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Dalugolla Ella, Dandenikumbura, Diyakaralla Ella, Eli Hatha, Galamuduna, Hasalaka, Hulugune, Imaaduwa, Kaikawala, Kalu Ganga, Knuckles, Meemure, Na Ela, Narangomuwa, Nawarathna Ella, Nitro Cave, Pallegama, Rambukoluwa, Ranamure, Sooriya Arana Ella, Sulugune, Udawewela, Longer than 3, May, Dry Zone, Mountains, Camping, Culture, Hiking, 2014, Caving, Natural Bath, Photograhy, Trekking, Waterfalls

Author: Niroshan (221 Trips)

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Day 01

Our starting point of this journey was Pallegama (පල්ලෙගම) town where we joined with Ashan who followed a different route to reach there. As this was Wesak Poya day we could get our breakfast from “Kadala Dansala”. Then we hired a three wheeler to Rambukoluwa (රඹුක්ඔලුව) village. On our way we have noted “Kalu Ganga” (කළු ගග) and Kalu Ganga forest dormitory. This is not the familiar Kalu Ganga for us.

Rambukoluwa is a traditional village at Knuckles forest reserve. This might be a vanishing village in near future as they have planned to build a reservoir by crossing Kalu Ganga. Though Rambukoluwa is not covered by this reservoir, villagers are asked to leave the village.

We started our walking from Rambukoluwa to Narangamuwa (නාරoගමුව). There is a foot pathway from Rambukoluwa to Imaduwa (ඉමාඩුව). From Imaduwa to Narangamuwa road is mortable. We joined with our guide at Narangamuwa and started our walking along the foot pathway to Meemure (මීමුරේ).

Foot pathway from Narangamuwa to Meemure is ascending to some extent and then it descends to Meemure. There are two foot pathways from Narangamuwa to Meemure. One goes along the base of Lakegala (ලකේගල) where you can visit at some other places including “Reassa” (රෑස්ස) and Kapuwatugala (කපුවැටූගල) caves. But we followed the other one as we wanted to reach Meemure before it gets dark.

Beautiful Rambukoluwa village

Kalu Ganga

We are crossing Kalu Ganga. These kind two villagers came to show the foot pathway

This foot pathway is branching at initial stage. Therefore better have a known person till it gets clear

“Rahayyia” රැහැයියා

Abundant water streams

Knuckles forest reserve

Beautiful foot pathway

Reaching Imaduwa village

Imaduwa has only 15 families

Starting of mortable road

Road side waterfall

Beautiful but poisonous

First glimpse of Lakegala noted on our way to Narangamuwa from Ranamure (රණමුරේ)

Reached Narangamuwa village

Starting the foot pathway from Narangamuwa to Meemure

This is the border of Narangamuwa village and forest. It is called “Korosgale Muduna”. (කොරොස්ගලේ මුදුන). We also followed rituals before enter the forest

“Thala” leaves (තලා කොළ). An alternative for beetle leaves

Foot pathway is clear in initial part

“Hal Danda” හාල් දණ්ඩා. Non venomous snake

Foot pathway crosses a dry water stream called Koswaththe Ela / Rawana Ela. කොස්වත්තේ ඇල/රාවණා ඇල

This rock may be noticed in your left hand side called Demalagala (දෙමලාගල). It is the boundary of Matale-Kandy districts. We are moving from Matale district (Narangamuwa) to Kandy district (Meemure)

Nice to walk there

Resting at “Narran Aththe Ruppe” නාරo අත්තේ රූප්පේ

Resting at “Kadawaka Ruppe” කඩවක රූප්පේ

First sign of Meemure. Brick parapet

Familiar view of Lakegala (4324 feet). This is the view you will get at Meemure

Gombaniya/Thunhisgala (6246 feet). ගොම්බානිය/තුන්හිස්ගල-Highest peak of Knuckles massif

Andirigala (අන්දිරිගල)

Crossing Meemure Oya (මීමුරේ ඔය)

Day 02

This day our main objective was to visit at Nitro cave. There is a clear road from KCC-Corbett’s gap to Nitro cave via Karambakatiya (කරඹකැටිය). (Refer Nitro Cave rail Guide)

The trail from Meemure joins with this trail at Na-Ela (නා ඇල) village. One junction of this trail is not clear and it may miss lead you. This journey was an expedition for us as even our guide hasn’t been there.

This is the place where potassium Nitrate (gun powder) was taken by Kandyan kingdom during the war against British. Nowadays this cave is occupied by bats.

Pathway from Meemure to Nitro-cave.

Meemure->Kaikawala (කයිකාවල) ->Get the left side road just before Kaikawala cemetery (This is called Atambagolla Road) -> Atambagolla village (ඇටඹගොල්ල)-> Hunukatadegalaha (හුණුකැටදිගලහ) village-> Na-Ela (Just before Na-Ela village you will meet four way junction where proper road from Karambakatiya comes and joins with this.)->cross Na-Ela->Nitro cave.

On the way…..

Kaikawala Temple with Wesak decorations

“Alugal Lena Kanda” අලුගල්ලෙන කන්ද

Dumbanagala (5389feet) (දුම්බානාගල) is seen

The waterfall with about 10m height at Kaikawala Bridge

Over Kaikawala Bridge

Andiri Kanda. Appala Pathana (අප්පලා පතන) is shown by an arrow

 

Kalupahana 2 (කලුපහන 2). This is called “Hellena Gala” (හෙල්ලෙන ගල) by villagers

Atambagolla (ඇටඹගොල්ල) Bridge is crossing to reach Hunukatadegalaha village

Tiny waterfall came across over there. This is Ma oya (මා ඔය)

Surrounding view at Hunukatadegalaha village

Crossing a water stream

Mortable road to Na-Ela village

Important four way junction. Red arrow shows our way from Kaikawala. Yellow arrow shows Karambakatiya side. If you are coming by a vehicle from Deenstone side or from Meemure, you have to use this road. Blue arrow shows the way towards Na-Ela. Black arrow shows the foot pathway from Kalugala (කලුගල).

After passing Na-Ela village road gets narrow and it became a foot pathway. This might be the first distance mark we came across, placed by forest department to mark the trail

These distance marks are on right hand side of the trail. Soon after 1.4km mark, foot pathway branches. Get down by left hand side one to reach Na-ela

Crossing Na-Ela. There is a beautiful water fall just after this crossing point at Na-Ela

Waterfall from above

You can get down from left hand side from Na-Ela to reach this waterfall. Can have a nice bath there

Foot pathway restarts after crossing Na-Ela. Distance marks are there. There is a continuous ascend till you reach Nitro cave after crossing Na-Ela

On the way

First glimpse of Nitro-cave

The ladder to get into the cave is broken

From darkness…..

Bats

We four after journey

There is a small water stream pouring from top of the cave rock. This is good for refreshment after cave expedition

Lakegala

Cave is shown by the black circle. Mighty Kehelpothdoruwegala (කෙහෙල්පොත්දොරුවේගල) is shown by the arrow

Day 03

Eli Hatha (ඇලි හත)-Seven waterfalls of Meemure

This bunch of cascades is situated in between Karambakatiya (කරඹකැටිය) and Pusse Ela (පුස්සේ ඇල). If you find the entry point to the water stream, it is easy to approach Eli Hatha. Although it is called Eli Hatha, only six waterfalls are there. Now this place is getting popular between tourists.

It is safer to have a bath here. We could observe some signs of camping here.

Ashan shows the entry point to Eli Hatha. It is in left hand side of the road from Meemure, in between Pusse Ela and Karambakatiya

First three cascades. These waterfalls are about 5-10m in height

Fourth waterfall. It is situated on the left hand side of the main stream

Fifth waterfall. This is formed after first three waterfalls

Sixth waterfall, formed following fifth one

Side view of sixth waterfall

Enjoyed the beauty

Nawarathna Ella/Diyakaralla Ella (නවරත්න ඇල්ල/දියකැරැල්ල ඇල්ල) and Dalugolla Ella (දලුගොල්ල ඇල්ල)

It is worth to visit at Nawarathna Ella if you visit at Meemure as it is about 50m height waterfall. On your way to Nawarathna Ella you can enjoy Dalugolla Ella which is about 5-10m tall beautiful waterfall.

The foot pathway to Nawarathna Ella goes parallel to Meemure Oya. This foot pathway starts on the side of Meemure Dewalaya (ම්මුරේ දේවාලය) and first it lies on the side of paddy field then in knuckles forest. You have to cross the Meemure oya at two places to reach Nawarathna Ella. Therefore better have a known person in this journey. It takes 1-1.5 hours to reach the water fall.

Nawarathna Mama has accompanied Mr. Somarathna Dissanayaka-Director of Sooriya Arana film to this waterfall. This waterfall didn’t have a name and after that it was named by his name.

Meemure Dewalaya. Foot pathway is on right side of it

Passing the paddy field. Note Gombaniya/ Thunhisgala-highest peak of Knuckles massif is popping up

Entering to the forest patch

Dalugolla Ella

Dalugolla Ella. Foot pathway in it’s left side

Crossing the river from it’s left side to right side

Calm and beauty. Now foot pathway on its left hand side

“Ice Wala” අයිස් වල. Water in this part is so cool. Again have to cross the river just above this area and follow the foot pathway in left side

Diyakaralla Ella/Nawarathna Ella

Another view of Nawarathna Ella

Sooriya Arana Eli (සූරිය අරණ ඇලි)

A lot of people in Sri Lanka got to know about Meemure by this film. The waterfall is shown at film is later called Sooriya Arana Ella. It is about 2-3 tall waterfall. There are two another waterfalls just below Sooriya Arana waterfall.

Sooriya Arana Falls can be approached by a road and then a foot pathway from the Meemure village.

Bathing at first waterfall seems to be safe but other two not.

We have used a foot pathway along the paddy field to reach it

Note the proper road

Familiar place of Sooriya Arana film, where mortable road ends. “Bathalahena Ruupe” බතලහේන රූප්පේ

Sooriya Arana Waterfall

Second waterfall of Sooriya Arana

Third waterfall of Sooriya Arana

Reaching Dandenikumbura from Meemure

Third day evening we said good bye to Meemure and came to Dandenikumbura. There is a foot pathway from Meemure to Dandenikumbura and this starts close to Sooriya Arana falls-1. It takes about 1 ½ to 2 hours to reach Dandenikumbura. This foot pathway is fairly easy and goes along a flat section.

Foot pathway starts just above this water canal close to Sooriya Arana waterfall

Foot pathway to Dandenikumbura

“Ilukhena” ඉලුක්හේන paddy field. Villagers from Meemure come here and cultivate it

Most of the time foot pathway goes parallel to Heen Ganga (හීන් ගග). We could notice an unknown cascade there

Dandenikumbura Burial

Only house available at Dandenikumbura

Different view of Lakegala at Dandenikumbura

Ashan is cleaning the garden

“Rawana Dola” රාවණා දොල

“Heen Ganga” හීන් ගග

Dandenikumbura.

This abounded village is situated at the bank of “Heen Ganga”. The name Dandenikumbura came from Dan+dun (දන්දුන්) +Kumbura (කුඹුර) ->Dandenikumbura. People of this village have left the village gradually and at the moment only one house is available here belonging Nawarathna Mama’s step father. He also doesn’t stay there regularly. This house is used by people who travel to give alms for meditating sermon at Dandenikumbura from surrounding villages and hunters. We cleaned the house and made for our accommodation at 3rd day night. It has all necessary cooking equipments. Rawana dola starts from Lakegala flows close to this house and it joins with Heen Ganga.

Day 04

This day our plan was to reach Sulugune (හුලුගුනේ) via Galamuduna (ගලමුදුන) village. We crossed Heen Ganga and followed the foot pathway towards Galamuduna. After crossing Heen Ganga have to walk about 100m towards left hand side along the bank to find the foot pathway. There is a hut at the beginning of the foot pathway. This is used for giving alms to the priest by villagers from Meemure.

Most of the time it is a continuous ascend from Dandenikumbura to Galamuduna. It takes about 2hours to reach Galamuduna. On your way you can visit at Kahatagahawela Falls. But we have missed it.

This is the hut you will come across on other side of Heen Ganga. Take the foot pathway shown by black arrow. Don’t go along the foot pathway shown by white arrow

It is usually a continuous ascend. Always take the foot pathways in right hand side

Reaching the second hut. This is used for giving alms to the priest by villagers from Galamuduna

Reaching Galamuduna village

Galamuduna

This is another traditional isolated village situated at Knuckles range. It is still only accessible by foot pathways from Sulugune (What we followed), Dandenikumbura (What we followed) and Uda Galdebokka (උඩගල්දෙබොක්ක). About 30families live here.

Pe Hami (පේ හාමි) is the oldest villager of this village and we met him. He is in his eighties now. Pe Hami mama is a good singer and he has lot of stories to tell.

After visiting there we left Galamuduna village and started to descend towards Sulugune.

Traditional house at Galamuduna

Modified tree house there

Pe Hami Mama is posing

Enjoying the time with Pe Hami Mama’s stories and poems

Foot pathway from Galamuduna to Sulugune is a continuous descend. It is parallel with the water stream till you come across Heen Ganga again. Therefore this foot pathway is scenic and has number of small waterfalls. After meeting the last house at this foot pathway (This is the last house of Sulugune) we crossed Heen Ganga again to enter paddy fields of Sulugune.

After passing Sulugune we could enter a mortable road to reach “Gini Petti” bridge (ගිනිපෙට්ටි පාලම) at Uduwelwala.

“Gini Petti” bridge is a nice engineering work. We had a bath at Heen Ganga and got the bus towards Hasalaka (හසලක).

Getting down from Galamuduna village

First significant waterfall we came across

Another beauty. It is about 15m tall

Another waterfall

Hurry to go home after four days

Important junction. Foot pathway becomes a road-black arrow. Continuation of foot pathway in white arrow

Entering Sulugune village

Last house at Sulugune. Take the foot pathway down to this to enter Heen Ganga

Crossing Heen Ganga back

She is calm and quite

Tree house at Sulugune

Mortable road starts from here

View of eastern border of Knuckles at Uduwelwala (උඩුවෙල්වෙල). Black arrow shows Yahangala (යහන්ගල) and red arrow shows Kehelpothdoruwegala

Gini Petti Bridge. Crossing Heen Ganga

Few words about Nawarathna Mama and his accommodation.

We were provided a guide from Narangamuwa till Sulugune by Nawarathna Mama, actually his brother-Kapila Banda. But he is clueless about most of the places and we had to guide him. According to Nawarathna Mama, guide charges are Rs 1000 per day.

His accommodation at home was satisfactory but food was not up to the level he charged from us.

What we felt, now Meemure is commercialized well following visiting of tourists. Therefore villagers like Nawarathna is more business minded. He is more concerning about large group of visitors coming to camping site for BBQ.

I think Galamuduna, Rambukoluwa and Udagaldebokka villages are still more traditional than Meemure.

Thanks for reading.