Memorable journey to Ressa – Meemure

I started my knuckles tours from Meemure. Since then I was fascinated by the beauty of knuckles and it made me to visit it 8 times so far. But most of the times I was loitering in Knuckles north ( Riverston area ) so that I was nearly forgetting loving Meemure. But Sri’s Set of reports was an eye opener and it convinced me that there are so many things to see in this small but miracle village. To my view it’s not the traditional and cultural values attract one’s mind towards Meemure ( As you’ll hardly see symptoms of such now ) but the evergreen forest around village attract the nature lovers. It still hides swiftly flowing streams, gigantic mountains, beautiful waterfalls, , grassy lands , caves , endemic flora and fauna etc…Last time my visit was a surface study about Meemure but this time I wanted to explore more….

As usually I picked one of my office mates and came to Fort railway station around 6.45 a.m. As we didn’t book the tickets to Kandy we had to travel all the way standing. But it was not a big problem as I had ample time to describe my friend about knuckles and Meemure area in that time. He was not only new to Meemure but also new to nature hikes, so I was very careful throughout the journey not to discourage or exhaust him. So around 9.30 Train came to Kandy and we had breakfast there. Then we took a three-wheeler and reached Dalada Maligawa and worshiped from outside. Then took a bus to Hunnasgiriya and it came there around 11.30. After purchasing some snacks and necessary items we got in to the Shiva’s three-wheeler. My friend Madawa was fascinated by the beauty of surrounding and we had to stop our three-wheeler at several points. I‘ll let the pictures talk.

Few facts about Meemure – Hunnasgiriya road

This is a 34 km long mortable road which ends at Meemure
Now all the way to Meemure, road is either carpeted or concreted
Earlier villages used Thawalama to carry goods to meemure and walked all the way .
Now one Isuzu van is operating only once in a day starting from Hunnasgiriya around 1.00 p.m.

Special land marks and distances from Hunnasgiriya

Deanston Forest office and Bungalow 8km
( From here you can hike Mini Worlds End and Dothalugala Peak.There is a camp site too in Dothalugla )

Loolwatta 14 km

Cobets Gap ( Windi gap) and the highest elevation of the road 19km
(From here you can take a by road to Thangappuwa(4 km) from Thangappuwa you can hike Knuckles peaks(5km) and trek to Alugallena(8km) )

Kumbukgola turn off 25km
(From Here you can visit Nitro caves (8 km ) )

Eli Hatha small set of Cascades – 26 km

Kaikawala Village ( closest village to Meemure ) – 29 km

Medamahanuwaragala seen From Hunnasgiriya- Loolwatta road

Nawadagala

This nature tour was totally new one to my friend

Scenic road

Kingdom of mountains

My friend stopped at every stream

At Loolwatta

Loolwaththa tea shop from where we had lunch ( Rotty & Wade)

Beautiful view

Priceless

Spinx rock –closer to cobets gap

View from cobets gap

@Cobetes gap ( Attala Mettuwa )……In Sinhala Attalaya means a Higher platform to view surrounding …..In Meemure loolwatta road this is the highest place from where one can view gigantic mountains clearly. Also the left uphill road(jeep track) will reach Thangappuwa(4km)

Another view

View on the way

Kumbukgolla turn off

Entrance to Kaikawala Waterfalls named as Eli Hatha

3rd fall

2nd ..had to go upstream

1st

Crystal clear water

He was fascinated

Deep pools. Heavenly place to have a bath (only if you know how to swim )

4th

More view

5th

There were many cascades but did not try to attempt all

Icon of Meemure

Mighty Lakegala

Fainally at Nawaratne Mama’s place at 3.30 p.m. His place is 1km before Meemure junction

When We arrived the place Nawaratne Mama had gone to Sooriya Arana falls with some visitors .We later knew that they ( Group of 10 ) were staying in the same house which upset our minds a bit. For your information Nawa mama has now few life jackets so you can engage in few water sports at Sooriya arana if you’re interested
Nawa mama’s wife served us with tea . We had a chat with her for a while and she arranged a room for us. Since we didn’t have any plans in the evening we headed towards the Sooriya Arana falls.

To reach Suriya arana falls You have to walk nearly 500m towards Meemure Junction and turn right. Path is clear so just ask the directions from Villagers. It’s nearly 45min walk.

Lakegala and Paddy fields

I remembered a poem about Lakegala ( Which was given to me by Abeyrathne Bandara Mama )

Epita konata Kalupahanaa keleyaaa…..
Memita konata laggala meemureyaaa………..
Desiya dekak usa athi gomareeyaaa……….
Sondai parakasha laka mee mureyaaa………….

Clear road one can even drive up to some extent

Innocent villager

More views

Dear Sir , I’ll meet you some day….But after strict training and proper planning

Famous place in the Suriya Arana film ( If you remember it’s the Meat Shop )

We crossed the stream and chose the jungle path

Modern Robin Hood

First Section of Sooriya Arana falls

Second part from Top

Second Part..Base pool was deep due to recent showers

Signs of existence of Brainless idiots

Third and highest part

Fast and furious

This is the deepest pool . so bathing is not recommended

We went further downstream for finding a safe bathing place

The place where we had a bath

Of course a perfect bath

Hello

Returning back

Evening rays added extra beauty to the village

Dinky (Nawa’s Dog ) is not friendly with visitors . But I manage to win his heart after offering some chicken bones ( MAS KATU)

Fellow asked Where’s Little SRI

When we arrived home at 6.00 p.m. Nawa Mama had come there. We had a few chat with them. I suggested that we would visit Ressa Next day and come back and visit Nawaratne Ella last day and walk to Narangamuwa and go home via Pallegama , Dambulla. But he informed that if we visit Ressa we can even reach Narangamuwa on the same day as it’s less than 2hour walk to reach same. So He suggested us to visit Nawaratne ella on the second day and do the Meemure – Ressa – Narangamuwa trail final day. And he predicted of few showers in second day.

( For the information of readers there are two trails to Narangamuwa from Meemure. Left uphill path is via Ressa which is a moderate ascend till Ressa and descend to Narangamuwa. Will take 6- 8 hours to cover this part .other path which is moves to right is comparatively easy takes nearly 3-4 hours for a leisure hike. Nawaratne ella is 5km different trail from the above two and it’ll take 3-4 hours to visit and return)

But Doing only Nawaratne Ella which is nearly 4 hr hike (both up and down ) was little below Par for me and felt heavy workload on 3rd day as we were planning to reach homes on same day. So I told him we’ll adjust the plan depending on weather.

After a tasty dinner we went to sleep. But we were disturbed by our neighboring group by various activities such as singing, shouting etc..But we had to bare it as we can’t expect quite and calm behavior from everybody. We were on a nature trip but it was a family gathering for them. In fact they were going next morning.

In the morning I woke up with fever and I was not in a good mode to hike. Somehow rather Nawarathne mama Introduce us a guide call Kalu Malli for our hike. We were initially planning to do Ressa. Nenda had prepared us breakfast and packed Rotty for Lunch. So me My friend and Kalu Malli( Samaraweera ) started our journey at 6.45 a.m. But we had to just past Meemure paddy field and it was raining. We stopped at Bo tree hopping the rain would settle down but rain was getting heavy . Also I was feeling feverish .So we changed our plans and selected Nawa mama’s plan of visiting Nawaratne Ella .

One thing I can tell you about the instincts of 50+ year man Nawaratne ,is marvelous . There wasn’t any clue about rain I previous day but his predictions were right.

Lakegala Covered in mist

Symbolic Mee Tree

A faithful member joined us in Nawaratne trail ( Kollai Ballai ).

Weather was not ideal for doing Ressa

Changing the plans for Nawaratne ella ( Diyakerella Ella )

A Dewalaya where we stopped for rain

Morning Sceneries

Weather was not good for hikes but excellent for hunting waterfalls

One of the streams we met , My friend and the Doggie

Small cascade on the way…There is a paddy field of Kalu Malli close by

Art of nature

We had to cross this stream. Perfect bathing spot in a sunny day

First Glimpse

Diyakerella / Nawaratne Ella

Paninna Pera sitha balanna

We Returned back to Resting place around 12.00 noon. I was suffering from fever. After having lunch I requested Nenda to prepare some Link – Paspanguwa. After consuming that I went for a sleep. Although Nitro cave was in mind abandoned it due to my fever. Around 6.00 p.m. Nawa mama came with an irritating news . According to his words “Mahaththaya, 10 denekuge withara set ekak enawa ada mehe nawathina.. Habai Poddak sindu kiyai….Mama e ayata enna kiyannada naththam wenathenaka nawaththannada “ I replied and said not to upset his business because of me and let them in. But Nawarathne understood the situation and went out with a mamoty to prepare a place( land nearby ). He instructed the new group do their activities(singing, dancing etc ) in the prepared place and come home only for sleep. That was a great relief for me. After taking dinner we went to sleep. The group had come to Nawa’s place around 12.00 so it was a goodnight sleep for me

Following day early in the morning we left the place with Kalu malli after packing our baggage and saying good bye to Nawaratne & His wife. Our plan was to visit Narangamuwa Via Ressa and come home via Pallegama-Dambulla-Colombo .

The trail was initially less intense but with the time the ascend got steeper . Land marks were Akul Ella Lakegala Base and Kadathenna.

First cascade we met

Next Cascade – Akul Ella

Obstacles to prevent cattle movements

Different shaped Lakegala Covered in mist

Base of Lakegala

A pond with crystal clear water

Time for some refreshments

Drinking according to jungle style

I Remembered a poem about a Pond in Lakegala..But I’m quite not sure whether is this same pool?

Sathares Pokuna Sadila atha Laka Muduna
Nawoth Diya Pathak Thirihan Wei Kiyana
Rawana Rajuge Raja Wasala Ethana
Pokuna sondai Nemata siri Laka Muduana…..

We rested there a bit and proceeded

Uphill journey was strenuous

This Is calles Kadathenna Border of Kandy – Mathale Districs To reach Narangamuwa It’sacontinous Descend To reach ressa It’s a small discend and a tiring accend

Left downhill is Narangamuwa…Right path is Ressa . We headed to ressa

Large Rock and small scream as land marks

You have to cross this beautiful steam too

Below is a good bathing place. We had lunch after returning from Ressa

After the stream it was a difficult continuous ascend. We reached Ressa around 11.30 a.m.

The Opposite Mountain.. Guide named this as Kalupahana

Lakegala seen far

Different shapes

Here is our destination …. Ressa …Which hides so many ancient stories

There are some stories related to this place. It’s said a part of Lakegala was splitted by an arrow of Rama ( Rama Sera ) and brocken parts fell down to Uyangamuwa lake

Uyan gamuwa pera sita wew bandanaaa…….
Rama saren ena wedi sara avidanaaa…..
Ravana yudata vedi sara asamanaa………
Il masa andura meemure LAKA Dumbaanaa……( Laka means Lakegala )

We were fascinated by the beauty and my friend was speechless…..we enjoyed the beauty of the place and the surrounding to the fullest
There are some stories related to this place. It’s said a part of Lakegala was splitted by an arrow of Rama ( Rama Sera ) and brocken parts fell down to Uyangamuwa lake

Uyan gamuwa pera sita wew bandanaaa…….
Rama saren ena wedi sara avidanaaa…..
Ravana yudata vedi sara asamanaa………
Il masa andura meemure LAKA Dumbaanaa……( Laka means Lakegala )

We were fascinated by the beauty and my friend was speechless…..we enjoyed the beauty of the place and the surrounding to the fullest
There are some stories related to this place. It’s said a part of Lakegala was splitted by an arrow of Rama ( Rama Sera ) and brocken parts fell down to Uyangamuwa lake

Uyan gamuwa pera sita wew bandanaaa…….
Rama saren ena wedi sara avidanaaa…..
Ravana yudata vedi sara asamanaa………
Il masa andura meemure LAKA Dumbaanaa……( Laka means Lakegala )

We were fascinated by the beauty and my friend was speechless…..we enjoyed the beauty of the place and the surrounding to the fullest

Soora Samaraweera

Broken part of the mountain

Mission completed

Looking down

Severe drop

Two Yakka Soldiers in Rawana’s Army

View of the surroundings

.

Narangamuwa side

Paddy fields of Narangamuwa

Surrounding mountains

Leach’s Works

After spending nearly an hour we returned back..We had lunch at the stream we passed before. It was a continuous descend till Narangamuwa..Jungle was very calm and beautiful…There were mind blowing streams with suitable camping areas.

Beautiful Jungle

Arts of natue

Two rooted tree

What a place to relax …………………so calm

I loved the place

Calm environment

Perfect place for camp if you are not afraid of Jumbos

Border of Village and forest

Lakegala Seen from Narangamuwa

After coming to the first house of the village we had a bath and changed our dresses .From that house we had to walk for another half an hour to teach the village. After coming to a shop we had tea with buns…from there we picked a three wheeler and went to Pallegama. Then we took busses to Dambulla and then to Colombo and reached homes around 12.00 mid night.

Place where we had a bath and exchanged our cloths

Ready for the civilization

Path to the village

Paddy fields

Thanks for reading

Message From My Friend “Thanks for reading and we’ll meet with another Knuckles journey “