We started our journey from Katubedda at about 7.30 in the night. The crew was six. We came to Colombo fort at 8.30 pm by bus. We caught 9.00pm Mahiyanganaya CTB bus and reached Weraganthota by 4.30 am. Due to road constructions in 18 turns (දහ අට වංගුව), our bus went through Rajamawatha. Because we traveled in the night we missed a lot of sceneries along the road. We had to wait until 6.00 am to catch a bus to go to Hasalaka. We had our breakfast at a friend’s home close to the town. Then we reached Pamunupura after one hour journey by bus from Hasalaka.

Garmin Map (Click Image to Enlarge)

Inch Map (Click Image to Enlarge)

The bus terminated at Pamunupura junction. Then we have to turn left and continue the journey by foot. The sight of Yahangala too away our tiredness all the time. It brought ice cool to our eyes.

Yahangala view from Udaththawa village

The sight of Yahangala too away our tiredness all the time

There are few folktales about this strange “bed like rock (යහන්ගල)”. One of them tells that during the Rama-Rawana war, after being hit by king Ravana’s arrow, Lakshmana (king Rama’s brother) leaned on this rock and was treated with medicinal plants brought by Hanuman. Close to Yahangala, Lakegala is believed to be the the place where king Ravana’s palace was situated.

First part of the journey was along a concreted road between paddy fields.

After 1km, the road gradually started to climb. Now we were entering the Pallegaldebokka village.

We stopped briefly at a point where a small water stream crosses the road and fall over cliff on the other side of the road. After 15 mins we restarted the journey. It was a heavy climb thereafter and after 200m we reached the Grama niladari office of the village. It was closed and we got some more rest there. The concreted road ended there and a foot path began.

Time to rest……..

“Grama Niladari” office (click image to enlarge)

The sight of houses gave us a safe feeling because directions to Udugaldebokka were known by villagers. We could see solar panels on few houses. After Pamunupura village CEB lines are not extended to supply electricity to this village.

The road ran through gardens of village houses. Villagers helped us to find our way. Another heavy climb started and continued for more than 500m. After the heavy climb we got a 30mins rest at a wayside rest spot. This place was created by villagers to est during traveling to Udugaldebokka village. There onwards Chena cultivations started.

The village…..	The temple of Pallegaldebokka village
A wayside rest spot…

Thereafter the road goes through level surface. After about half an hour by foot we came to a small water stream. We got small rest there and started the journey. Just after the stream the road divide in to two paths and we selected left hand side one. That was because we wanted to visit Udagaladebokka village. Using right hand side path we could go to Galamuduna village without visiting Udagaladebokka village. After the Udugaldebokka village both roads join again. After the junction it was climbing…….. and climbing…….

Time was passed 12 noon when we reached the first house in Udugaldebokka village . It meant that we had to speed up. Still we were quite tired. We took a small rest and continued.

The road goes through level surface

The first house we met in the Udagaladebokka village

The path continued through village houses and we came to a junction in few minutes. We got directions from villagers. To go further in to this village we had to go to left side and the other path was going to Galamuduna village through paddy fields and chena cultivations. We selected second one because time was limited.

Then the path was again between paddy fields.

Local tobacco cultivation. We saw this type of fields at Galamuduna village as well

hut on tree

Every small hut on trees (අට්ටාලය) told us a sad story which is; during harvesting time wild elephants comes to destroy and eat the crop. During this period all the members of the farmer’s family come to this hut (අට්ටාලය) for two weeks or even a month to look after their crop. More than four members can stay there comfortably. During that season the village becomes an empty place.

Uhunugala—The higher version of Uthuwankanda

It was a great surprise for us to see that Uhunugala was identical to Uthuwankanda in Mawanella. It was also a landmark in our journey. The foot path goes on the right hand side close to the base of this rock.

After the village the path was between paddy fields and then small woods started. We were gradually climbing down. Throughout we heard strong sound of a water stream on our left hand side. We saw few foot paths to cross the stream, but according to villagers we should cross the stream only by a foot bridge (ඒදණ්ඩ). So we climbed down further and came to this place.

First land mark reached – the foot bridge (ඒදණ්ඩ)

Thereafter the path was through paddy fields and chena cultivations again. We were speeding up. After few minutes paddy fields were over and the foot path between old chena cultivations guided us.

Looked like this place had been a paradise for elephants just a week ago because we could see elephant dung everywhere in the fields. But in most places someone seem to have collected them into one place. According to spread of dung, I felt that wild elephants may have used this place as place to spend the night. It gave a very strange feeling to us. A huge open land without any sign of human presence multiplied that strange feeling. According to villagers Jumbos have left this area a week ago. Those words gave us strength to continue the journey.

Path through paddy fields and chena cultivations	Elephant Dung
A Large open land without any sign of human presence

Now the time was 1.00 pm. Climate was gradually changing to cloudy and clouds were becoming dark. We still had more than two hours to travel to our destination. We grouped into three and went to three directions to find a safe place to spend the night and to find water. As in other woods in Knuckles, mobile phone signals were there and it made our task easy.

After half an hour we were found our day one home…..a Hut on a tree (Attalaya).

Climate was gradually changing to cold and clouds were becoming dark

Hut on a tree (Attalaya). Hardly enough for six persons

We had to forget the tiredness and speed up our works. We prepared the hut for a night using raincoat of our tent and prepared our meals before rain came to us. We prepared everything before rain. But unfortunately we had to have our meals while it was raining. We felt that the Dhal curry with water was tastier!

prepared the hut for a night with using raincoat of our tent	One second leisure time while busy at work……
Rain!. A place where sky and ground joined by water droplets.	Heavy rain at Ulhitiya reservoir side

We bathe in rain and got some rest in our new home. In the evening when the rain was over few villagers joined us ans we had some chat with them.

We had every facility in that hut. There was a fire place, firewood and a cloth rack. Then we had a good sleep also without any disturbance.

Early in the morning we prepared our meals and packed our things. We did not forget to enjoy the beauty of the new world.

We had every facility in that hut	Good morning
Yahangala and Kehelpothdoruwegala peaks
View of above two peaks and Thelambugala peak ( Right hand side small peak)
Uhunugala zoomed— villagers call this Kuvenigala as they believe that during early history Kuveni used this place as her administration base.

While we were preparing our meals, another villager joined us. We shared our food with him and said good bye to our hut.

The path continued through chena cultivations. There was a lot of undergrowth covering the path due to low usage of it by people. For more than an hour we walked through guava bushed and woods. They gave our teatime break as well. After we passed two water streams we came to this stream in the below picture. It was somewhat large one. There was a small waterfall at the end of this. We got half an hour rest there.

We said good bye to our hut

There was a small waterfall at the end of this

After few minutes and a small climb over a rock we got the sight of the Galamuduna village. After a 15mins climb down, we entered the village.

First sight of Galamuduna village	Warm welcome from Lakegala
we entered to the village	Traditional plough using bulls

We talked with villagers and got permission to spend the night in the school building. There are about 50 students studying in the school and 5 teachers. But at that time all teachers had gone home due to April school vacation. We carried two boxes full of exercise books to donate to school children. Because there were no official in the school, we gave those to Grama Niladari office.

The school building

After small rest we got familiar with villagers and explored the beauty of the village. We met Pe hami mama (පෙ හාමි මාමා), the oldest person in the village. He described a lot of folk tales about the village and had sound knowledge about the history of the village. As per him the village divides into two parts called Galamuduna and Panwatta. There are 45 families who live in both parts. We were invited for tea and after that explored every corner of the small village.

Beauty of the village	Pe hami mama (පෙ හාමි මාමා)
Invitation for tea	Thunhisgala
Roof covered by straw	We cannot see these things in most of the villages in our country

Just like the day before, weather was changing and we decided to have a bath before it rains. After bath we returned to the school. After few minutes it started to rain and we got some good rest till 5.00pm.

Then we prepared our meals and had dinner. After deciding our next day plan we slept with nice memories of last two days.

Lakegala covered in rain clouds

This small stream was beside the school and villagers used it for every need of water. This is where we had out bath.

We prepared our meals and had dinner

Early morning…… beauty of Lakegala	Thunhisgala with morning sun
Part of Kalupahana	Breakfast in Preperation

After breakfast we started the return journey. As per yesterday’s decision our route was along the foot path to Heenganga bridge through Hulugune village. It was the common path to town from this village.

After passing houses, we came across a concrete foot bridge. There was a nice waterfall on right hand side of the bridge. We spent few mins there.

Departure..	Concrete foot bridge
1st waterfall we met – There was an access route to upper waterfalls near the base pool of this fall.

After this point the path goes along level surface.

In honor of Kande Bandara (කන්දෙ බන්ඩාර) god. Since wild elephants attack can happen after this point villagers do this for safety.

Another village with no human sign. People who lived in this village had left due to wild elephant threat

Now we were climbing down another huge rock. A tributary of Heenganga slowly flow down along our left side. Some leech attacks were also experienced. We got some rest and continued the journey.

Then we reached a foot bridge just before the start of Hulugune village. We met few villagers who were going to Hettipola town at this point.

A tributary of Heenganga

The bridge just before start of Hulugune village

Start of Hulugune village

Crossing Heenganga. It was more than 30m wide. Water level was above thigh level in some places. Crossing was not easy for us.

Hulugune village. After this village road was concreted and motorable.

A brave lady. She started to cross the river after us with a small boy on her one hand and the bag on her head. But she passed all of us and finished before us

After few kms the road goes beside a canal. We could see the mountain range we passed, but all the time it was covered with clouds. After the next 2kms we came to our destination.

We could see the mountain range we passed	Ginipetti palama (ගිනිපෙට්ටි පාලම) – Minipe canal with in the bridge (Inside the box) and Heenganga below it.
Canal entering the box

The time was 12.30pm. After half an hour bus came and we were arrived Mahiyanganaya within 1.5 hour. We got our lunch there. Then we came to Colombo through 18 turns by bus. It was the end of another journey.

Thank you very much for reading my report. It will be helpful for planning your trip.