Lankagama is known as an isolated village in the Southern Province. It had no proper access road and therefore could not be reached without a tough 4×4 vehicle until the first quarter of 2010. The village borders the Sinharaja rainforest & the Gin River. It is also the home for a complex of 5 ever young waterfalls within an area less than 1 Sqkm, known as “Hariyawa Dola” waterfall complex.

Day 01: Duli ella @ Kosmulla
This trip report is continued with the travelogue on: Exploring the Southern boundary of Sinharaja Rain Forest.

Quote from the said travelogue:

Mr. Siripala (We called him as Siripala ayya); the representative of the local authority, at Duli ella fall was also a very interesting & diligent character. He was the one who gave us the hot news on the road to Lankagama was concreted & closed yet for curing. On the other hand that was the red light of exposing a lonely village in Sinharaja forest, to the common society. We changed our minds to explore Lankagama, though we had already decided to visit Kanneliya the following day. Because we realized, that was the most suitable moment to visit Lankagama, prior to get it wasted by the urbanization. Siripala ayya promised to provide a good guide for us & Dr. Gunarathne also agreed to join with us since even he had not been there.

Day 02: Lankagama @ Neluwa

Thawalama was a village town located in between Galle & Deniyaya. The area was covered with mist when we looked around in the morning. Since Nalin’s house was located within the town itself, we decided to have a walk around the sleeping town in the morning.

Thawalama village town was sleeping in the morning

Low land tea estate covered with mist at Thawalama

By 9.00 am we were at Neluwa. The jeep ran & turned to a by road near the school at Happitiya village. There was an iron bridge over the Gin Ganga (river), established recently known as Mandugeta bridge

The jeep turned into a by road near the school at Happitiya village

The suspended bridge used before construction of the new bridge was also remained then. The bridge was almost 6ft in width & the jeep had to be driven with extra attention through it.

The bridge was almost 6ft in width & the jeep had to be driven with extra attention through it.

The jeep was driven through Mandugeta bridge

The suspended bridge used before construction of the new bridge was also remained then

When we reached the three way junction at Mandugeta village, Siripala ayya was waiting for us. The three ways were one to Lankagama (8km), the second was the road we came from Neluwa. The third was also to Neluwa via Kosmulla which was closed yet for vehicles (for curing of the concrete laid).

Siripala ayya was waiting for us at the three way junction at Mandugeta village,

Before start our journey Siripala ayya advised us to change the gear to the 1st, at the base of each and every hill we find in the route, since the huge pitch of the road would not allow drivers to change gears in the middle. But that was not applied with the powerful jeep engine because she managed the whole with 2nd gear.

Most of the road was laid along the Valley of Gin River. Some part of the road was laid across the Sinharaja forest. We met few tea plantations on our way to Lankagama. It was said to be a major source of income in Lankagama

Gin river

Some part of the road was laid across the Sinharaja forest

We met few tea plantations surrounded by the forest on our way

Since the environment was wet & cool, the concreted road was little bit slippery at hills due to the mud and fallen leaves. The jeep was driven very slowly to enable passengers to feel the freshness of the environment. As a result, it took more than an hour to reach Heriyawa stream the western border of Lankagama.

The bridge over the “Hariyawa stream” said to be the western border of Lankagama

There was a bridge/ causeway over the Heriyawa stream. On our left hand the 17m height Brahmana fall was visible in a short distance. Our vehicle was parked at the sub way built parallel to the stream. That was the access to the Echo lodge at Lankagama. It was built much closed to the bank of the stream at about 100 meters downwards to the bridge.

Brahmana fall was visible to the road in distance

As he promised the last day, Siripala ayya had arranged a local guide for us. In the next minute we were at the beginning of the foot path in to the forest. The trek was not much hard

Most of the time, travelers may feel that said distances are measured with elastic/rubber tapes

trek

At the first junction we turned right and moved towards the terminal waterfall of the trek. That was called “Uran wetuna ella” (the fall from where pigs are fallen). According to our guide, wild animals fallen in to the same would not escape in rainy seasons due to the nature of the pool in the up-stream. Thus animals (especially wild pigs) fell & die from the waterfall when ever they lose their body strength to swim and hang on further. To reach the waterfall we had to climb a rock using natural ropes (Creepers).

Our guide with a natural rope

Uran wetna ella

The fall had several cascades and height was said to be 20m. That was the upper most one out of the 5 waterfalls at Lankagama itself. Having spending few minutes there, we began to step back.

Kankunda (Giant millipede)

Our next location was “Gal oruwa fall” which was formed by Galdola stream. It was a special shaped fall which reminded the path to Akasa chaithya at Maligathenna temple. As per our guide, narrow but 30m height Galoruwa fall was rich with “Lula” – the local fish. We were able to bend downwards and have a clear view of the fall since there was a safety rail built by the forest department.

There was a safety rail built by the forest department

Gal oruwa fall

Afterwards we stepped down until the said junction from where we took the upper driven foot path and turned in to the other foot path. In the next ten minutes we were at a stream. The water intake of the mini hydropower station at Lankagama was also located there. We had to cross the stream there. There was a concrete slab laid over a narrow gap in the middle of the stream.

The water intake of the mini hydropower station at Lankagama

Having walking another ten minutes we reached the third waterfall of the day. That was called as “Thattu ella”. It was consisted with two cascades. It was wider than Uran wetuna fall. Height was said to be 14m. Just we reached there; Dr. Gunarathne and three of his friends joined with us.

Thattu ella - the third waterfall of the day

We had to cross the shallow stream at the base of the waterfall to reach the terminal waterfall of that trek. In the mean time we noticed a dark cloud was appearing over the upstream, the heart of the Singharaja forest. Having seen the same our guide asked us to hurry up and moved out as soon as possible from the two streams. If it rained to the forest up stream, the two streams get flood easily & it would last one or two days. If so we would court & might have to wait in the thick jungle since there was no alternative.

We had to cross the shallow stream at the base of the waterfall

With the warning of our guide, we stepped up to the terminal waterfall. 23m fall was less in height comparing with the Duli ella at Kosmulla, which was visited by us the previous day. But it was the most beautiful waterfall we found out of the whole journey. The rocks near the base were deadly slippery. Therefore we reached there with bare foots. But I lost my control once and fallen on a rock. Fortunately I escaped without getting significant damage.

Duwili ella at Lankagama

We were not lucky to spend much time at the waterfall since we had to return back immediately.
Having moving out from the two streams, we visited the Brahmana fall. It was the closest water fall to the main road ( Neluwa-Lankagama). And it was the largest waterfall at Lankagama. Height was said to be 17m. Folklore said that the death of a Brahmin came from India, on acquiring a golden melon was caused to give the name for the waterfall.

Brahmana ella @ Lankagama

Sweet memories at Brahmana ella

Finally we came back to the vehicle and had a cool dip at a shallow pool near the bridge. Dr. Gunarathne had arranged our lunch and we had the same at the said echo lodge. The lodge was consisted with few cabanas. Rate of the same varied from Rs. 2500 ~ 3500 per day. We had a little visit around the lodge after the lunch.

Kitchen of the echo lodge

The lodge was consisted with few cabanas, rate varies from Rs. 2500 ~ 3500 per day

Ceiling was made with leaves

Since the planned activities of the day were completed, it was the time to say good bye to Lankagama. Since it was two hours remaining to sunset, we decided to explore the village further. But there was a barrier. The bridge over the Hariyawa stream had to be passed by a serious off road vehicle such as a tractor or a jeep. Therefore Dr. Gunarathne & his friends took their move saying us good bye, since the road beyond the bridge could not be managed with their vehicles.

View of the bridge & the road form Lankagama side

Then we moved further along the gravel road. We had to cross several water ways, mud holes, boulders etc. We moved until we found the iron bridge built over the Ginoya recently. That was as similar as the one we passed at Mandugeta that morning. That was provided access to the Lankagama from Deniyaya. ( If you visit Lankagama via Deniyaya, you may have to get entrance ticket from forest Department ).

A tiny water crossing

After few minutes, we decided to return. On our way we had a search on Genuine Kithul Juaggary but failed. Finally we were lucky enough to find some Kitul trickle from a honey making pot itself, traveling nearly 500m inside in another narrow jeep track in to the jungle.

were lucky enough to find some Kitul trickle from a honey making pot itself