According to my old lessons of social studies, Sri Lanka has three separated mountainous areas named as Central hills, Knuckles massif and Sabaragamuwa hills. Piduruthalagala-පිදුරුතලාගල (2524m) highest of central hills as well as of Sri Lanka, Gombaniya-ගොම්බානිය highest of Knuckles massifs (1906m) and Gongala (1357m) the highest of Sabaragamuwa hills.
Gongala is a range and it’s appearance of an ox gives the name Gongala. But the highest point of Gongala range is not Gongala, another point of Gongala. Sabaragamuwa hills are also known as Rakwana hills/ massif (රක්වාන කදු).

We have reached Rathnapura central bus stand at correct time when the first bus to Deniyaya was about to leave. It was a 4 hours journey to reach the trail head where gravel roads start from Boraluwageayina to Hayes tea factory and estate. We had breakfast at Rakwana town where bus stopped for 45minutes tea break. The view we came across along this route includes ten Buluthota bends, Sooriyakanda and other peaks of Rakwana hills.
We followed the road along Hayes tea estate and then reached the end of the estate. It starts the forest border as well. The road through this forest patch brought us to first couple of towers: TNL and dialog. Later we came across number of towers, highest point of Gongala range and metrological department special tower. (Not functioning now)

The star shows the Gongala. Map shows one end of the range as Abbeys Rock. (Circled). I don’t know what it is.

Rakwana bus stand, bus stopped for breakfast

Passing Buluthota Hills (බුලුතොට කදු)

Passing Buluthota Hills (බුලුතොට කදු)

Gongala range is visible now

Church at Kada Muduna (කඩ මුදුන)

Gongala range is only visible after passing Sooriya Kanda.

Staring of the estate road

View of Gongala range and it’s towers

Hayes tea factory

Hayes tea factory

Hayes tea factory

Team except me

Passing a line house

Lonely man

Cave with an opening like fish mouth

Chamara and Keshan leading….

Hayes tea factory snapped….

Crossing of the water stream at small Kovil.

Walking along the estate road….

Smiley faces

Climbing with loads….

Gongala and Gongala range
The appearance of an ox gives the name Gongala. But Gongala is not the highest of it’s range. Towers are placed on highest points. You have to pass towers to reach the actual Gongala.

Gongala range and Gongala. This was taken when we go down to Deniyaya.

View of Gongala.

Mountainous forest

Following short cuts when go up

Back to normal route

First peak with towers is seen now

Reaching the first peak with towers. These towers belong to TNL and some other institute.

Enjoying the journey

Framed view of second group of towers.

Nicely arched

This is the highest point of the mountain range. When they built towers they had preserved this point.

Reaching metrological Department Tower. The road ends here and foot pathway starts

Having a rest

View of towers

Foot pathway starts from here and it goes through the thick forest. It crossed Gin Ganga-ගිo ගග (Gin River) and probably the starting point of Gin Ganga must be somewhere close. The ridge of Gongala has few peaks. We got onto one and it seems to be a nice view point towards southern plains. This foot pathway continued and it ended up at next peak. Though we attempted it was unsuccessful to get on it. Then we went around the rock and found a small gap to climb it. When we reached the top of the rock we understood the one we attempted is somewhat far away and it is difficult to conquer. It got another 1 hour to reach these two peaks from Metrological department tower. When we looked the time it was bit delay and decided to go back quickly with less/zero rest points.

Entering to the forest

Forest pathway

Gin Ganga

Giant Earth Worm /ගැඩවිලා

The team on top of Gongala peak-1.

Land marks we could observe from Gongala peaks were Sooriyakanda and it’s towers (This obstructs a large part of view from northern side. Because Sooriyakanda is also 1300m tall. ), rest of Rakwana mountains, mountains towards Kalawana, Sinharaja rain forest-Morning side. On the other side Udawalawe reservoir, Muthrakarna reservoir, Deniyaya town, Kella area etc. The environment was gloomy to identify surrounding land marks.

Though it is risky everyone snapped like this.

View of towers from Gongala peak-1.

View of metrological department tower from Gongala peak-1.

Hayes tea estate

Gongala peak-2. We were unable to get on this. But we climbed the peak next to this.

Sooriyakanda and it’s towers.

Gongala peak-1.

Dense forest towards Rakwana side.

View towards Rakwana side.

Gongala peak-2 where we couldn’t climb

On our return journey we tried to follow short cuts as much as possible and ended up at a line house where difficult to find the way to main road. Then we went as two teams in two directions and joined in front of Hayes tea factory.
The real difficult part came at the end of the journey in finding buses to go back to Colombo. We got the bus to Deniyaya and actually it was 1 hour journey. There are no buses to Matara to Deniyaya at that time (6.30pm) and got the last bus to Akuressa. (No buses to Galle from Akuressa after 8pm) Luckily we found the last bus to Matara from Akuressa and waited for a bus to Colombo at Matara bus stand. We had a chance to go in highway by a van but this Van had a mechanical error in the middle of high way. All this made nice memories of Gongala hike.

Hayes tea factory

Good bye Gongala. Last snap of the day

Thanks for reading. Have a safe journey.