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Trip Reports Archive » By Year » 2010 » Trip to the Southern Hill Country

Trip to the Southern Hill Country

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Tags & Author Archive

Bambarakanda, Bambarakanda Falls, Dambetenna, Diyaluma Falls, Haldummulla, Haputale, Idalgashinna, Kalupahana, Kirindi Falls, koslanda, Lanka Ella, Lipton’s seat, pelmadulla, Poonagala, Ratnapura, Udawalawa National Park, Udawalawe, 2010, April, Dry Zone, Mountains, National Park, Photograhy, Scenic Drive, Three Days, Waterfalls

Author: Sachitha (3 Trips)

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Year and Month April, 2010
Number of Days Three day Trip
Crew Few families varying in ages
Accommodation Hotel in Haputale
Transport Jeeps
Activities Waterfall hunting, Photography, wildlife, sceneries
Weather Good bad and ugly
Route Galle -> Kalutara -> Ratnapura -> Haputale -> Wellawaya -> Embilipitiya -> Hakmana -> Matara -> Galle
Tips, Notes and Special remarks
  • The water levels in all the waterfalls visited were very good as the intermonsoon had set in
  • Carry water and things you need with you
  • NEVER leave litter behind !
Author Sachitha
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions in Lakdasun Forum on the thread 

  • Trip to the Southern Hill Country

This was a family trip with other families of my father’s friends joining in. We started from Galle and proceeded via the Galle road up to Waskaduwa (Kalutara) and turned to Bandaragama and then took the route to Ratnapura. The first destination was Kirindi Ella near Pelmadulla. The road up to where the staircase leading to the base of the fall starts was not great but acceptable. The water level was probably just right and it was absolutely deserted. :-) Also the vicinity of the fall was unspoilt thankfully. The steps to the foot of the falls was in good condition for the most part but climbing it back to the top was harder than it looked. Probably would have been easier if there was no steps.

Kirindi ella from the viewing point

Kirindi ella from the viewing point

The awful steps!

The awful steps!

Kirindi ella from the bottom

Kirindi ella from the bottom

Looking down stream from the base pool

Looking down stream from the base pool

Then headed to the Bambarakanda area via the A4 and managed to visit Bambarakanda and Lanka Ella. Couldn’t visit Uduwara and Nagadowa Ella because it was getting late and also because a slight drizzle was settling in. What was nice to see was that as both falls are relatively unpopular the environment was not harmed. We stayed the night in Haputale.

Bambarakanda Falls

Bambarakanda Falls

Bambarakanda area

Bambarakanda area

Bambarakanda

Bambarakanda

Way to lanka ella

Way to lanka ella

Way to lanka ella

Way to lanka ella

Way to lanka ella

Way to lanka ella

Lanka ella

Lanka ella

Teardrop shape base pool Lanka ella

Teardrop shape base pool Lanka ella

Top of Lanka ella from distance

Top of Lanka ella from distance

Next day it was upto lipton’s seat and it proved to be a nice journey. The weather was fantastic. We had attempted to go to Lipton’s seat a few years earlier but had to turn back because of the mist. If you are hiking remember to carry plenty of water!

View from lipton’s seat

View from lipton’s seat

Lipton’s seat

Lipton’s seat

Area around Pitarathmale on the Dambetenna road

Area around Pitarathmale on the Dambetenna road

Area around Pitarathmale on the Dambetenna road

Area around Pitarathmale on the Dambetenna road

In the afternoon it was decided to drive upto Idalgashinna station and to do some hiking in the vicinity. The road there from Haputale was THE worst road that I had been on. :-( Not a nice experience at all. It took ages to get to Idalgashinna and as we got there it started raining and the mist was setting in. So our idea was abandoned and started the journey back. On the return journey we took the route through haldummulla, and for the most part was a much better road than the one we had travelled earlier. :-)

Idalgashinna Rail Tracks

Idalgashinna Rail Tracks

Idalgashinna Railway Station

Idalgashinna Railway Station

Idalgashinna Views

Idalgashinna Views

Misty Idalgashinna

Misty Idalgashinna

Driving through the mist between Idalgashinna and Haldummulla

Driving through the mist between Idalgashinna and Haldummulla

On the final day we went to Udawalawe via Koslanda, Wellawaya and Tanamalwila passing Diyaluma on the way. As Priyanjan has said in his reports the A4 from Beragala to Wellawaya is very picturesque and the “mara” trees give it an added beauty. There was quite a lot of litter at Diyaluma which is the price of being popular and right being right beside a main road. :-(

Diyaluma

Diyaluma

Finally we did a safari at Udawalawe and saw plenty of elephants and Bird species. One or 2 jumbos decided they would give mock charges, which was an interesting situation. :-)

Udawalawa

Udawalawa

Udawalawa

Udawalawa

more from Udawalawa

more from Udawalawa

Storm clouds gathering over Udawalawa National Park

Storm clouds gathering over Udawalawa National Park

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