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Trip Reports Archive » By Length » Two Days » Trekking Knuckles from Bambarella to Thangappuwa

Trekking Knuckles from Bambarella to Thangappuwa

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Tags & Author Archive

Alugallena, Bambarella, Cottaganga, Knuckles, Knuckles Falls, Knuckles Forest Reserve, Knuckles Mountain Range, Kota ganga, Kota ganga falls, Thangappuwa, Two Days, November, Wet Zone, Mountains, National Park, Camping, Hiking, 2016, Natural Bath, Photograhy, Trekking, Waterfalls

Author: Ramzy (23 Trips)

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Year and Month  2016 November 13 & 14
Number of Days  Two
Crew  Five
Accommodation  Camping at Alugallena
Transport  Public transport
Activities  Scenery, Photography,Hiking, Waterfall hunting
Weather  Cloudy
Route Gelioya -> Kandy -> Waththegama -> Bambarella -> Knuckles Peak -> Alugallena -> Kotaganga falls -> Thangappuwa -> Theldeniya -> Kandy

[Download Google Earth Trail Map From this link]

Tips, Notes and Special remark
  • Start early as possible.
  • Do not travel solo.
  • Bus to Bambarella from kandy leaves at 7:20 am from Kandy (Near Clock tower) in School days and starts 9:00 am from Wattegama in non-school days. Next bus is at 10:45 am.
  • Last Bus to Teldeniya from thangappuwa is at 4:00pm.
  • Carry atleast 1ltr of water per person.
  • Path is not much clear after the 1st and 2nd peaks of Knuckles. Alugallena, Thangappuwa trail is very clear.
  • No need of a guide to do this trail.
  • No water at Alugallena during this period. Water source available within 1km.
  • Leech protection needed
Related Resources Trip reports : on Knuckles , Kota ganga & Alugallena
Author Ramzy
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

  • Trekking Knuckles from Bambarella to Thangappuwa

Bambarella to Thangappuwa is a popular trail among the knuckles trekkers. There are several attractions can be seen in this trail.

  1. Knuckles falls (near the trail head)
  2. Knuckles Mountain peaks
  3. Alugallena cave (3 Km away from main trail)
  4. Kotaganga (seven) falls

All above can be done within two days and its around 20 Km trail.

The Map

Map - click to enlarge

Map – click to enlarge

We have been to Knuckles in 2015. During that trip we were able to reach up to 3rd peak of the Knuckles despite the rainy conditions. Therefore we wanted something extra to visit during this trip. So we planned two days trip with camping at Alugallena

We gathered at 7 am Kandy and had breakfast at a nearby hotel. Then we got in to the Wattegama Bus and reached Wattegama around 8:40 am. The Bambarella bus was halted there at Bus-stand and we got in to bus. The bus started the journey around 9:00 am and ended Journey at Bambarella around 10:30 am. We bought some snack items from the shop at Bambarella.

We saw some constructions being done at Bambarella by Forest Department. We inquired and they said FD is putting up Information Centre with a Ticket Counter. In near future it will begin services.

Later we started our hike through the short route just passing the bridge. The distance to the trailhead from Bambarella Bus  stand is 3 Kms. Then another 3-4 kms to Knuckles peaks. The Knuckles falls is located in this path few 100 meters from trailhead.

Starting the Journey from Bambarella

Starting the Journey from Bambarella

Here we go

Here we go

Bambarella

Bambarella

Wildberry

Wildberry

Team at the trailhead

Team at the trailhead

Stream on the way

Stream on the way

.

.

Kalupahana side view

Kalupahana side view

Stream

Stream

Entering trail head

Entering trail head

Trail Head

Trail Head

Knuckles from Trail head

Knuckles from Trail head

Knuckles falls

Knuckles falls

Waterfall

Waterfall

We were able to reach the first peak around 2:45pm. There is a camp site at 1st peak but no water source available. The 2nd peak is just another 100 meter hike. The path is cleared upto 2nd peak only. There is a campsite in the second peak too.

Crossing a stream

Crossing a stream

Knuckles Mountain

Knuckles Mountain

White-Cypress Hermitage

White-Cypress Hermitage

Clear path

Clear path

An open place

An open place

Nature trail

Nature trail

A resting point

A resting point

Beautiful path

Beautiful path

Beauty

Beauty

Forest path

Forest path

On the way to 1st peak

On the way to 1st peak

View

View

resting

resting

Lower angle snap

Lower angle snap

View from 1st peak

View from 1st peak

Team at 1st peak near campsite

Team at 1st peak near campsite

The Way to 2nd peak

The Way to 2nd peak

achievers

achievers

Looking back from 2nd peak

Looking back from 2nd peak

Mist created beauty

Mist created beauty

Rock in the second peak

Rock in the second peak

Priceless

Priceless

All the way we came

All the way we came

Path to green paradise

Path to green paradise

Rock bed to have a rest

Rock bed to have a rest

.

.

Mist

Mist

Campsite 2nd peak

Campsite 2nd peak

Lovely path

Lovely path

Returning

Returning

Unfortunately the mist covered everything to the meemure side. but the other side was much clear. The managing the time was the big challenge. We wanted to go Allegallena before its getting dark. We started our march to alugallena at around 3 pm. The distance to Algallena from the 2nd peak is 4.5kms. So we were on a hurry to settle in the Alugallena and we managed to reach Alugallena by 5:45pm.

an open area

an open area

Knuckles is in the background

Knuckles is in the background

Crystal water

Crystal water

Greeny path

Greeny path

FD campsite

FD campsite

Campsite-Water source available

Campsite-Water source available

At Alugallena

At Alugallena

The toilet

The toilet

Cooking

Cooking

Dinner

Dinner

The challenge we faced in Alugallena is the unavailability of water. We went back more than 500 mtrs to fill water. The next day we met a trekker and who said the water available in few meters in the path to Kaikawala infront of the cave.

We made delicious food with Instant precooked curries. We had rice and curry for the dinner. Prepared Porridge for Breakfast.

Breakfast

Breakfast

For the Lunch

For the Lunch

Milo

Milo

Alugallena

Alugallena

Alugallena

Alugallena

Bottom-top view

Bottom-top view

Cook in process

Cook in process

Rock of Alugallena

Rock of Alugallena

You don’t need a tent to camp in Alugallena. It’s an ideal camping spot. The plan for the next day is Kotaganga falls and Thangappuwa. We didn’t have a guide so we were not sure about route to the Kotaganga falls. We started the day with prayers and after taking the breakfast we began the 2nd day journey at around 8:15 am.

Rock of Alugallena

Rock of Alugallena

.

.

Beautiful track

Beautiful track

The Junction – Left to Knuckles Right to Alugallena

The Junction – Left to Knuckles Right to Alugallena

Another open area

Another open area

Different types of plants

Different types of plants

In to the Kotaganga plain

In to the Kotaganga plain

Kotaganga plain

Kotaganga plain

Another camping site

Another camping site

Towards kotaganga falls

Towards kotaganga falls

Kotaganga Plains

Kotaganga Plains

.

.

Another stair falls but no water

Another stair falls but no water

Waterfall

Waterfall

Kotaganga Village

Kotaganga Village

Path which starts in the plains takes directly to the 2nd fall from the top and from there you can decide which path/area we want to go. If we select the lower path we can end up in the kotaganga village. If we move the upper path we can reach thangappuwa. So we decided to take the upper path to get some good views. But we were able to visit only two falls of seven falls. Our target is catching 3:45 bus from thangappuwa. this is another reason lead us this decision.

Kotaganga 2nd fall

Kotaganga 2nd fall

2nd fall

2nd fall

1st from top

1st from top

1st fall

1st fall

1st to 2nd

1st to 2nd

.

.

On the edge

On the edge

The view

The view

Cheering

Cheering

Rainbows

Rainbows

Top of 1st fall

Top of 1st fall

Top of first

Top of first

With water

With water

Top to bottom view

Top to bottom view

.

.

The upper side

The upper side

.

.

.

.

Tourists

Tourists

The team

The team

Selfie

Selfie

After spending sometime at the top and taking the lunch we packed up things  to move towards thangappuwa at around 1pm. We walked along the stream to reach the thangappuwa path

.

.

Don’t try during rainy days

Don’t try during rainy days

Some cover from shadow

Some cover from shadow

Back in track

Back in track

Scary?

Scary?

Covered path

Covered path

Close to thangappuwa

Close to thangappuwa

Beautiful view

Beautiful view

Corbets gap - Dothalugala

Corbets gap – Dothalugala

Thangappuwa village

Thangappuwa village

Zoomed out

Zoomed out

Photography

Photography

At thangappuwa

At thangappuwa

We reached thangappuwa around 2:30 pm. We went to the bus stand and had meals near by shop. The shop owner showed us their Cardamom reating/heating point. These cardamom are from Knuckles and they are in best quality. We purchased cardamom from them.

Cardomom

Cardomom

Treatment

Treatment

Drying trays

Drying trays

Road towards corbets gap

Road towards corbets gap

The bus to teldeniya from thangappuwa started journey at 4pm. it took more than 1 hour to reach Teldeniya. From there we took Bus to Kandy and reached our homes. It was one of our best camping trips.

Thanks for reading..

Elevation Profile

Elevation Profile – click to enlarge

 

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