The small bus was crowded to avoid seen even our own shoes. It moved forward just a little bit faster than a bullock. As a security step we asked the conductor to remind us when we reached our destination. How ever in the middle of the journey, it was confused a bit whether we had passed the correct junction to get off. Because with that high load of passengers, it was possible to get forget the conductor what we requested at the beginning. But impressing that we were not unlucky, the conductor remind us to get off at the correct place.

From Palatota junction onwards, we had to walk at about 1.5km to reach the Richmond Park Estate. Our destination was the Richmond Castle, a fine country house in a 42-acre fruit garden estate built in 1896. It was said to be one of the biggest mansions in Sri Lanka.

Memories of colonial era…	Main entrance
Information (Click Image to Enlarge)

History of the Castle with an outside source of information:

At Palataota, in a little inland, is Richmond Castle, a fine country house in a 42-acre fruit garden estate. Built in 1896, it originally belonged to landowner turned philanthropist NDA Silva Wijayasinghe, the local Padikara Mudaliyar (village leader) & was used during the British period as a circuit bungalow for officials. It is said that ‘Governor George Anderson was requested by the royal family of England to appoint a battalion of 40 soldiers to guard the castle and its occupants.

This magnificent hybrid of Indian & British architecture was originally a spice plantation mansion, built for the Padikara Mudaliyar, a wealthy regional governor, who copied the plans of an Indian Maharaja’s palace designed by a London architect.

Note the audience hall, with intricately carved pillars & beams (two shiploads of teak were brought from Burma for its construction) & a spiral staircase leading to a gallery of some fascinating photographs from the time.

Today, Richmond Castle is a popular tourist attraction, and serves as an educational centre for less privileged children of Kalutara and the vicinity. The house & grounds are open to the public. It makes a good canoeing or bike track with riverside picnic.

First statue you meet

Another statue….

Richmond Castle was a two-storied building with 99 doors and 34 windows, decorated with glass panes embossed grape vines. It was said that two shiploads of teak were imported from Burma for the construction of the same.

Front elevation of the castle…( Pls. Forget about the living statue visible in front of the same)

The entire building was decorated with intricate carvings. There was a dancing hall with a stage as an added feature. There were tiny holes at the floor of dancing room, to provide a continuous flow of cool air from the bank of Kulu River.

Side view of the castle	Another statue
More statues	Inside the main entrance
A colorful glazed window frame

It was said that the architecture applied there was greater similarity to an English mansion than to an ancient “walauwwa”.

Since the Mudaliyar was a lover of nature, he had decorated the garden with blooming plants and marble statues. Some of the statues were still stand.

Rear elevation of the castle ( being repaired )	One of the Verandahs
Rear elevation	An article published in a newspaper. (Click Image to Enlarge)

Folklore said the Mudaliyar was childless and not happy in marriage. At the end of his marriage, he devised his dream castle to the Public Trustee for the welfare of the children of the country. And he breathed his last in 1947 lonely, in a room at the Queen’s Hotel- Kandy

I was lucky to get invited by my BIL Rohan to go to Kebilitta in the last week of September 2007.I was very excited as I had heard about this place from my BIL as he had gone there the previous year as well. His cousin Mohan had gone 3-4 times before and was the tour leader who had to approve the people joining the pilgrimage as lot of rituals had to be observed and carried out before embarking on the tour as every one who makes this trip go with outmost faith and belief.

The story is that the God Kataragama had met his future wife Walli amma on a rainy day near a tamarind tree at this place which is also called Siyambalawa devalaya (මහ සියඹලාව දේවාලය).We were asked to be refrained from consuming all kinds of meat and alcohol for one week before the date and we bought fruits and other stuff which are needed for the pujawa (පූජාව) the day before.Mohan been a veteran organized a couple of cooks with all the dry rations needed. A කපු මහත්තයා also joined as there were no people living around this place . Two mechanichs were also taken as the terrain is very difficult having to cross about 4 steep casueways.

Though the rest of the party came to Kataragama from Kandy I went with a friend in his Defender from Colombo .

We arrived at the guest house (cant remember the name) around 5.30 pm and showered and joined the others at Sella kataragama for the evening pujawa. Later we went to Kataragama devalaya and to Kiri wehera as well and prayed for a safe and fruitful pilgrimage. As this time of the year was not safe even to go to yala due to LTTE activities, special approval was obtained to go through Yala.

After early dinner we retired to our rooms as we were planning to start the day as early as 5. By 5.45 we were near the situlpawwa turnoff and after crossing the river had breakfast and continued.

CROSSING THE RIVER IN YALA	ABOUT TO HAVE BREAKFAST
COOKING BREAKFAST	HAVING BREAKFAST

RELAXING AFTER BREAKFAST

SOME OF THE VEHICLES

We passed the flat terrain in block 2 which consist of vast baraon land like play grounds and after few hours arrived at the kumana saman devalaya which can be accessed from kumana as well. After a pujawa we resumed crossing kumbukkan oya going through thick jungle cutting branches of fallen trees on many occasions as we were equipped for that as well. A tyre was punctured in one jeep and we attended to that as well.

We had lunch packets which we made in the morning near the oya and crossed the aras ( causeways) where we had to tow a couple of jeeps with the help of electric whinches , cables and tapes. We finaly arrived at the camping site around 5 pm and started to erect our tents.

TRYING TO COME ON TOP

THE PLACE WE HAD LUNCH ON THE WAY

Later all of us bathed in the river dressed in new clothes and crossed the river armed with mamoties and brooms etc to clean the place. Also we took kodi wel to put around the old bo tree which is situated before the devalaya land.Most of us took something to be installed at the place: a stainless steel platform to keep fruits, kiribath etc, a cement irrection to light pahan, thrishulas to tie panduru etc.

BATHING BEFORE CROSSING

THE FIRST THING WE NOTICED WAS THE AREA THAT HOLDS THE TAMARIND TREE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA WHICH IS A SQUAR OF AROUND 400SQ.FT WAS VERY CLEAN AS IF SOMEONE HAD SWEPT THE AREA THOUGH RIGHT AROUND LOTS OF TREES , SOME TAMARIND TREES WHICH SHED MANY A LEAVES AT ALL TIMES WERE THERE. WE WERE REALLY TAKEN ABACK AS THIS UNUSUAL SCENE WAS VERY PROMINENTLY SEEN.

But we swept anyway and made it cleaner and lighted the pahans and chanted pirith and went back to the other side afterwards. Had dinner which was cooked by our guys and went to sleep around 11pm.

We got up around 5 in the morning and with torch lights found our own places to do the routine job on the river bank and coverd with the help of shovels we took and then could hear the sound of water flowing fast and we knew the water levels have risen in the night.

CAMPING SITE

COOKING IN PROGRESS

When it dawned we could see that the water level was up. We bathed and holding on to a rope we put across the river tightening on to 2 trees from either side, went to the other side. Some of the crew had already gone ealy to the rituals. To cook muluthenge kiribath they had taken fresh water strained from 7 holes near the bank and a fire was made under “udu viyan “and cooks had worn” mukawadan”. Afterwards the pujawa was taken under udu viyan and placed on the platform and the කපු මහත්තයා started chanting and we prayed. Afterwards we ate kiribath and came back to the camping site.

DRESSED IN NEW CLOTHES	THE PATH TO DEVALAYA
OBSERVING RITUALS	THE BO TREE
THE SACRED AREA	THRISHULAS AND OTHER THINGS DONATED BY MANY
THE OLD TAMARIND TREE

We cleaned the place and started the journey back at 10.30 or so and took the monaragala route and arrived through kotiyagala and had lunch at a known place in the village at around 4.30pm.We stayed the night in kataragama at the same place and departed in the morning with ever lasting memories.This was one pilgrimage that we will cherish for a long time.

THE PLACE WE HAD LUNCH ON OUR RETURN

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.

Bambarakanda falls	Climbing up
Getting closer to top of Bambarakanda falls	Path we came

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.

Bright full moon

Our Tents - Camping near Devil's staircase

Next day morning we get up before sunrise to see the beauty of the surrounding area. The road we came leads to the Ohiya. But our objective is to reach Horton Plains by shortest path. From there onwards we go through foot paths on tea plantain and able to reach the road in-between Ohiya entrance and Far Inn. On the way we cook some noodles using small gas cooker and had our lunch.

Going through foot paths on tea plantain	Going through foot paths on tea plantation
At last reached the Ohiya - Pattipola road	A Curious by stander

At about 5PM we were able to reach our camp site inside the Horton Plains (Camp Site 2). And that night is a very cold sleepless night. And next day morning we were very tired after long journey and had some rest. For that day we have booked the Mahaeliya bungalow. In the afternoon we had a cool bath from one of the water streams.

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Next day morning we started to climb down to Dayagama. There’s a road leads to Dayagama just before reaching Far Inn from Pattipola side. This road is not much scene till you reach the border of Horton Plains. In the border there’s a kovil. After that it’s a tea plantation. We had called the van to come there but road conditions are too bad. Therefore we had to walk some more kilometers. After few kilometers there’s a waterfall named Agra falls. We had a cool bath from there. At last we were able to catch the van and came home.

Kovil near border of Horton Plains

Agra falls

Year and Month	August 2007
Number of Days	Two Day Trip
Crew	2
Accommodation	Pitadeniya Forest Department Dormitory
Transport	The “old but faithful” jeep
Activities	Just driving around to explore the area, Photography, Hiking
Weather	Weather cooperated very well. No rain and perfect light for photography!
Route	Colombo -> Rathnapura -> Pelmadulla -> Madampe -> Rakwana -> Suriyakanda -> Deniyaya -> PallegamaFrom Pallegama we explored the Hathmale ella falls (about 4km from Pallegama) and the Pitadeniya forest department conservation center
Tips, Notes and Special remarks	If you plan to stay at Pitadeniya Forest department dormitory you need to reserve it in advance from the forest department head office Don’t attempt to take the jeep track to the Pitadeniya Conservation Center unless you are behind the off-road driving adventure. Be prepared for leeches if you plan to walk in the forest
Author	Mithila
Related Resource	1. Trail Guide: PathanOya Falls from Pitadeniya Conservation Centre (PCC)2. Contact Numbers of Forest Department and Wildlife Deparment for Reservations
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread In and around Deniyaya (Hathmale falls, Pitadeniya, Pathanoya falls and scenic Buluthota hills)

This was one of those trips where you pick a random week end and head some where you have never been to, with pretty much no planing in advance!

This time it was me and Prabath. We decided that Deniyaya would be a nice area to explore, so two of us boarded my old but faithful jeep at 2 a.m. on a Saturday and started driving towards Deniyaya via Rathnapura, Rakwana and Suriyakanda.

By 6.00 a.m. we were driving along the scenic A17 (Madampe-Deniyaya) road winding through the Buluthota – Rakwana hills. The sunrise over buluthota hills and the scenic views around Suriyakanda were simply Stunning!

Sun rise over the hills - passing Rakwana on the A17

Twilight and Dawn - Passing Rakwana on the A17

Early morning view around Suriyakanda on the A17

By 7.30 in the morning we were at Deniyaya town. After a quick breakfast we were thinking about a plan for the day. We knew that the waterfall “Hathmale Ella” or the “seven story falls” is located somewhere close by and decided to visit that. A little bit of fact finding from the locals helped us map the route.

We drove about 7km from Deniyaya on Pallegama road. Passing Pallegama town we continued up to Pallegama Bridge. Just before the Pallegama Bridge, there was a by road to the right hand side. If I’m not mistaken the name of the road was “Hathmale Ella road”. We drove about 1km along this road to find out that we were at some one’s garden! It was a dead end. We asked for directions to the waterfall from there to find out that we have to drive a few hundred meters more (4wd track) crossing the home garden, a quick climb up thereafter, and we were at the place where we can walk down to the base of the waterfall.

Hathmale Ella (Seven Story falls) - The drive was quite eventful and we literally drove through some ones private garden!

Retruning from the waterfall, the next destination that came to our mind was the forest department camp at Pitadeniya, one of the entry points to the Sinharaja Forest. Again another round of fact finding gave us the directions.

We drove back to Pallegama town and took the left turn ( turn right if you are driving from Deniyaya) towards Mederipitiya. At Mediripitiya we came across this narrow bridge, which just cleared the jeep!

Crossing the Mederipitiya Bridge - The jeep cleared the sides by an inch on both sides!

Crossing the bridge, we drove another 1.5km when the jeep track came to an end. A round of fact finding again revealed that to reach the Pitadeniya Camp we had to either,

1) Park at this point and walk about 1.5 km along the Lankagama foot path, cross the river “Gin Ganga” by a raft and reach the camp
OR
2) Take the 10km “though” jeep track all the way to the camp from the Deniyaya – Pallegama road without going through Mederipitiya.

They clearly told us that this jeep track is “Tough” and only “Tractors” go there. so what, we were in a “Farm Tractor” too (well the 1984 military spec land cruiser was a tad more civilized than a tractor! ).  So we decided to go back to Pallegama and look for this jeep track.

Back on the Deniyaya Pallegama road, we drove passing Pallegama town again. This time we crossed the Pallegama Bridge and turned right on to the jeep track (my memory is little hazy here but the map seems to confirm my memory about crossing the bridge).

The first five kilometers on the jeep track was no challenge at all. We breezed through the stretch wondering about the “need for a tractor”.  Soon the “luxury jeep track turned almost “no track”. The next 5km to the camp really pushed us and the jeep to the limits.

The "going got though"	..and the "tough kept on going........"
We met the "Tractors" and passing them on the narrow track was another challange!	The last bit to the Pitadeniya Camp - There is hardly any "track"

It was about 1.30 p.m. by the time we reached Pitadeniya camp. We met the forest department officers there and they were kind enough to  let us stay with them in one of their unoccupied rooms even though we hadn’t reserved the dormitory.  Thanking them for thier kid help, we decided to spend the rest of the trip exploring the surrounding.

At Pitadeniya conservation cneter - The facility is located at a beautiful place bordering the Ginganga Rive	The forest department dormitory at Pitadeniya located neighboring the conservation center. You have to reserve it from the head office in advance
The stunning view of Sinharaja from the pitadeniya conservation center	Breath-taking view of Ginganga from Pitadeniya Conservation Center

Around 3.00p.m. we started to wonder around. To explore the forest, one should cross the river and take the trails to the forest from the Lankagama foot path. We decided to do the Pathanoya waterfall trail.

One should cross the river to get on to the trails - There is no bridge but only the pillars so you have to use a raft	Routes in the forest at Pitadeniya
Kenuna Ella falls, a tiny waterfall seen on the way to the Pathanoya Ella falls	Pathanoya ella falls.

By the time we returned to the conservation center the day had come to an end. The forest officers were kind enough to invite us for dinner (remember we turned up there with no notice!).

There are several other trails to explore but we did not have time to do all

The following morning we packed our bags and left early knowing the trouble we have to go through on the jeep track.

We returned on the same route, passing the scenic Buluthota hills and the hair-pin bends of the A17.

Two of us with the staff of the conservation center

Harvesting before the storm - seen on the way back

More Stunning scenary on the A17 - this time in broad day light!

Hair-pin bends of the A17

We stopped at the bend number 6 for a closer look