Bambarella to Thangappuwa by hiking Knuckles Peaks & Exploring Alugallena

දුම්බර කදු නගිමින් – අලුගල්ලෙනත් බලමින්- අරඹා බඹරැල්ලෙන් – නිමකලෙමු තංගප්පුවෙන්

After Lakdasun 2nd gathering I got to know some wonderful people and was able to go on some trips with them. So my first trip after that was with  Mithila, Ashan, Sheham, NG, Kasun , Theshantha etc. Interestingly that was my favorite place on earth “ Sri Pada”. Then I recently went on with two other wonderful members of LAKDASUN, SANKETHA and ATULA. Interestingly that was my second favorite place on earth , “Knuckles the Misty Mountains “. How lucky I am. So here is the story of our wonderful journey “Bambarella to Thangappuwa”.

Although I am the writer most of the pictures belongs to Sanketha, Athula ,and Wuminda. So all the credits should go to them. I am herewith mentioning the names of person whom the picture belongs to.

As some of us had to attend family commitments in the morning we fixed Friday 1.00 p.m. as our departure time. Snaketha picked Me and Wuminda at Pelawatta and came to pettah by his car (his father was driving) and Athula with Prasad already had come there. We boarded ourselves to a Kandy A/C Bus at 1.30 p.m .and got off at Ihala Iriyagama at 4.30 p.m. We walked the rest 700m to the Rest house. We had tea there and had a quick wash, came back and proceeded towards Temple of Tooth by bus. It’s about 15-20 minutes journey.

Our plan was to rest that day and leave rest house around f 5.00 a.m. nest day to reach Bambarella before 8.30by hired van .Meanwhile we planned to hunt few waterfalls too.

Our calm , economical resting place .we booked two rooms + dinner ( PHOTO: SANKETHA)

Our Crew from Left to Right Atula, Prasad, Sanketha, Wuminda, Harinda (PHOTO: HARINDA)

DALADA MALIGAWA Seen from distance ( PHOTO: HARINDA)

The Sacred Place at night (PHOTO: HARINDA)

INSIDE (PHOTO: SANKETHA)

Thewawa ( PHOTO: SANKETHA)

PATHTHIRIPPUWA ( PHOTO: HARINDA)

After purchasing some items from Kandy we came back to our place around 8.00 p.m. After having a delicious dinner, we re packed our bags. Other than our personal stuff Athula’s friend was carrying a portable gas cooker with three small cylinders. Sanketha and me were carrying our tents and other stuff was shared with Athula And Wuminda. Each one carried 2 l of water toooo .

We left the rest house sharp at 5.00 after settling bills. Somewhere closer to Bambarella there was a place where we could see the beautiful view of Knuckles.

Getting ready .We were given free bed tea…….. (PHOTO: HARINDA)

View of knuckles mountains (PHOTO: HARINDA)

Misty mountains seen on the way (Photo: Sanketha)

Panaroma view (PHOTO: ATULA)

Then we started our waterfall hunting. Around 6.30 a.m. we reached Hulu ganga town and enjoyed the beauty of HULUGANGA FALLS. From Huluganga there is a route towards ALAKOLA estate and when you travel 3-4 km you could see Thaliya Wetuna ella. We actually skipped that due to time factor and low level of water. Actually only Huluganaga had a sufficient water level. Jodu ella was poor looking and we saw a cheeeeeeeep SHARIYA. What to do. You can see jodu ella from the main road towards Bambarella . There is a concreted road towards left just before bambarella town and you have to travel nearly 1 km up wards to see the SAREE fall.

First glimpse of Huluganag Ella (PHOTO: ATULA)

She was beautiful (PHOTO: HARINDA)

Ella With the palama…………………………….. Great shot by Athula

Poor looking Jodu ella (Photo: Atula)

Capturing Jodu ella (PHOTO: HARINDA)

The Van we hired cost only Rs. 4000/- Peradeniya to Bambarella (PHOTO: HARINDA)

Near Sari Ella (PHOTO: SANKETHA)

The land mark ( Hut ) seen at saree Ella( Photo: WUMINDA)

Sari Ella (PHOTO: SANKETHA)

BLACK& WHITE (Photo: ATULA)

We came to Bammarella Small town around 7.30. Since the van couldn’t go further we sent it off and decided walk the remaining 2km or so to the trail head.

WE planned to purchase some ready made diet like rotti, Bread and hoppers for breakfast and lunch from the shop at Bambarella and we had bought noodles from Kandy to have for dinner and b.f next day

BUTTTTTTTTT. Nothing was there except some wandu and old buns. So we had to purchase some more noodles for lunch which made us to have three complete meals as noodles. Most of us didn’t mind it but my friend Wuminda was yelling at me……….. So if you want to buy a good ready made meal better you purchase around Kandy.

We started our journey around 8.00

Starting point of the journey around 8.00 a.m. (PHOTO: HARINDA)

Shortcuts through tea estates (Photo: ATULA)

On the way scenery (Photo: SANKETHA)

Magnificent view of mountains from tea estates (PHOTO: ATULA)

On the way to the trail head we had to cross several water streams. We re filled our bottles and applied Alum from there. There were considerable amount of leeches although it was dry at knuckles. We reached the trail head around 9.30 and re started our hike.

1st water stream (Photo: Harinda)

Second one where we refilled ( PHOTO: HARINDA)

After applying Alum, Siddhalepa etc ( Photo: Atula)

Trail head……. we have to climb the steps….. don’t go alone the concrete road (PHOTO: SANKETHA)

LAND MARK (PHOTO: HARINDA)

Some water streams we met (PHOTO: WUMINDA)

Knuckles Falls ( PHOTO: HARINDA)

I’m reveling a secret ( He is the Birth day Boy – Climbing Knuckles)(PHOTO: SANKETHA)

After passing few hundred meters of Knuckles falls we met the Last Remarkable water steam . Remember.No water till you climb and comeback here or find a water source at Thangappuwa trail. You have to walk nearly 8 km either way. So fill maximum after knuckles falls and save your water. Although we nearly filled 10 l it was over at the top of the peak due to hot conditions and for preparation of lunch. I have done tough trails than knuckles. But in those trails water was plenty. Normally I and my friend Wuminda consume lots of water when hiking. So we faced a new challenge here. That’s to hike for long consuming less water. If you hike knuckles in dry season you extremely have to consider about water.

Fill Maximum here. Sun is Hot………………………(PHOTO: HARINDA)

Nice scenery along the way (Middle part of the trail is not that difficult except walking under the hot sun (Photo: ATULA)

A dried water steam on a rock surface (PHOTO: HARINDA)

Wow ……….PATHANA ( PHOTO: SANKETHA)

Resting………………..More to go (Photo: ATULA)

Panaroma view of knuckles peaks (PHOTO: ATULA)

We could experience different Landscapes and different climates in every 30 minutes we walk. Nearly 1 km before the peak we saw the sign board showing Alugallena/thangappuwa route. Direction was correct but we understood the very next day it was an elastic 3 km stretched about to 9km to Alugallena cave. Luckily from Mahesh post we had a rough indication about the distances. Yet that board misguided us and changed our plans a bit. I’ll explain how little later………..

Through dried forest (PHOTO: HARINDA)

Wow…………………………………………Is that Pitawala Pathana……………(PHOTO: SANKETHA)

Trail trough the bushes (PHOTO: SANKETHA)

RESTING PLACE (PHOTO: WUMINDA)

Trail is getting tough ( PHOTO: ATULA)

The sign board……….Distance is Fake ….remember that………….(PHOTO: WUMINDA)

After a difficult climb we reached a place where we thought as the first peak. But it was not prominent. Later we knew that actual first peak was the peak that we thought as 2nd or third peak. Luckily we were planning to visit third peak. So we preceded forward. Otherwise we would have returned back at this point.

We rested a bit. Then prepared and had our lunch. Kept our bags Then started further climbing…………….

Lonely man watching around (PHOTO: HARINDA)

Lakdasun Friendship ( at the false peak/ Lunch peak)(PHOTO: SANKETHA)

This is the first peak with a flag on the top. More to climb,(PHOTO: SANKETHA)

Preparing lunch. Useful gas cooker. Made in Korea. Brought by athula’s friend (PHOTO: HARINDA)

Hard climbing (Photo: ATULA)

Some more (Photo: ATULA)

How we see the peak we had lunch when further climbing. ( PHOTO: ATULA)

On Top of First Peak .We reached here around 1.45 p.m.(Photo: Athula)

According to Some posts I have read this is 3rd peak. But there were two reasons us to believe this is the first peak

1. Flag post and the path was not clear after this. We knew that forest department clear the path up to first peak
2. Some villages confirmed that the peak with the flag was the first peak.

If both of the above reasons were false ………….ha ha ha then we must have gone up to the4th peak including the next peak we went. But my wildest guess Is THIS IS THE FIRST PEAK. Scenery was unbelievable. Photos don’t the express the real beauty. ( AWILLAMA BALANNA). It was mist every where. There was a proper camping place too. If you are FIT, tough hiker and if you can live long with little water I suppose do all five peaks and comeback and camp here before dark.

Wow…………………(Photo: SANKETHA)

Second peak seen from first peak (PHOTO: SANKETHA)

Surrounding Mountains (Photo: SANKETHA)

What a way to relax (PHOTO: SANKETHA)

There was a path to the second peak. But it was not cleared. So we had to creep through bushes to reach it.

Creeping through bushes (Photo: HARINDA)

Descend to second peak through bushes (PHOTO: ATULA)

Second peak seen from the it’s base (Photo: SANKETHA)

Calm an quite Birthday Boy at the second peak (Photo: SANKETHA)

If we had climbed further it would have been a real adventure. But we had some other plans such as go to campsite before dark. It was 2.30p.m. Also we had only half a bottle of water. So keeping that target in a separate journey we returned back.

This peak was covered with mist every time (Photo: HARINDA)

Three HAPPY Lakdasun members …………………………… taken by WUMINDA

Panaroma view By Sanketha

We put on our bags at where we kept them and within a shorter period we reached ALUGALLLENA TRAIL.

We put on our bags at where we kept them and within a shorter period we reached ALUGALLLENA TRAIL.

Alugallena Trail (Photo: SANKETHA)

GOST trees (Photo: ATULA)

After sometime we reached a large rock surface .we rested there and preceded our journey. At this movement we were badly needed of water. (Diva gilenna Thibahai ). Luckily after walking for another 15 minutes or so we reached a small water steam. We drank plenty of water and prepared our 5th or 6th bottle of Jeewani of the day. We fill all the other bottles with water although we knew there was water at camp site. That was a wise decision taken from us because we saw water at campsite was not good for direct use.

View of the Mountains (Photo: SANKETHA)

LARGE Rock bed – Another Land Mark (Photo: HARINDA)

KOTI WADA? Can you seethe remaining of bones According to villages, this time at this part of knuckles Aliya – not possible, Walaha –unlikely……….but KOTIYA is POSSIBLE (Photo: HARINDA)

Filling water (Photo: SANKETHA)

Closer to camp site……………common in this area (Photo: HARINDA)

We reached camp site sharp 4.45 P.m. Let me explain the nature and the surrounding of camp site.

• It has two well made places somewhat higher than ground level (opposite to each other) for pitching two tents.
• There was an open area for a campfire 15 meters away from the camping place first we thought very far but considering the small particles evolving from the fire it was a wise decision.
• There was a stream and a well close by . Some places at the stream water were stagnant and some places water was flowing. So we did not take a chance to drink that water. We used for washing ourselves and pans, spoons etc. We used water we filled earlier for drinking and cooking. But next morning collected some water from it and boiled and filled our bottles before leaving the campsite as we didn’t have any idea of the next water source.
• There was a toilet some which was what ok, 50 meters away from the campsite which no one had used recently .and we cleaned it a bit and used.
• Leaches were there in moderate amounts
• Campsite was an open area where you can observe 360 degree view of the sky and observe so many star patterns. So far this was the best place I have observed stars

Wow ………our camping site .left ( yellow) tent was mine and Right ( green) was Sanketha’s (Photo: ATULA)

No sooner we came we pitched our tents and collected fire wood. Then only we did all the cooking, washing, cleaning and changing cloths etc.

Well (Photo: SANKETHA)

Atula was cooking (Photo: SANKETHA)

Mist came from no where (Photo: SANKETHA)

We started the camp fire. We sat around it and had dinner. After dinner we enjoyed the view of the stars and sang two three songs.

Camp fire started

Gini Thapuwa -Kusa piruwa-.Tharu Baluwa_.Gee gayuwa …..still remember the wonderful experience

We slept around 8.00 p.m. But two thee times we heard some noises like some one poking his nose around our tents .we calmly waited and It disappeared quickly. We made our mind thinking it might be a small one like Urumeeya or uguduwa . Other than that we had a good night sleep. Athula had got a cramp at midnight and he has taken care of Jeewani bottle……!!!!!@@@

Morning rays Photo: Harinda

View of the mountains ( where we came from) (Photo: HARINDA)

Prasad was cooking and I was supervising (Photo: WUMINDA)

We woke up around 6.00 p.m and. we were in no hurry. I’ll explain how we misread the situation.

According to the sign board it was mentioned 3 km to the Alugallena. But it was almost 3 km to the camp site. so we thought in between 2-3 kms we could reach it. So we left campsite around 9.00. we should have done it more earlier. From camp site It was more than 5km to the Alugallena. Other thing it was not an easy walk at all. Some places Path was not clear. And we have to climb up down. As an average we had done a descend. We had to go to the base of a huge rock / mountain. (Don’t know the exact name of it )

After saying good bye to Camp Site (Photo: WUMINDA)

Continuing the journey (Photo: ATULA)

A place we could see a clear view of the mountains (Photo: ATULA)

Zoomed (Photo: WUMINDA)

Another View (Photo: SANKETHA)

After 1 km from the camp site we came to a junction where Alugallena & Thangappuwa trails intersect. When you are coming from campsite you have to take a sharp turn to left (Almost a U turn) to reach Alugallena. If you choose the other path slanted to right hand side you will end up at Thangappuwa. Similarly when are you coming from Thangappuwa Road left will take you to camp Site + Knuckles peaks and road right will take you to Alugallena.

So simple to understand

1. ALUGALLENA 2. CAMP SITE 3. THANGAPPUWA (Photo: SANKETHA)

From here we took the left path (my left hand path/no 1) and kept walking. 2-3 Water streams were there in this path. But undergrowth and bad under foot conditions made it difficult to travel. We felt this path is rarely used by people as some places path was disappearing. Some times we had to creep though bushes, cross large fallen trees, go here and there and find the continuation of the path. But if you search carefully finding path is not that difficult as the path is continued to the cave.

On the Alugallena Trail (Photo: SANKETHA)

Water Streams (Photo: ATULA)

Bamboo trees (Photo: HARINDA)

Can you see the path (Photo: HARINDA)

Place where we kept our bags and continued( 10.00 a.m.) (Photo: HARINDA)

It was more than one hour walk but we were yet to see Alugallena. We were in some doubt about the trail as we have not seen a trail guide or trip report on this place. Only thing we knew was there is a path to Alugallena Cave. Since we had to come back and reach Colombo before night thought of searching this quickly. So we kept our bags at one place and took only two water bottles almost ran through the path. We all decided to continue till 10.30 and if we didn’t meet alugallena by that time ……..return back.

We were passing so many dried streams like this (Photo: WUMINDA)

So many rocks like this also. But we couldn’t find any clue of a cave. So we continued (Photo: SANKETHA)

Again Trail was missing (Photo: HARINDA)

Things were getting worse. At 10.30 we observed a steep descend to a base of a mountain. But still we didn’t want to stop. At this point we told our fast and furious hikers WUMINDA & SANKETHA to continue for another five six minutes. While Me ,Athula and His friend Moved slowly. WUMI AND SUNKETH were rocketing. I was telling them loudly if you didn’t find it comeback again. But thanks to their effort they signaled that the presence of the cave. After getting the signal It took us more than five minutes to reach there. Finally we did it. We achieved our target Sharp 10.45. Thanks million times To SANKETHA & WUMINDA. Thanks Athula also as he came behind the big boys( ME AND HIS FRIEND) although he also had the ability to go fast . Well done Boys. It’s a well planned team effort. Well Done Our TEAM………..

We had to get down to this mountain to reach the cave (PHOTO: HARINDA)

The drop (Photo: WUMINDA)

YEH………..We have done it …………..Reached there 10.45 (Photo: SANKETHA)

See the man made walls…

There was facility to camping also (Photo: Wuminda)

CAVE …..Stone walls …..what do you remember (Photo: SANKETHA)

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS (Photo: WUMINDA)

KITCHEN (WUMINDA)

Toilets

As I think this cave is used by monks for meditation or villagers as a resting place (specially at night) when waking to another place. But where???????? Athula suggested that that construction of walls are similar to Meemure. He was right. Villager at Thangappuwa confirmed that there is a foot path to MEEMURE from Alugallena .

Ha ha …..I can imagine what you think….”Bambarella to Meemure via knuckles peaks”……….May be next time . Call me also if you go earlier than me………………………..

It’s amazing. When you explore knuckles you get to know about more and more trails. It’s very interesting .That’s why I LOVE Knuckles

After spending 15-20minutes we came back around 11.00 a.m. coming back was much difficult as we had an overall elevation.

Ready to come back……..See the arrow…………. see what have done by some stupid men (Photo: WUMINDA)

Around 1.00 p.m. we came the junction where we meet Thangapppuwa &Knuckles trails. On the way we had some biscuits with cheese. After walking about 500m further or little more to the Thangappuwa side we met some stone pillars .Further traveling we came a flat area where we could see entire range of knuckles peaks. Scenery was so splendid so most of the time we were going backwards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rock pillars (Photo: WUMINDA)

Flat Area (Photo: ATULA)

See the knuckles peaks (Photo: SANKETHA)

WOW (Photo: ATULA)

Paradise ( SANKETHA)

BEAUTIFUL (Photo: SANKETHA)

Going towards Thngappuwa (WUMINDA)

1533 m Border of Knuckles forest and Thangappuwa village (Photo: SANKETHA)

PLACE people pray before enter the forest (Photo: WUMINDA)

THANGAPPUWA seen far away (Photo: WUMINDA)

THANGAPPUWA Zoomed (Photo: WUMINDA)

Closer to the village ….just before the tea estate ( Photo: WUMINDA)

Nice scenery closer to village (Photo: ATULA)

Nice tree and the side view of the village (Photo: ATULA)

Where we came ……………………………It was not easy from thangappuwa side either (Photo: Sanketha)

Just 1 km before the village we rested a bit and had a wash from near by small stream. Also changed our cloths for the Journey towards civilization.

Rested a bit and had some glucose (PHOTO: SANKETHA)

THANGAPPUWA VILLEGE

We reached the village around 3.00 p.m. and had some bread with Katta Samble for the time being. Shop owner was very kind and showed us a room to have our meals. Also informed many things about Alugallena trail. He informed that he can provide accommodation and food if somebody do the trail from thangappuwa side. See the number on top.

We got in to Theldeniya Bus (via Rangala) at 3.45 and it reached Theldeniya around 5.15. We took a bus from there to Kandy. After having some refreshments From Kandy we took Colombo Bus and came our homes around 11.00 p.m.

Till I Come again Good bye My Lovely Misty Mountains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Notice board at Thangappuwa. All the information seems to be ok except the elevation of Alugallena. Our guess is it’s less than 1454( the elevation of campsite)(SANKETHA)