![]() |
Copyright Notice: Please obtain permission from the author before duplicating, re-publishing or adapting content of a trip report |
![]() |
Be a responsible traveler! Watch this video before you hit the road! Download Video: MP4|3gp |
![]() |
Do you like to contribute a Trip Report? learn how to or download template and start straight away! |
Year and Month | 2013 October (10th and 11th) |
Number of Days | Two days |
Crew | 04 |
Accommodation | Camping on Kehelpothdoruwegala |
Transport | By bus, three wheeler, walking and climbing |
Activities | Mountain climbing, Sightseeing, Camping and Photography |
Weather | Excellent with very few drizzling |
Route | Mahiyangana -> Ududumbara (උඩුදුම්බර) -> Kalugala (කලුගල) -> Udailuka (උඩඉලුක) -> Velangolla pathana (වෙලන්ගොල්ල පතන) -> Kehelpothdoruwegala -> Udagaldebokka(උඩගල්දෙබොක්ක) -> Pallegaldebokka (පල්ලෙගල්දෙබොක්ක) -> Udaththawa (උඩත්තාව) -> Uduwela (උඩුවෙල) -> Mahiyangana |
Tips, Notes and Special remark |
|
Author | Niroshan |
Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
The name Kehelpothdoruwegala (Rock shaped like a plantain sheath gutter) came to my knowledge in 2012 February in our Yahangala climbing. We have noticed a giant standing in front of Yahangala (1220m) and got to know it as Kehelpothdoruwegala.
But the day of conquering came after one and half years of Yahangala climbing.
We spent the night at Mahiyangana and reached Ududumbara around 5.30am. Following our short breakfast at a small hotel at Ududumbara we met a three wheel driver to reach Uda iluka.
I have discussed with Heen Banda mama (A villager lives in Kalugala who met during our Yahangala hiking) in previous day of our arrival to get to know the road towards Kehelpothdoruwegala. But he was out of home when we reached there. Then we decided to climb it alone after getting the directions from villagers.
Our plan was to first get on to Velangolla Pathana (Where we camped on Yahangala climbing) and then reach Kehelpothdoruwegala along it’s edge. We started the climbing around 7.30am.
There is a nice foot pathway from Uda iluka to Velangolla Pathana with scenic background. It starts just after the bridge of Uda iluka and first ascends through the village. Then it enters the thick forest and background scenery was so beautiful. Finally it connected with the foot pathway from Udagaldebokka at Dewalaya of Gale Bandara Dewiyo. (ගලේ බණ්ඩාර දෙවියෝ)
The foot pathway on right hand side of this three way junction was the way to Yahangala and we had to go to left hand side to reach Kehelpothdoruwegala.
Time was around 10am. We started the climbing. Climbing along the edge of the mountain to the peak was not easy at all. There was an unclear foot pathway in some area may be due to cattle. It has no forest cover but Mana bushes and thorny bushes were there. Although it was seemed as considerably less distance final one was about 3-4km with ascends and descends. Finally we reached the Kehelpothdoruwegala Mountain around 3pm and climbed it to some extent. According to previous experience of this area we knew mist will come down in another 1-2hours. Therefore we decided to camp there without reaching the peak.
It was difficult to find a flat area to place our tent.
Night was so long as usual in other camping experience. We had to battle with cold and wind. We came out of the tent around 5am to set our fire again and had a cup of tea. We were able to reach the peak of the mountain around 7.30am. Surrounding view from top of the mountain was superb. Rest of Knuckles range could be seen here including Lakegala/Galtuna, Thelambugala (තෙලබුගල) and some other peaks much higher than Kehelpothdoruwa.
We have planned to get down to Udagaldebokka village in our return journey. Then we searched to get down directly from Kehelpothdoruwa peak to Udagaldebokka village but attempt was unsuccessful due to acute angle of the mountain after one level. Only option was to follow our pathway to Velangolla pathana and then go through routine pathway.
Once we reached at Udagaldebokka we had a bath from a “Peella” (පීල්ල). Then we walked another 5-6km from this isolated village to reach Udaththawa to have a bus.
Thanks for reading.