We started form Colombo at around 5.30 in the evening. The crew was three, out of the three two got in from Colombo and the other one joined us from Hatton, It was a normal Hatton bus, we bought biscuits and other stuff from the bus stand. We arrived at Hatton at 10.30 p.m. We had dinner at a Small hotel in Hatton and arrived at the station around 11.00 p.m.
Until the night mail arrived at Hatton we had to stay out of the station in a Nallathanni bus! At about 2.30 a.m. the night mail arrived and we boarded it to reach Great Western station at 3.30 a.m. The station master was generous enough to let us stay in the resting room until daylight. At around 6.00 a.m. the view that we experienced was unique and fascinating, we didn’t have much time to stay and take some clear photos since we left early to climb the mountain. The Great Western mountain is geographically situated right behind the station, we couldn’t capture the mountain completely because of its proximity to the station, the mist & the wide spread of the mountain. Here are some photographs taken near by the station.

Great Western Railway Station - 1464m from mean sea level

The Great Western mountain behind the station

The LEFT half of the mountain

The RIGHT half of the mountain

The summit could notbe seen due to thick mist

view around great western station was unique and fascinating

Early morning view at great western station

About Great Western– Great Western at 2212 m altitude is the 6th highest in the country. Situated in the Nuwraeliya district, a rail station as well as a tea plantation near this hill carries the same name. Location: Great western station between Thalawakela and Nanu oya, to be precise it’s between Watagoda & Radella

The mountain spans about 1Km and it can be climbed from both ends. We chose to take the short path so we traveled along the railway towards Radella for about 1Km and then we arrived at a place (The Kovil and the Bridge) where the station master mentioned that there may be a foot path. But taking his advice we decided not to go alone and it turned out to be valuable advice.
Without attempting to go alone we went in search of a guide. As soon as we passed the bridge we met Charli Aiya near his quarters, he advised us not go alone because of the thick undercover which must have covered any foot paths that were there. So as he advised we decided to get a local guide, for that we had to go to Wangi Oya upper division tea estate Line houses. As we passed the railway quarters there was a Carriage way to the left, we traveled about 1 Km on this carriage way until we reached the tea estate. Now believe me this tea estate has one of the best spectacular views of the central belt of mountain in Sri lanka. Samanala Kanda & 7 Virgins were seen very clearly from here. At the line homes we met V.Krishna Kumar (Krishna) & Devendran (Deva) who were kind enough to give up their daily work and guide us.

The Kovil

From top to bottom: Wangi oya line homes on top of the hill, The Badulu train crossing the Carriage way, railway quarters, the bridge

Adams peak as seen from the carriage way

The central belt of mountains

Adams peak and 7 Virgin hills

Wangi Oya upper division line homes

With Krishna and Deva we started our journey down the carriage way which we came up and arrived at a junction which we previously passed. From here onwards there was a foot path that went over a small adjoining mountain to the Great Western, we crossed few streams on the way too. The foot path was not a path by definition, but a path that has formed by waterways during the rainy season. These paths are used by locals who go to collect firewood. The path was difficult to climb from the very beginning due to slippery rocks and mud (Please see the photographs). During the trek upwards we had to use various methods like hiking sticks, helping each other with the aid of these sticks (Natural sticks), the helpful shoulders of the guides and clinging on to branches and bushes for support.

The beginning of the foot path	The path was difficult to climb from the very beginning
PHOTOGRAPHS WILL NOT REVEAL THE REAL TOUGHNESS	climb from the very beginning was hard due to slippery rocks and mud

Then we arrived at a flat terrain, there were many foot paths at this point which would have normally confused anyone attempting this climb. These foot paths were formed by locals who go to collect firewood. From here onwards we were travelling through the thick jungle until we started our second ascend. Ascend was about 60-70 degrees and there were only bushes to garb which made it even more difficult. Thanks to the helping hands of the local guides we got trough this part even though we tripped, slipped and fell numerous times. The last part was a 80 degree climb but it was not much difficult as the previous.

Then we arrived at a flat terrain

we started our second ascend

Ascend was about 60-70 degrees and there were only bushes to garb

At last we reached the top from the Radella side & the magnificent view that welcomed us was worth the trouble we went through. The top of the mountain spread out almost for about 1Km.we then travelled through the bushes until we arrived at the summit point.
This is the place that gives the best view of the surrounding towns and landmarks such as from left to right–>Piduruthalagala –> Nuwara Eliya Town –> Nano Oya town –> Radella Town & Cricket ground –> Lindula Town –> Samanala Kanda & 7 Virgin hills –> Thalawakele –> Pundalu Oya. On the opposite side was the Pundalu Mountain and the thick wet mountainous forest. At this view point was also a hindu shrine visited by locals on January 1st each year for a special Poojawa. When we moved towards the Thalawakele(Right) side we came across a clearing where the locals camped during this Poojawa. We had a peak downwards and noticed that we were right above the Great Western railway station; unfortunately the mist prevented us from photographing the station. From the summit we were able to spot the picturesque sight of the Badulu train as it passed through Valleys, Mountains & railway stations.

Almost at the top (below: the jungle we walked trough)	Almost at the top, the summit is visible
Journey continued until we reached the summit point	View from the top

Wet mountainous forest cover	At the far end is the place we reached the top of the mountain(photo was taken at a mid point)
The Great Western!	The shrine at the summit point

Keerthi decided to celebrate his 26th b,day at the best view point of Great Western	Camping site at the top of great western
Pundalu Kanda	Piduruthalagala Potato farms, Piduruthalagala, Nanu Oya(from left to right)
Nanu Oya close up	Radella at the center with the cricket ground
Lindula area under the coulds	Thalawakele town on the right side just covered by the mountain

We were told that wild animal such as Leopard, Fox, Hare, Monkeys; Wild Boar & Sambar Deer was common in this part. We were lucky to see only monkeys and Sambar Deer. After the mist appeared we decided to start our journey downwards. This time we took a different path which was also very slippery and steep. The rain was a major obstacle during our descent. We ended up covered in mud when we arrived at the bottom where we had to wash everything before we had a change. We thanked our two guides for their assistance, without them we would have been in huge trouble, we showed are gratitude by giving them a worth full tip since they sacrificed their days work. We returned back to the station to catch a train to Hatton at around 6.30 p.m. we arrived at Hatton at 8.00p.m. And missed the final bus to Colombo, at around 10.30p.m we got a lift to Colombo and we ended our journey to the “Great Western”

Journey downhill was hectic too

This time we took a different path which was also very slippery and steep

Map of the great western and surrounding area