try to save him but unfortunately due to the stress and pressure the poor elephants heat gave way and died. I asked him what really happened. He said that by the time they managed to load him into the truck it was late evening. And while on the way to Madhuru oya, the tusker had been goading the floorboards on which it stood with its tusks. Suddenly due to the strain part of the boards gave way and his foot went in. Immediately the team stopped and attempted to release him, but the villagers in the area started to protest, threatening the team if they release him in the same area again. Thus they rushed to the Siyambalagamuwa weva, but by this time the elephant was weakened due to his struggling and the immense pressure on his chest due to his weight. The team tried in vain to raise the elephant, whose heart gave way and died on the 21st of November. I couldn’t hold my emotions, and was deeply saddened. I was crying the entire time I was at work, and couldn’t believe such a thing should happened to such a beautiful animal.

The next day the media were on the rampage, with all sorts of stories and different opinions on the incident. Some claimed that the elephants foot went all the way through and that he died due to wounds inflicted by the tarmac. This was such a false statement, as the elephants foot did not go all the way down, and was stuck in between the gas tank and some iron bars running across the truck.
Some stated that the truck was unsuitable for elephant transfers, for which I can respond by saying that this truck is the standard vehicle used by the department to successfully relocate hundreds of elephants previously.

Yet some others were out to crucify the elephant team. For those people all I have to say is that this team are responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of elephants before this incident, and to judge them on one accident is totally unfair. These men are extremely brave, dedicated and committed to saving the wild elephant in Sri Lanka and are some of the nicest and genuine people I have met.

Then there were some who devised a story that the whole incident was planned by the government to extract the tusks for a top government official. Which I was quite amused about, as it sound more like a fairy tale.

End of the day, we lost a majestic national treasure, and we should look firstly at the reason for the relocation, being the constant human elephant conflict and loss of habitat for the elephant. I feel this root cause needs to be addressed firstly rather than looking at short term solutions like relocation, because the rate elephants are dying due to conflicts each year we might lose over 90% of our wild elephant population by 2020.

In the Second day of our N’eliya trip we left Dimuthugama after dropping other members for the “Adventure of Conical hill” at about 11.30 in the morning & did drive toward the road which leads to Horton plains. We had nothing in mind where are we heading exactly but just wanted to relax and enjoy the roadside view for sometime.

Soon after we reached Kande ela Lake, thought of having a boat ride in the lake. So I tried to park the jeep somewhere close to the lake but could not find a proper place. So I had to move ahead until I get a good place for parking.

But 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.

Welcome to the Jungle

We slowly went inside the forest patch & tried to feel the nature. After walking about 20 M we came across with a model of a clay house built inside.

Model of a Clay House

We did not bother to go inside and check out cz I was in a hurry to go inside and look for other things that they had to offer us.

So as we moved on, suddenly I noticed a man trying to cut a huge tree inside this forest reserve with a chain saw. I was like OMG and took some photos in a distance. And saw another man was trying to slice another huge tree.

A man trying to cut a huge tree

Slicing a huge tree inside the forest

As we moved further I realized that these men are not real but just models made of cement to educate us on how to cut a tree & slice it properly.
Believe me those models are just like real men & anyone who go there for the first time will surely mislead by this. Cloths and shoes were real so that help them to give it a real look.

After spending some time there we moved inside the forest.

Well prepared trek

Well prepared track

After few meters of walking we saw a tractor & a man on it trying to drag a tree cube. That is also a real tractor but with a man model. This was funny.

Dragging a tree with the help of a tractor

After some joy rides on the tractor we started walking ahead. After few minutes we came to a place where trees slice and dice. All the machines were real but not men.

Slice & Dice

Slice & Dice

After observing this process we moved further inside the forest. We were looking for some wild life but the group of children coming behind us was shouting so we had a bad luck of seeing any creature. But suddenly I heard a monkey jumping here and there from our back. We stopped and tried to spot it.

It was a Giant Squirrel (Ceylon Giant Squirrel) / (Ratufa macroura)

I tried to get closer. (Ceylon Giant Squirrel) / (Ratufa macroura)

We enjoyed a lot looking at its natural behavior. Then started moving with a fresh mind to see more wild life ahead. But to my dismay we met a mud house built inside the forest which tends to feel that we are walking in a village.

Model of a Mud House

After taking some knowledge of the mud house technique we moved further to see more interesting things inside.

Road Continued…

After walking about 150M we came to a water stream and a wooden bridge over it. They have nicely built the bridge blended with nature.

Small Water streams

Not harming nature

Another one was on the way.

Blend with Nature

As we moved further another water stream came across & we could see the lake through the forest in a distance.
So that let us know we are close by the exit gate.

Last Part…

Take only photographs & leave only foot prints

After some gentle climbing in the winding trail we reached to the last part of the journey & could see the gate in a distance letting us know time to go out leaving only foot prints & taking only photographs…

Thanks for reading.

(Pls note that I believe this noble foot print is as our Lord Buddha’s left foot print & that is why I called it as “Sripada peak” but not as “Adam’s peak” pls don’t get angry with me who believes this foot print as Adam’s foot print because I am a Buddhist)

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. (Pls note that some of us have not even seen before this activity but the Lord Buddha’s strength linked us together within a short time period).

(I was given this information by a one of my closer friend who is a present student at Peradeniya University on the last night before the trip).

According to our plan ,all of us(Six monks from Mahamewnawa monasteries at Welimada & Buttala, Two from Galle,One from Kandy,Two from Colombo, Three from Kurunegala,One from Anuradhapura,Three from Buttala,Three from Badulla,One from Kothmale) reached Hatton at about 0300pm on the 6th Saturday.

All of us reached Hatton by train.

After buying some essential foods & other basic needs from Hatton we started our journey to Nallathanniya via Maskeliya at about 430pm.We reached Nallathanniya at about0630pm (under heavy rains & winds).

After getting permission from the Nallathanniya police station (they were very helpful) we started climbing at about 0730pm. 16 members of us(excluding monks) observed “Pansil” before stating the voyage. When we started our voyage the heavy rain suddenly changed to a drizzling.

This was my first visit to Sripada but all the other 21 members had several experiences from several ways. We had to use some polythene sheets to cover our bags from wet winds.

Starting from the beginning we started chanting “Pirith” & stopped that noble activity at the top. This was absolutely a new experience for everyone because at normal condition young people are not interested in such events, normally they used to consider this voyage also as a trip for sensual pleasures, but I am very happy to say that this was really a spiritual voyage.

We had only three torches but no difficulties faced while climbing. Small light beams from mobile phones were also helped us for a safe climbing.

Passing the Japanese peace temple, we reached the CEB maintenance unit after one hour. Due to the very cold weather condition experienced, the legs of monks got senseless as some of them were not using even rubber slippers. The two gentlemen at CEB maintenance unit understood our requirements & they gave us a heater to heat the legs of monks & made arrangements to prepare plain tea (“Gilanapasa”) for not only monks but also us.

We got our dinner (bread) there & during that time period a heavy rain occurred & we had to be stopped there for more than one hour. At about 900pm we left that place after thanking them for the service given for us. Monks held small speech for thanking them.

At about 0130am we were able to reach the peak with “Zero harm” to anyone. At that time the heavy rains had started but the “in-charge” gentleman of the peak understood our story after asking some questions from monks. He gave us a hall for accommodation near the end of the “Rathnapura road”. That room was sufficient for us but it was very cold & water was leaking from the top slab & the floor due to heavy rainy condition. As we did not have an option we used polythene sheets to cover the floor & slept. The temperature of that night is almost below 05 degrees of celcius.Although we had jackets the monks had only their robes. At that time I really understood how the real sons of Buddha face difficult tasks with courage(“Atalodahamin kampa noveema”).

We got up early morning on the following day but weather did not allow us for anything. Monks asked us to observe “Dasasil” at the morning & to keep it safe for 24 hours up to the following day. We very pleasure & accepted their request.

You may see the photos & understand the total story.

“Buddha poojawa”	Buddha poojawa
Road closed	Noble foot print
.	.
.	.
On the third day morning the weather changed completely to a fair condition	.
Maskeliya reservoir	.

Sun rising (“Ira sevaya”)	Sun rising (“Ira sevaya”)
Shadow of the peak when sun rising	A foreigner is catching “ the shadow”
.	.

“No rush “	.
.	While returning
.	.

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. So we had an early breakfast and as soon as the first shop opened we bought some food (Rotti and Lunumiris ) as lunch and started our journey.

At Pattipola…

Dawn...

A lion cub…?

From Pattipola we walked towards Hortain Plains. Although it is 5km to the Pattipola entrance from Pattipola station, we decided to do it on foot. At first the weather was fine and after walking few kilometers the mist started to invade the area. Within a few minutes the whole area was in thick mist. The visibility was no more than 5-10m.

Road to heaven…

Amazing…

Evergreen forests…

Some flowers…

Mist began to invade the area…

Thousands of legs…

Living in harmony…

Heavy mist…

Macro…

Giant ferns…

More flowers…

Diamonds…?

We got tickets from the entrance and kept walking until the Thotupola Kanda sign board is found. According to the board there are 2kms to the peak. We turn left from the main road and started to climb the mountain. The path was easy to find since it was cleared and maintained properly. There is no chance of getting lost if you travel using the cleared footpath. The trail is going through a cloud forest and because of the heavy mist it was like a whole different world. 

By 10.30 am we could reach the top of Thotupola Kanda. There were heavy winds on the top on the mountain. We couldn’t see the surrounding area because of the heavy mist. After a 10 minute break we started climbing down and suddenly it started raining.

Thotupola trail head…

More flowers...

Trees on the Thotupola trail…

Trees covered in mist...

Clicking...

No this is not a scene from a Hollywood movie…

Flowers…

Climbing up…

At the top… (2359m from sea level)

From the Thotupola trail head we had to walk around 4-5kms to reach the Diyagama trail head under rain. Only two of the guys had rain coats and the other two including me had to use an umbrella and fight against the windy rain. 
The whole trouser got wet and I was shivering due to extreme cold. After this tough part of the hike we reached a bungalow of forest department and even though it’s closed we found some shelter in the garage. When we reach there, some fellow travelers were also taking shelter from the rain. We had our lunch there and waited till the rain eases out. But sadly it didn’t. We had no option but to start the hike again and we started the Diyagama trail at 1 pm.

After walking through some remarkable landscape we reached the border of the Diyagama estate. There we found a patch of forest and the heavy mist made it looks so beautiful. We have never seen such a place in our entire lives. When we look up the trees stood up like giants in the mist. It was still raining but we even risked our cameras to capture some pictures of this wonderful place.

The road on the left is the Diyagama trail

Through the forests…

Sceneries on the Diyagama trail…

More scenery…

More scenery…

Still raining…

Diyagama trail…

First sight of the giaNts…

Giants in the mist…

Breathtaking…

Yeti…?

Scary isn’t it…?

Leave only your foot prints…

The boarder of Horton plains and Diyagama estate…

Then we walked down the Diyagama estate and reached a small village. This part was also so beautiful. By now the rain was stopped. From there we took a three wheeler and reached Dayagama town. The driver said the last bus from Dayagama leaves at 5.30 pm. But we had only 35 minutes to catch it. So he gave us a roller coaster three wheel ride through the tea estates and reached Dayagama down just before the bus took off.  The bus took 1.5 hours to reach Thalawakale town. After having dinner at Thalawakale we waited till the night mail train arrives. We were lucky enough to get some seats and because of the tiredness and lack of sleep in the previous night I could sleep the whole way back to Colombo. At 5am Sunday morning we reached Colombo Fort.

Diyagama estate…

Diyagama estate…

Diyagama estate…

Leopards and Sambar ahead…

Walking down…

Wow…

Finally some sign of civilization…

More scenery…

More scenery…

More scenery…

Final phase of the hike…

Map of the area…

THE END

Day1

We started our journey around 5.30 am from Rajagiriya. At Kadugannawa we had our breakfast it was Bread with Salmon Fried, dhal curry and Amba Maaluwa (Home Made Special). We planned to go to Dalada Maligawa but due to the bad weather we changed our plans and headed towards Mahiyanganaya.

DALADA MALIGAWA – TEMPLE OF TOOTH RELIC

On our way we stopped at several places, first stop was near the Victoria power house office where the dam is visible. It was very difficult to capture a photo with the drizzle but managed to take one picture. Then again we stopped at “Hilpankandura”, there was a small boutique and we were in need of refreshment specially a plain tea. And there was a mini water fall adjoining the road it took some time to take the kids out of that place as they started playing in it.

first stop was near the Victoria power house office where the dam is visible
MINI WATER FALL AT HILPANKANDURA

After about half an hour in that place and struggling with kids we were back in the coach. Next stop at Loggal oya. This time , I m sure , others have to struggle with me because I got down with 2 cameras. We were there for more than 45 minutes ladies were impressed with the scenery and kids got a chance to check their throwing ability by throwing stones towards the reservoir. Very silently I spent my time with the camera.

LOGGAL OYA BRIDGE

BEAUTY AROUND LOGGAL OYA	BEAUTY AROUND LOGGAL OYA
BEAUTY AROUND LOGGAL OYA	SPILL

Mahiyangana Temple was our next stop , as Buddhists, Mahiyangana Temple is a very important place to worship, took some time in the temple and its Lunch time ,decided to have our lunch at Sorabora weva .

MAHIYANGANAYA DAGABA	TUSKER GUARD AROUND THE STUPA
SORABORA LAKE	SORABORA LAKE
JOY RIDE	MOUNTAINS OVER JUNGLE
HIGH RISK	ROOTS

CUTE ISN’T IT ? FOUND THEM UNDER A BENCH IN A BOUTIQUE NEAR SORABORA VEWA

After a home made lunch, we started journey again, destination Bakamuna. Our Cousin Dr.Udaya Wickramasinghe dental surgeon of Bakamuna Hospital is waiting for us , our overnight stay will be at his quarters . As he cant accomadate 19 people we booked 3 rooms in Kapila Restaurant at Bakamuna town. Dinner was sponserd by Dr Udaya , String Hoppers with pol sambol and fish curry. Optional Maniok with kochchi sambol . compare Maniok vs String hoppers , Maniok vanished without leaving any clue ………………

We planned our 2nd day during dinner time . To get back to Colombo Via Raththota . and idea was to have a bath at Illukkumbura but we had to change the idea as Dr Udaya came with a new idea to have a bath at “Rajavella” Amban Ganga. About 5km from Bakamuna town.

4 km by Coach and 1km by foot…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Day 2

TREE HOUSE AT A TOBACCO PLANTATION

PATH TO RAJAWELLA (AMBAN GANGA)	RAJAWELLA
FOOT MARKS …………??????????????????????????????	RAJAWELLA @ AMBAN GANGA

After spending nearly 2 hours at Rajawella, we went back to Dr Udaya’s place to have lunch.
We were late to start our journey back to Colombo as we had plans to stop at Riverston also. Nothing to do ….. We started around 12.30 from Bakamuna took 2 hours to reach Illukkumbura ,Just 15 minutes near the wildlife quarters and headed to mini worlds end. Started walking with the drizzle and mist. No hopes to see the bottom,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
We are not that much unlucky its clear over there …………………………………………………………………..

ILLUKKUMBURA	ILLUKKUMBURA
TOWARDS MINI WORLDS END ……………………………	ITS CLEAR……………………
ENTIRE AREA IS CLEAR…………………………	BOTTOM

SCENIC BEAUTY OF THE AREA……………….

THE END