The map – Click to enlarge

Few months ago Kokagala came across my visual path while I was on top of Olagangala hermitage. Never knew what this rock was until I noted it close up at Padiyathalawa. During my first visit to Padiyathalawa I requested from my trishaw driver to find me a guide and let me know and within few months I was all ready to conquer it. Though Amila planned to join me in this venture he couldn’t make it and as usual I was left alone. I was determined and having a local guide I was not going to postpone this hike for any reason. You might be wondering what’s so special about this rock. Let me say few words about this gigantic beauty. It is a 640m tall monad-knock bordering Maduru oya reservoir and been an isolated mountain range with plenty of room to wonder about was very tempting indeed. On the road map even this mount could be found marked as a prominent peak by suddas and I was about to find some very interesting facts about it too. During the period of English rule this was used as a gunning practice rock just like Dimbulagala which we found evidence of it scattered around the mountain.

Kokagala as seen from olagangala, uraniya

kokagala as seen from madulsima worlds end

The mountain consisted of two main separated parts and the part which we didn’t climb was called Kudagala. This time I was planning to spend the night on top of this giant and witness the sun rise from the eastern coastal line. I met Sumanarathne at Padiyathalawa and bought some stuff which we thought would be helpful in this quest. Next we proceeded towards Sumanarathners home at Maunnawela and waited till it was 2.30pm to start on our venture. We were marching towards the last house close to the forest boundary and continued along a foot path which led towards the forest. From the beginning onwards it was slippery uphill climb thanks to the layers of dried out leaves. This part was the most difficult and at some points the knees were even touching our chins. Next landmark was a flat area where a stream could be found and we had to follow it towards the east. But we decided to have a break at a rocky edge which was close by and enjoy some stunning scenery towards Padiyathalawa and Maha oya. After having a mini break we continued upstream and reached the only natural water spring where we refilled our bottles. This is the only place where one could find drinking water while hiking Kokagala.

Kokagala as seen from Mahiyangana rd

the drop

walking towards the rock

a very very steep climb

natural cave

Malaboda just like sadikka

Padiyathalawa town

Damanugala as seen from the view point

towards maha oya and uhana

Madulsima range

Madiyagala at Ekiriyankumbura

Panorama of Padiyathalawa

the only natural spring

relatively flat area

10 to 15 minutes from the above mentioned stream we reached the edge of the mountain where we had to crawl along the rock to get on top of it. A huge thunder storm was waiting to treat us in an unexpected way so we did hurry a bit and reached the endless plateau of Kokagala. At that moment we witnessed Maduru oya reservoir been blessed with pouring showers and we were next in line. Though we reached a plateau area the summit was about 1Km away. We set foot towards the forest patch which was so spooky at that moment and reemerged at another side where we had to wait hiding under the forest cover until the thunder shower passed us.

After about an hour we reached the wet rock with two rock ponds and Sumane suggested that camping here would be ideal. One rock pond had greenish water and the nearby min rock hole had clear water. We started a fire with uttermost difficulty and started cooking some noodles. At around 7.30pm we had a nice warm dinner before deciding to wrap a sheet around and sleep with the aid of the warmth of our camp fire. At 2pm I suddenly woke up because the cool breeze was creeping through my bed sheet and I noted the whole sky had cleared off. Lit up Padiyathalawa and Thundering lighting seen in the direction of central hills produced some unforgettable sightings during my sudden wake up which I still wonder if it was a dream or so.

naw wal used to tie things

before the rain

had to crawl from here onwards

HDR

the maduru oya reservoir receiving a shower

the forest patch on top of the hill

the rain thinned out

the rain was a blessing to the mountain

macro

towards Omanugala

water source at the camping site

boiling some water

cooking noodles for dinner

yummy

Padiyathalawa town at night

Just before the sun rise

Next day at around 5am we woke up and started preparing some tea before keeping the rice pan on fire. The smoke fragrance which we were wrapped with was unbearable but yet we were in acceptance. I was denied of a lovely sun rise from the eastern oceans because the coastal area was too cloudy and the Tempered dhal with rice made me forget about it. At around 7 we started walking towards the summit and after a small climb through the bushes we reached the top most part where a rocky pagoda could be found with a fallen flag post. At the summit point there were two engravings found and both of these were names of Englishman which we assumed to be of Survey engineers. Here is an interesting link about a similar engraving by C. Erskine.

i was denied a sun rise

tea time

where are you mighty sun

camp site

lovely

part of maduru oya reservoir

next target friars hood

eeyam

towards Akuloba and beyond

Gal oya and namal oya mountains

the eastern ocean can be seen faintly

time to move on

nuwaragala

welimba hela

danigala, rathugala mountains

yummy

camp site cleaned

more to climb

beauty

it had an awesome smell

bin nelli

hatu

dried out

striving

finally the summit of kokagala

wonder who they were

may be a survey officer

the endless plain

From here onwards it was all about wondering about enjoying the breath taking scenery. It was bit windy but that was a blessing to us. We reached a point where a sheer drop could be appreciated. And once one looks down Maduru oya could be seen bordered by Chena’s and a forest patch. It was a fascinating sight to see how the river meets the reservoir at a far end. From the top Ekiriyankumbura mountains, Madulsima range, Loggal oya reservoir, Padiyathalawa town, Mawaragala, Mahiyanganaya and the sthupa, Central hills, whole of knuckles range , Sora bora lake, Mahaweli river, Ulhitiya lake, Dehiaththakandiya, Maduru oya reservoir and sanctuary, Dimbulagala, Omanugala, Narakamulla range, Maha oya, Nuwaragala, Friars hood, Gal oya mountains and the eastern ocean could be seen. There were plenty more landmarks but I could not recall at this moment. There is an adjoining Rocky plateau called Kobothalagala and elephants are frequently seen on it.

towards Ulhitiya

note the whole of knuckles range

madulsima range

beauty

cant remember the name

Narangala

Ulhitiya reservoir

colourful

far away welimada , nuwara eliya regions seen

towards loggal oya reservoir

mahiyanganaya

the shadow

note maduru oya river

knuckles range with hunnasgiriya peak

plenty of chena

maduru oya

pano towards mahiyangana

Dehiaththakandiya

mawaragala and soro bora wewa

knuckles range

Maduru oya reservoir

the river meeting the reservoir

kuda hela

the lonely tree

kahata

more to walk

towards maha oya

Since the surrounding was warming up quickly than we thought and the heat was getting unbearable we decided to start our return journey. On the way back through the forest patch on top of the mountain we collected 2Kg’s of Goraka for Sumanarathna. We also did not forget to have a stop at the fresh water stream which we found on the previous day to observe how the insects, serpents and other animals fulfilled their water need at that point. While descending we also tasted few Atamba fruits which were miniature Mangos of the wild. After reaching the base we rushed towards a well and had a bath to wash away the tiredness before having our lunch. It was time for me to thank Sumane and his family for their great hospitality and cherish with some lovely memories to be added to my life line. At Padiyathalawa I took a trishaw and reached a lake close to the main road of Mahiyanganaya to have a good picture of the mountain which I just climbed and headed back to Monaragala

some one has been hunting wild boars

goraka

lovely forest patch on top of kokagala

towards ekiriyankumbura just before descending

rahaiyo

giant trees

bambara at the stream

wewal

kubala

directions

yum yum atamba

getting down

last house

phew what a place

local hospitality

waiting to be planted during the next monsoons

Thanks for reading!