The map - Blue= Summit of Peacock hills. Green=The road from Para Deka (Click Map to Enlarge)

Peacock hill google image

The range

Summit zoomed

Yes I’m back after almost 1 year 🙂 🙂 Since this is the ideal time for hiking I thought of starting up by doing a scenic warm up hike. I left early from Colombo and arrived at Para deka (just before pussellawa) and took a trishaw towards Doragala junction. And continued uphill along the road, passing the tea factory until I reached the pines estate. From here onwards it was a 400m hike uphill on a well cleared path. Suddenly I was at the top at the base of one (out of four) communication tower. After travelling to the right side of the towers (towards kotmale) I reached the summit point….

path

Towers

Yes I was joyful it was like heaven (I always feel like that when I’m on top of a mountain 🙂 )for me, it was pleasing that the sky was so clear. I enjoyed every moment I spent on the summit. From the top Gampola town & Ambuluwawa , Kabaragala & Dolosbage range, Nawalapitiya town, Pussellawa town, Piduruthalagala range, Kikiliyamana, Kotmale reservoir , Bathalegala & Alagalla was clearly seen. And guess what, I never thought I would climb Kabaragala in few days  (I was obsessed about this spectacular mountain).

Panorama view

mountain range

Kotmale

Pussellawa

ramboda area & piduruthalagala area in backdrop

fields

summit

Doragala factory

valley

reservoir

Kotmale oya

Enjoying the view

spectacular view of the range

Samanala kanda

scenery

more scenery

.....and more

.	Gampola range & ambuluwawa

Dolosbage

busy as a bee

natural

Gampola town

Kabaragala

colours of nature

Please look at me

Peacock range

cultivation

Bathalegala & ura kanda

Ambuluwawa

Romantic

Maha seya and the dam

Kotha zoooooomed

Obsessed with kabaragala

tea for all

mahaweli maha seya

macrooo

waterfall near the dam

After spending some time snapping around I came back to Doragala by a lorry and descended towards Kotmale by foot along a tarred road which was about 2-3 Km’s. From there I continued my journey to Kadiyanlena via Nawalapitiya (Nawalapitiya- Thalawakele road). Kadiyanlena Fall is a spectacular waterfall situated at the 10Km post of the district border (Kandy & Nuwara eliya) but been the dry season, water levels were very low. After hanging around I returned back to Nawalapitiya Hospital where I spent the night, having a nice chat with my friends.

Quote: Kadiyanlena Falls
The water of the 8m-high fall cascades down in stages. Although the flow is otherwise languid, during rain the fall is transformed into a rushing body of water, the spray reaching the nearby road.

Katabula Estate Falls is located in Kadiyanlena village, near the Nawalapitiya Talawakele road(10Km post).

Kadiyanlena upper part

upper part

plunging

2nd part

part above the bridge

full view

Next day early morning I went to catch the 6.45am train to Galboda but it was not running unfortunately. So I caught a bus towards Mapakanda(Dekinda) from where I took a walk through Galboda estate toward the station. As I got to Galboda Station I asked directions from Mr. Ananda who is the famous local guide and willing to help anyone at any time. I walked 200m towards Nawalapitiya and entered the gravel road which leads to Galboda falls. Again the view was spectacular but things got interesting when I reached the waterfall.. It’s a beautiful waterfall though it lacked water due to dry season (when it’s raining you can’t get to the base even). Tried some experiments with changing shutter speeds and I left happily towards the station where I took a train towards Hatton and from there a bus to Colombo(standing 🙂 ). Hope you’ll enjoy the HDR Images.

I was welcomed

rays of nature

touched by flowers

estate road

Budding moon

colouful beauties

morning smiles

rail track

Galboda falls first view

Galboda falls

cotton

base pool

starting point

the bridge found just before the fall

lost	view of kabaragala from the path towards the waterfall

buzzzzzzzzz

Quote: Galboda Falls
The fall originates from the Galboda Canal (also known as the Hanguranketha River), in the Central Province wet zone. Annual rainfall here exceeds 4500mm, 60% of the rain coming from the south-west monsoon (dry season is January to February). Watawala, the area of Sri Lanka that receives the highest amount of rainfall on the island, is nearby. Galboda Falls is 30m high but the width ranges from between 3m and 6m, depending on the season. At certain times of year, the water also cascades in two streams. Growing in the surrounding woodland is a rare species of orchid and the vicinity is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Among them are 12 species of reptile and four are only found in Sri Lanka. The upper section of the fall is unique in its biodiversity, thus it is of paramount importance to limit any potential danger to the area.

In 1869, following the construction of the Nawalapitiya – Hatton railway, agriculture (tea and coffee plantations) proliferated, causing erosion. Fortunately, the jungle either side of the river has prevented the soil being washed away by the water.

The name of the fall, (Galboda means ‘fall adjoining the stone’) is said to derive from the large boulder situated at its foot, though another theory is that the water here is heavier than anywhere else on the island.

A temple to the deity Mahasamy, one of seven deities collectively known as Devol who came to the hill country, stands on the mountain above the fall. Mahasamy is the only one of the seven who remained in the hill country.

The fall is located close to the Hatton railtrack in an abandoned but picturesque tea estate adjacent to Galboda station, Nawalapitiya, Nuwara Eliya District (920m above sea level). Taking the train is therefore very convenient. It is also possible to take the Nawalapitiya – Dekinda road but this is a difficult route. Hatton is the closest town.