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Trip Reports Archive » By Length » One Day » Great Western (6th highest mountain in Sri Lanka- 2212m) Once in a life time HIKE!

Great Western (6th highest mountain in Sri Lanka- 2212m) Once in a life time HIKE!

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Great Western, Hatton, Radella, Wangi Oya, One Day, December, Wet Zone, Mountains, Hiking, 2009, Photograhy

Author: Ashan (216 Trips)

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Year and Month December, 2009
Number of Days One and a Half day trip
Crew 5 (3 of us and 2 local guides)
Accommodation NA
Transport Public Transport (bus) up to Hatton & the Train up to Great Western
Activities See Wildlife, Photography & HIKING!
Weather Clear sky in the morning, heavy rain in the evening
Route Colombo -> Hatton -> Great Western -> Hatton -> Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  • GET A LOCAL GUIDE (It’s a must)
  • THIS IS A STRENUOUS HIKE, with no clear foot path, try not to take small children.
  • Some sharp knives, ropes and hiking sticks will be useful
  • Wear attire as to cover your hands and legs to avoid torn scratches
  • No tickets needed
  • It’s better if you can carry a stock of water (1L per person) and food like biscuits and etc.
  • Start the climb as early as you can to minimize the risk of  Leopards
  • Do not carry Plastic items (Minimize), Make sure you bring back everything you took.
  • Contact details of Local Guides – V.Krishna Kumar ( Krishna ) – 0525710094 and Devendran ( Deva) – Wangi oya upper division, Radella state, Nanu oya
  • There is a very tall waterfall hidden in the jungle between Pundalu kanda & Great Western, we are planning to visit it with the help of Krishna & Deva next time.
  • Elevation gained 2212m(Summit)-1464m(Station) = 748m

Special Thanks to Weli(Indunil) of Lakdasun for the information he gave us

Author Ashan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestion at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

  • Great Western (6th highest- 2212m) Once in a life time HIKE!

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

Great Western Railway Station - 1464m from mean sea level

The Great Western mountain behind the station

The Great Western mountain behind the station

The LEFT half of the mountain

The LEFT half of the mountain

The RIGHT half of the mountain

The RIGHT half of the mountain

The summit could notbe seen due to thick mist

The summit could notbe seen due to thick mist

view around great western station was unique and fascinating

view around great western station was unique and fascinating

Early morning view at great western station

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

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

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

Adams peak as seen from the carriage way

The central belt of mountains

The central belt of mountains

Adams peak and 7 Virgin hills

Adams peak and 7 Virgin hills

Wangi Oya upper division line homes

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 beginning of the foot path

The path was difficult to climb from the very beginning

The path was difficult to climb from the very beginning

PHOTOGRAPHS WILL NOT REVEAL THE REAL TOUGHNESS

PHOTOGRAPHS WILL NOT REVEAL THE REAL TOUGHNESS

climb from the very beginning was hard due to slippery rocks and mud

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

Then we arrived at a flat terrain

we started our second ascend

we started our second ascend

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

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 (below: the jungle we walked trough)

Almost at the top, the summit is visible

Almost at the top, the summit is visible

Journey continued until we reached the summit point

Journey continued until we reached the summit point

View from the top

View from the top

Wet mountainous forest cover

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)

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 Great Western!

The shrine at the summit point

The shrine at the summit point

Keerthi decided to celebrate his 26th b,day at the best view point of Great Western

Keerthi decided to celebrate his 26th b,day at the best view point of Great Western

Camping site at the top of great western

Camping site at the top of great western

Pundalu Kanda

Pundalu Kanda

Piduruthalagala Potato farms, Piduruthalagala, Nanu Oya(from left to right)

Piduruthalagala Potato farms, Piduruthalagala, Nanu Oya(from left to right)

Nanu Oya close up

Nanu Oya close up

Radella at the center with the cricket ground

Radella at the center with the cricket ground

Lindula area under the coulds

Lindula area under the coulds

Thalawakele town on the right side just covered by the mountain

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

Journey downhill was hectic too

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

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

Map of the great western and surrounding area

Map of the great western and surrounding area

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