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Trip Reports Archive » Trips Filed Under Kotagala

Today's Most Viewed

  1. Hiking Kabaragala – The Highest Peak of Dolosbage (1506 M) 32 views
  2. Richmond Castle, Kalutara 18 views
  3. Waterfalls of Colombo District 13 views
  4. Sinhagala Nature Trail – Sinharaja Rain Forest 12 views
  5. Uda Lakshapana Gala / Saptha Kanya / Seven Virgins (1569m) hike 11 views
  6. Scenic ride to Kallebokka and Hulangala 10 views
  7. One day hike to Kabaragala (1506m) 10 views
  8. Back to Yahangala (1220m) 9 views
  9. Arangala the centered rock (792m) 9 views
  10. Two days in Heaven (Madulsima to Pitamaruwa) 9 views

This Week's

  1. Hiking Kabaragala – The Highest Peak of Dolosbage (1506 M) 113 views
  2. Two days in Heaven (Madulsima to Pitamaruwa) 56 views
  3. Dreams Do Come True, Maragala-kanda (1111m) The Paradise Of Monaragala 50 views
  4. Days at Chilaw 48 views
  5. Hike to Gongala (1357m)-Highest peak of Sabaragamuwa Mountains 41 views
  6. Waterfalls of Colombo District 41 views
  7. Uda Lakshapana Gala / Saptha Kanya / Seven Virgins (1569m) hike 39 views
  8. Back to Yahangala (1220m) 35 views
  9. Camping on Dolukanda (600m) 35 views
  10. Scenic Peacock Hills (1518m) + Kadiyanlena & Galboda Waterfalls 33 views

This Month's

  1. Hiking Kabaragala – The Highest Peak of Dolosbage (1506 M) 399 views
  2. Hike to Gongala (1357m)-Highest peak of Sabaragamuwa Mountains 257 views
  3. Two days in Heaven (Madulsima to Pitamaruwa) 231 views
  4. Misty point-Ambokka (1159m) and Selagama Mini world’s end 158 views
  5. Bulathkohupitiya-Narangala Hike (880m) 156 views
  6. Camping on Dolukanda (600m) 155 views
  7. Camping at Kelebokka 360 view point…. 141 views
  8. Dreams Do Come True, Maragala-kanda (1111m) The Paradise Of Monaragala 136 views
  9. Dhanigala / Kandegama the Alien Mountain 133 views
  10. Back to Yahangala (1220m) 130 views

All-Time

  1. Two days in Heaven (Madulsima to Pitamaruwa) 45,154 views
  2. Aliyawetunaela Hike – 1665m (අලියාවැටුණඇල) 31,919 views
  3. Camping trip to Meemure – One of the best trips ever!!! 30,032 views
  4. Bathalegala (Bible’s Rock) 798m 26,738 views
  5. Chariot Path of Ravana & Sitha on top of Piduruthalagala range and James Taylor’s Loolecondera! 25,537 views
  6. Waterfalls of Colombo District 24,551 views
  7. සබරගමුවේ ආදරවන්තයන්ගේ කන්ද (Paraviyangala) 18,918 views
  8. Scenic Hike to Wangedigala 18,878 views
  9. ගලේ බණ්ඩාර දෙවියන්ගේ අඩවියේ පිහිටි රාවණා රජු මල දවස රජුට ජනතාව ගරු බුහුමන් දැක් වූ ස්තානය (යහන්ගල/Yahangala 1220m)... 18,126 views
  10. Great Western (6th highest mountain in Sri Lanka- 2212m) Once in a life time HIKE! 17,346 views

A difficult hike-Hawarimana /හවරිමාන (1120m)

Hawarimana is a peak situated at Upper border of Knuckles massif. It is bordered by Karagahathenna, Gammaduwa, Sandamadala, Karagahathenna Mini World’s end and Hinguruwatta Mountain. Hawarimana has unusual appearance. It has two peaks with saddle like a gap.

The mountain of moon, Sandamadala

Sandamadala is a mountain situated at the northern border of knuckles massiff. We planned this hike during a dry day. We travelled to Naula via Kandy and Matale and then we turned to Elahera road and again turned to Opalgala road at Ambana junction.

Loitering around Opalgala-Hinguruwatta Mountain-හිගුරුවත්ත කන්ද (1050m)

Hinguruwatta Kanda is a beautiful peak with nice view points situated at upper border of Knuckles massif. This is our one day journey to this peak.

Lesser known peak in upper border of Knuckles massif-Sandamadala-සදමඩල (800m)

Sandamadala is a peak with 800m height situated at the edge of Knuckles massif. It can be easily climbed through a mana patch from remote village Kotagala at Matale district.

Front Row Seat – Podi Menike…

The smartly dressed engine driver reminded me of a senior air force officer. Their uniforms were that good. Climbing up the steps into the engine at Nanu Oya was like a dream. Thinking back, I was as if sleep walking into it. Inside, the space was fully occupied by the two comfortable seats for the engine driver and his assistant, pilot and copilot in aviation terms. Behind them in the middle were two fire extinguishers. They could move about along the narrow path behind the seating. The engine compartment was the bulk of the sky blue enclosed wagon with no access whatsoever for others including them. If there was, I wasn’t gonna push my luck that far. The full length dashboard has various control panels including the touch LCD screen of the computer making it easy for the operators. The German and Canadian engines are more towards manual operations whereas this Chinese is largely computer-controlled.

Bold & the Beautiful – Rail Hike Stage 05…

Soon we entered a tunnel and it seemed to take forever to get to the other side. It was the world famous Singhamale Tunnel. There were a plenty of workers who got off at a tiny station called Galkanda Watta between Hatton and Kotagala just passing the Singhamale Tunnel, the longest in SL. The view afterwards was simply amazing and it made Ana and me get out of our seats and come to the door pointing our cameras at the surrounding. The early morning rays of the sun kept peering through trees and mountains making patters on the dewy leaves. The mist hung in midair as if hung with an invisible thread. We felt like going through heaven.

Petals along the railway (Nanu oya to Nawalapitiya)

It was long ago I did a rail hike that was in February. So with the upcoming long weekend and been clueless, I decided to do a 3 day rail hike which I had to fast track to two days because Kasun invited me for another trip. Doing 65 Km’s for two days is more like a rail run but guess what I didn’t miss a thing. Walking speed was around 4.2Km’s/hour and I have never walked on a road even that fast. As most of you’ll know this stretch is not known for any special locations or scenery but I found out that there was lot to offer. My main focus was on flowers, may be wild or grown at stations as garden flowers, so please forgive me for adding many images of these beauties.

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