I took the 138 bus from Colombo at 6 a.m & reached homagama at around 7.30 a.m. Lahiru was waiting at Homagama town till I come. After having breakfast we started the journey from homagama station around 8.00 a.m. Though this was the very first rail hike in our life, we determined to do whatever it takes to make it a success.

We were not in a hurry to complete the hike, because it was not the time that mattered for us but, the experience.

34.5 Km from here

Checking for the safety

Just love this pic

The bridge before meegoda

She is coming

An accident

Roadside beauty

Another resting point

We came across “Pusweli oya” after passing Padukka station. There was a nice place to have a bath & that place was used by villagers also. After having a safe bath at Pusweli oya, we again on the track heading towards Avissawella. While proceeding towards Avissawella we had a chance to taste “Belimal with Hakuru” from a “dansela” nearby Watareka station as it was the Esala full moon poya day.

Time for a bath

Greenish

Bridge over “Pusweli oya”

A family on the track

Village temple

Friend on the road

At Gammana station we had our lunch that was prepared by lahiru’s mom. After having a rest for a few minutes, we again headed towards Avissawella. As we did this hike during Rambutan season, we felt that we have entered in to a very fruitful area. We saw rambutan & gaduguda trees bearing fruits on either side of the rail track.

Gaduguda

More to walk

By walking through a rubber plantation & pineapple plantation we did come across “Wak Oya” just before the Waga railway station. We decided to have a cool bath there for the 2nd time for the day. We spent around 30 minutes there & did come back to the track. From there onwards we speeded up our walk as we obviously knew that there is no any place to stay at night up to Kosgama. However, we had to walk for about 30 minutes along the dark rail track, passing Kosgama railway station, until we reach the “Mirage” rest house facing the Colombo – Avissawella road around 7.30 p.m.

Passing rubber estate

Passing pineapple estate

Wak oya

Old is gold

Life on the rail track

“Waga” station

Loitering at “Waga”

Walk along the dark

On the 2nd day we started the hike at 7.00 a.m. As the rail track was behind & 2 meters above the ground level of the rest house, we made a jump to the rail track to start our journey. We had to walk about 9.5 km to reach Avissawella from there. We did have our breakfast from a small boutique nearby Miriswatta station. The rail track from Homagama to Avissawella crosses the Colombo – Avissawella main road at Miriswatta, Puwakpitiya & Penrith. From Kosgama most part of this rail track is heading towards Avissawella in parallel with the main road. About 3km before Avissawella we did walk through a rubber estate, there we were attacked by leaches several times.

Crossing the border

Railway crossing at Miriswatta

Click along the rail track

Puwakpitiya – a place for a break

Temple nearby Puwakpitiya station

Just about to finish

Lahiru – My trip mate

Did it

We could reach Avissawella railway station around 11.00 a.m. However, an employee who had been attached to the station didn’t permit us to stay there even for more than 5 minutes. We therefore, walked to the bus stand & got in to Colombo bus.

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