In green: Millennium point and in blue: Top of Diyaluma

This is actually a trip we went after reading Priyanjan’s post. We left Colombo on an evening to get to Bandarawela by night but unfortunately the bus broke down at Diyathalawa so we had a 4Km practice hike in the dark We spent the night at Bandarawela rest house. Next day morning we left early and got in to a Poonagala bus which left Bandarawela at 7a.m, the route was through the tea estates and the view was also great, few Km’s before Poonagala junction we had to experience yet another bus Brake down but after few minor repairs the bus took off. Once we reached Poonagala junction we did not get off the bus instead we went to the Poonagala bus stand where we had some hot Rotti as breakfast.

After speaking with few locals we got to know that there was an estate swimming pool so we bought tickets to have a safe swim later in the day. We came back to the Poonagala junction and continued on the Koslanda road. While we were walking we did see the Millennium point far away on the Poonagala mountain range. The Poonagala School was also on top of a flat mountain, we really wished that we had a school like that when we were young. After about 2Km we reached a junction where the road divided in to three, we took the middle uphill route.

Road side view	At Poonagala junction
Waiting for the milk lorry	Where the Koslanda road divides

The walk uphill was bit rewarding in the beginning but the mist was very thick most of the time, but we enjoyed the walk a lot. After about 1Km or so we came across a point where we saw a Kovil on the edge of a protruding mountain cliff, it was absolutely the perfect place to have a shrine I guess. Then we came across the tea estate houses and few tea puckers’ who were weighing there leaves. From here onwards it was few hundred meters to the Pilkington point.

School on top of a hill	Clicking around
Standing alone	On the way scenery
The Kovil on the cliff	Tea Pluckers

The shrine

Pilkington point 4600 feet above sea level is one of those vantage points where you can enjoy the spectacular view of Southern and Eastern plains of Sri Lanka; it was named after the first Managing Director of the ‘Poonagala Valley Co. Ltd. We stayed at this point until the skies cleared but the mist never went off so we decided to continue our journey further uphill. The road that goes uphill can be managed only by a 4WD. After about 1 Km we arrived at a Four way junction and we were bit confused because as we read and came it was only three way one however we took the left road and continued trough the misty road blindly until we reached the end of the tea estate where we entered the path through the jungle part. After few hundred of meters we came across some fresh elephant dung which rang some bells in us, we also noted that the surrounding trees and bushes were disturbed by elephants. We continued further and there it was the millennium point(1450m) on top of the Poonagala hills.

Pilkington-point (Click to Enlarge)	Us at Pilkington point
Is it a ghost	The Kovil as seen from the vantage point
The only clear view we had	The road towards Millenium point

The road towards Milenium point

WoW

Misty path

Discussion about the Dung

The vantage hut had been damaged by the wind and some sheets were missing too at that time. We had a nice rest and waited till the skies cleared off so that we can enjoy the view of Wellawaya and surrounding mountain ranges but it was hard luck for us, the mist never thinned off(We were not so lucky as Priyanjan). Before we left we walked around the hill and we spotted the Kovil and Pilkington point from top of the hill.

First glimpse	Approaching
Self timer mode shot	Wondering around
The skies cleard off a bit	Pilkington point as seen from Milenium point

The Kovil as seen from Milenium point

We returned back on the same path until we came to the junction and took the downward short cut route which eventually joined the original path. After reaching the Koslanda road we took a three-wheeler and went to the Eco lodge at Makkaldeniya to have a swim (Cost us 300/= per person) and get over with our tiredness. Guess what it was very disappointing because when we arrived at the pool it was a mud hole, our point was that the management should not issue tickets if they are not aware of their pool condition (had to mention it here for the benefit of other travelers)

After the disappointing incident we decided to go and visit Top of of Diyaluma because there was a path to the top closer from this artificial pool which joins the original path as stated by Priyanjan in his previous post.

Quote [view source]
To get to the top of the Diyaluma Falls is quite easy. Travel along the Poonagala – Koslanda road until you come to a junction where a road will branch off to a place called ‘Makaldeniya’ (It can also be ‘Macaldeniya’ or ‘Makuldeniya’ – It’s the same place). If you are coming down from Poonagala the distance to this junction is roughly about 7km and the road to Makaldeniya branches off to the left. If you are climbing up from Koslanda the distance to this junction is roughly about 4.5km.

Proceed along the Makaldeniya road a very short distance (may be just 500m) and there will be a foot path (going ‘down the pallam’) to your right. This path will take you to the top of the Falls. On the way down, you can also see a smaller weaterfall that people call the ‘Punch / Ihala Diyaluma’. But, I just wonder if this is the same waterfall that Dr. Eberhard Kautzsch names as the ‘Kudalu Falls’ in his book titled ‘A Guide To The Waterfalls Of Sri Lanka’. I am just not sure. .

If you miss the starting point of this path, don’t worry. On this road (to Makaldeniya) you will come across a sort of ‘Eco’ / ‘Safari’ lodge on to your right. It’s a nice place run by the Estate Management but, I cant remember it’s name. . Stop there. Ask somebody at this ‘joint’ and they will show you the way as there is also a path that starts from this ‘joint’ which connects on to the path I’ve mentioned earlier.

The path was along the border of the mountain until we reached a flat terrain and suddenly WOW I have no words to express what I saw the 1.5km hike was extremely rewarding. In the valley far away we so where Diyaluma starts its journey and we also saw Uda Diyaluma falls (Kudalu Falls 20m)which we were aware about but never thought it was a tall waterfall. We continued until we arrived at a place 50m upstream of Uda Diyaluma falls where we rested and had a cool bath at a safe place. Afterwards we went down the Pallam until we reached the base of Uda Diyaluma and noted the Devils face in the centre of the waterfall which has taken many lives (People have lost their lives by falling from the top of the Uda Diyaluma falls in to the deep pools (which has formed due to the step wise cascade). After snapping around we continued along Poonagala Oya until we reached an open area guess what it was the drop of Diyaluma. After enjoying the view and waving our hands to the people below it was time to leave. It was getting dark and the rain clouds were approaching us so we went back fast to avoid any lighting hazards or encounters with elephants who are frequent visitors to the top of Diyaluma. I almost forgot to tell, there is a vantage point on top of the hill adjoining Uda Diyaluma but we didn’t have time to climb up to that point, I will try it out probably during my next visit. After getting to the road we got a lift to Koslanda but it was too late we missed the 5.15pm last bus to Beragala . After having a nice Kottu at Koslanda and satisfying our hungry tummies we took a three wheeler and went to Beragala from there we took a Badulla- Colombo bus and returned back to Colombo to end our tiring journey happily.

Path to top of Diyaluma	Flat terrain
Fall of Diyaluma Zoomed	A Pool in backdrop
Where we had a bath	A cascade
Drop of Uda Diyaluma	Base of Uda Diyaluma
First glimpse of the waterfall	Uda Diyaluma falls
Poonagala oya	Dead end
Rumbling	and it falls
Side view	View from the top
A rest house	A4 main road and the observation point as seen from the top