Sorabora Wewa-සොරබොර වැව (also called sea of Bintenna) is a major tourist attraction at Mahiyangana. It was built during King Dutugamunu period (161 BC- 137 BC) by a giant called Bulatha (බුලතා යෝධයා). His house was situated at Kiripattiya-Ududumbara (කිරිපට්ටිය-උඩුදුම්බර) and there was no such a road like 18 hair pins bends from Kandy to Mahiyangana. All the people from hills came to worship Mahiyangana stupa along the foot pathway which descends at base of Kosgolla Mountain (කොස්ගොල්ල කන්ද). Bulatha’s wife also followed the same foot pathway which descends from Ududumbara hills to Mahiyangana. While she was travelling along the pathway she started to add few stone steps every day to this pathway. Once Bulatha finished his irrigation work she also finished her herculean work with adding 2000 steps. This foot pathway is called “Galpadipela”-ගල්පඩිපෙල. Kosgolla Mountain which is situated closer to Galpadipela called Galpadihela Mountain. It is the highest out of all of this range. Galpadihela/Kosgolla Mountain is a range with 4-5 peaks. Balumgala (බැලුම්ගල) is situated at one end of the range. Highest peak of the range is situated at the middle and you can get a nice view towards Mahiyangana side. Therefore it can be considered as a good view point of Mahiyangana and surrounding plains.

This trip report contains two parts:
1. Climbing Galpadihela/ Kosgolla Mountain
2. Getting down to Morayaya (Mahiyangana) along Galpadipela (stone steps)

I have been at this beautiful peak twice. My first visit to this peak happened following the climbing of Lakegala-Narangamuwa peak. Actually we didn’t have an exact plan to do on second day and found this peak from the map.
Eshan and myself travelled from Meemure to Hunnasgiriya. Then we reached the junction called Thammitiyana which comes before the last of 18th hair pin bends. It was kind of exploring of the area and we didn’t know whether we can climb the mountain or not. The threewheel driver whom we hired was really helpful though he didn’t know much about the area. We have driven from Thammitiyana to Mahawela and then passed the elephant fence which was crossing the road. As it was VRR reservoir we needed permission to climb this peak. The gravel road ends at the water stream called Katalagolla Oya (කැටලාගොල්ල ඔය) and foot pathway started then (As Galpadipela). According to our assumption we have to go upstream along Katalagolla oya to reach the base of the mountain. Katalagolla oya was almost dry due to drought and it was easy to us to climb along the stream. After 1-1.5 hours we reached the base of the mountain range where Katalagolla Oya has almost flat phase.
It was a struggle with Mana bushes then on wards till we reached the flat area just below the peak. We spent another 1-1.5 hours to reach there and were cautious about wild elephants.
The peak we reached first was flat area with view towards Mahiyangana. It seems like a good camping spot. The backward view was like a cross section of mountains of Knuckles massif. Nawenagala (නෑවෙනගල), Dumbanagala (දුම්බානාගල), Koboneelagala (කොබෝනීලගල), Dothurugala (දෝතුරුගල), Knuckles peaks, Alugal Lena peak (අලුගල්ලෙන කන්ද), Yahangala (යහන්ගල), Kehelpothdoruwegala (කෙහෙල්පොත්දොරුවේගල) and Lakegala (ලකේගල) were seen far away. Sorabora Wewa, Mapakada Wewa (මාපාකඩ වැව), Mahiyangana town with Stupa, Dambarawa Lake (දඹරාව වැව) and number of hills of Uva province were also seen. Then we moved towards the highest peak of the range. It seemed you can walk from the top towards the other end of the range but we didn’t attempt.
Our return journey happened along Katalagolla oya and the same way towards Thammitiyana.
My second visit to Galpadihela happened few months after the first visit and it was with Ashan, Chamara and Nuwan. As I knew the route of climbing the mountain I was the guide of the journey. Here we planned to climb the peak first and then follow Galpadipela up to Morayaya.
As the whole country blessed with rain one week ago, Katalagolla Oya was active than our first visit. During our upstream journey we came across three significant waterfalls. This stimulated us to explore more cascades along Katalagolla oya in our next visit. (Trip report on Katalagolla cascades)
Luckily we didn’t come across Elephants in this journey as well. The English surveyor called Erskine also has been visited at the peak at 1951-05-31 and his mark can be seen on top of the peak. Weather was perfect and the surrounding view was similar to previous visit.

Mahawela ancient Ambalama after renovation

Road at VRR reservoir

Filtered

First day we didn’t have an exact plan of the pathway to the mountain. Just walked ….

Surrounding view

One of my favorite snaps

At trail head. Katalagolla oya is in the back ground

Dry Katalagolla oya

Dry Katalagolla oya

Katalagolla Falls -2nd.

Lateral view of Katalagolla Falls-2nd.

Another view of Katalagolla Falls-2nd.

Katalagolla Falls -1st.

Katalagolla Falls -1st.

Trio in front of Katalagolla Falls -1st.

Further up along Katalagolla Oya. It was not tired much due to shades over the water stream.

Dry Katalagolla Oya in first visit

Minor cascade of Katalagolla Oya

Having a rest

Sometimes we changed the track to the bank of the stream

Sometimes we changed the track to the bank of the stream

It was hard to get sunrays

Nicely grown

Proper gloves to handle Mana

Eshan is entering to Mana bushes. We were so cautious about wild elephants as this was the time they get a rest under shades.

It was not an easy task to go through Mana with afternoon heat.

Mana bushes were taller than last visit.

Note the height of the Mana…

Most difficult section of climbing…Mana

Beauty…

Identification of peaks in Knuckles massif. Dumbanagala and Koboneelagala.

The peak in front of Galpadihela was identified as Aliyakotagala-අලියාකොටගල (1125m). Nawenagala is situated in second line.

Cross section of Knuckles massif

Knuckles massif and Hetakatuwegala (හැටකටුවේගල)

Another good view of knuckles massif

Identification of peaks in Knuckles massif. Aliyakotagala is situated in front line.

Mana area we passed….

It is their paradise. Elephant pathways were seen.

Colour combination

Successfully passed Mana area.

Balumgala is seen. This is one end of the range.

This photo was taken during our visit to Katalagolla cascades. Balumgala.

Rathna Ella (රත්න ඇල්ල)

Reaching the first peak

Reaching the first peak

Reaching the first peak. Nice area for camping.

Reaching the first peak.

The drop of Galpadihela.

Pilot view of the longest river of SL-Mahaweli River.

Sorabora Wewa and Mahiyangana town.

Mahiyangana Stupa. Mahiyanganaya-Bibile road is situated in front of it.

Mahiyangana Town-zoomed.

Dambarawa Lake.

Dambarawa Lake.

Seating at the drop of first peak. Not recommended.

Group photo.

Seating at the drop of second peak.

Mada Mahanuwara Kanda (මැද මහනුවර කන්ද) is seen.

The giant seen behind must be Kukulagala (කුකුලාගල).

On top of Galpadihela Mountain.

Another view of Mahaweli River

Eshan is moving to the highest point of Galpadihela mountain.

On top of Galpadihela.

On top of highest point of Galpadihela Mountain.

Enthusiastic surveyor has visited there in 1910.

At the highest peak of Galpadihela

Other part of the range

Other part of the range-Madolsima mountain and so many peaks in Uva province can be seen here

Ashan had a fall

Back to wild

After came to the trail head (where Katalagolla oya crosses the road) we separated as two groups. Chamara and Ashan wanted follow the same route to reach Thammitiyana. Nuwan joined with me to get down to Morayaya following ancient Galpadihela.

It was amazing to see stone steps along the foot pathway up to a greater extent even after 2000 years. The surrounding where foot pathway lay was so beautiful. There are collection of stones at one side of the pathway, might be kept by people who travelled along the pathway. Foot pathway ended up at one point where we could see debris of an old Ambalama. Then we could see traces of a cart road and foot pathway also run along it. It made confusion for us and I gave several calls to Sanjeewa Ayya to clarify the pathway. According to his advices we reached the water stream and followed the stream. We were bit anxious as it was fairly dark inside the forest and due to wild elephants. Somehow we were managed to reach the Village along the pathway of the water line. It was almost 6.30 am when we reached the village. We hired a threewheel from Mora Yaya to reach Mahiyangana and joined with Ashan and Chamara who have already gone to the accommodation.

Continuation of the road as a foot pathway. Ashan and Chamara came to certain extent and went back.

Treasure hunters worked. Earlier this place was called as Balumgala but can’t see any surrounding structure from here.

Where we were…Kosgolla Mountain/ Galpadihela Mountain.

Galpadipela started…..

Nuwan is coming down along Galpadipela

Nicely kept “Galpadi”-ගල්පඩි

Beautiful surrounding….

Traces of Galpadipela

Beautiful surrounding….

Kept by villagers who travelled along this.

Where we were…

Galpadipela…

The slope where Galpadipela is situated

Captured on our way down..

Galpadihela

Debris of Old Ambalama. Cart road starts from here but traces of Galpadipela are also there.

Cart road starts

Reached the water stream…

Mini cascade….

Along pipe line to the village

Just passed elephant fence

Galpadihela / Kosgolla Mountain at the end of the day. Captured from Morayaya.

Galpadihela/ Kosgolla Mountain.

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