In green Saradiel gala and in red Bo Ella

Soora Saradiel

Let me start by giving a small introduction about this local hero who lived on top of this rock.

Quote:
“Deekirikewagela Saradiyel better known as Uthuwan Kande Soora Saradiyel/Saradiel was a Sri Lankan Sinhalese native who lived in Mawanella. From his hideout – a small hill known as Uthuwan Kanda, Saradiyel fought fiercely against British colonialism. He is known as the Robin Hood of Ceylon/ Sri Lanka as he looted the wealth from British officers and their local counterparts who followed the Road to Central Holy City of Sri Lanka “Kandy” by road in Horse Carts, Coaches and Bullock Carts

Deekirikewagela Saradiyel was born in 1832 to his father Deekirikewage Adasi Appu – a bullocart driver and Molligoda Pichohami – a small coffee shop owner. The natives were under heavy economical and political pressure from unfair taxes under British rule and were rebelling against as best way they could. Saradiyel was accompanied by fellow natives namely Mammale Marikkar, his sister, Abdul Cader, Nazarudeen, Samad etc.”

I left Colombo and reached a small town just before Mawanella called Utuwankanda where you can find the road which leads you to Saradiels rock (Utuwan mawatha). After walking about 1Km I came across a small road branching off towards the Saradiels rock towards the left. I travelled uphill until I met some locals where I asked for directions, they said take the path which goes uphill so at one point I entered another path which branched out to the left trough a small rubber estate. The path was there until the last bit, it was a steep climb on the slippery muddy track. There were many other paths but I stucked on to the path which went further uphill and around the rock. And at last I started to feel the breeze which gave me a clue saying I’m close to the top. I was at an open area on top of a rock where I laid and refreshed myself with some H2O. From here the view was great but I had to go further up which was bit challenging. After crossing one of Saradiels caves I had to go along the border of the rock clinging on to some trees before I reached the next level where I could see all around the Mawanella area. But the temptation did not allow me to stop my journey at that point so I decided to climb the last part of the rock. Though the last part was only 5 meters it took me about 15 minutes to get to the summit.

Uthuwankanda

The path towards Saradiel gala starts near an old school	Close up view
The path	The Path branches off to the left

Obstacles:

1. It was pure 90degree rock wall and there were few gaps to hold on and climb.
2. Too much breeze.
3. 100’s of Caterpillars on the rock surface.

Time was wasted on caterpillars because I had to remove them from the rock wall to prevent a disaster. At last I was on top of the rock and it was simply mind blowing. At one side it is the mighty Alagalla Mountain. And on the other side of the Kandy road you can spot Ura kanda, Bathalegala(seen as a triangular shape mountain), Ahu Pini Ella, Devanagala and Ambuluwawa far away. And most of all the perfect view of the A1 Kandy-Colombo road was great and it justified the reason for Saradiel to select this place.

Glimpse of the summit

had a glance on the path I came

Came across one of his caves

Got closer but more to climb

Dead tree

Bees	Algalla in the backdrop
Is it a Foot?	The toughest part of the climb

Obstacles

Projection at the summit

The summit

Mawanella town in the center and Devanagala on the right

Paddy fields at Utuwankanda

Kandy - Colombo road

Kegalle side

Alagalla mountain

On the left Bathalegala seen as a triangal & Ura Kanda on the right seen as a dome

After that joyful stay I decided to get down and I lost my way but got back on track and reached the bottom in no time, I was treated by some locals with some “Bread fruit, Sambol & chicken meat” which was perfect at that moment because I was hungry too. They even gave me a bag of “Rambutans” before I left that place towards my next destination after thanking them for their hospitality. A local museum is currently under construction at this area, hope they will finish it soon!

When I returned back to Utuwan mawatha I took a Weganthalawa-Mawanella bus and got down at Kondeniya where I took a three-wheeler until I reached “Bo Ella” which is formed by the Maha Oya. The waterfall can be reached by many directions but to have a good look at the waterfall from the front you need to get to it from Yatimahana side. Unfortunately the water level was too much so I couldn’t cross the river to reach the other bank. Bo fall is about 6Km away from Mawanella & 2Km away from Kondeniya.

This waterfall is situated in the centre of Maha oya and it’s very unique. There are two waterfalls, the first one plunge in to the river and the water is trapped in a deep huge swimming pool type of section. Then it plunges from a small gap in the rocky damn to form the waterfall which expands and results in this unique waterfall. Please keep in mind that it is a very dangerous place to have a swim. After enjoying the waterfall I returned to mawanella by reaching the Mawanella-Rambukkana bus route and ended my mini adventure.

Waterfall above the Bo fall which falls in to a deep pool	Close up of the upper fall
got much closer	Top of the upper fall
The deep pool formed in the center of Maha Oya which exits at a small opening forming Bo Ella	Top of Bo Ella

The flow continues

Bo Ella seen from a side

Bo Ella

Maha Oya

Quote:
The 3m fall is served by a minor bo (Ficus religiosa) leaf-shaped stream (formed by the Ma Oya [river]) that begins in the Aranayake Rassawa Mountain, and also serves the Ahupini Falls. Before the Bo Falls the water flows through rocks to form two distinct streams and cascades into a large rock pool, where it exits through a 2m opening.

The fall is situated in the Kegalle District Mawanella Provincial Secretariat. Take the Mawanella – Yatimahana road, and the fall can be found 1km away from the bus stop. Alternatively, take the Mawanella – Rambukkana road for about 6km towards Mawanella, to Randiwela village. Turn left at Randiwella junction, and walk for 6km until the fall is reached.