Family Trip To Riverston

Family Trip To Riverston
(Do enjoy Nature but share it with loved ones too…..)

Knuckles range is the all rounder in Nature sites. Why I am telling this because of its vast variation in climates, flora, fauna, geography etc…..Also there are hundreds of trails which can be categorized from easy to strenuous. Dangerous Lakagala, Tough Duwili Eli at Kalupahana, Strenuous Knuckles peaks, Moderate Manigala and easy Deanston are some examples….So you can satisfy any of your friends or loved ones at knuckles. Irrespective of their age, fitness level or other parameters ,Knuckles consist of one or more suitable trails for any of them. That’s why I called it as “THE ALL ROUNDER “

I used to share my nature experiences with my family members time to time. And Knuckles made it easy for me. Our last family trip was to Deanston with my hiking partner Sanketha. This time I thought of taking them to riverston. Unfortunately Sanketha and his family couldn’t join us due to other commitments but my famous hiking partner SRI joined me for this trip as he also hadn’t been to some of the places at Riverston area.
I booked the Dumbara Wana niwahana Dormitory few days earlier. Then arranged the van. We all left homes around 5.30 a.m. on 30th April . My father had some work in the morning and I instructed him to come to Thelgamu oya via Colombo > Dambulla > Pallegama .It was a slow drive in Colombo Kandy road due to considerable number of vehicles. We had breakfast closer to Kegalle and reached Kandy around 9.30 am. Then we visited and worshiped sacred toot relic.

Mr. Sri , Mahappa, Punchi Amma, And my Mother

Bogambara Lake

Morning Thewawa

Sacred Tooth relic

Buddha Statue

Paththirippuwa

Religious activities before hiking . That’s what they believe

We left Kandy around 10.30 and reached Mathale around 11.30. We purchased lunch, some food stuff at Mathale and proceeded towards Raththota. At Raththota we purchased some fresh vegetables. After Raththota our first attraction was Bambarakiri Ella. Remember that Board( Directed to Bambarakiri ella ) was not visible. For ones information I ‘ll summarize how to reach Bamabrakiriella
Drive towards Riverston from Raththota
After about 5 km from Raththota there is a large bend to left
At that bend there is a gravel path to your right
When you walk nearly 100 meters you would see a suspension bridge
Bambarakiri ella is at the left from that bridge

Bambarakiri Ella

Suspension Bridge ..Now in Good condition

View from Bridge

Bottom Part

We left the place and reached riverston Base. Luckily we could not walk all the way to the riveston peak. We got a lift to Hulang Kapolla ( using a contact ) . From There onwards we walked towards the Telecommunication tower. After spending time and talking to officials there we returned back.

Some Info
Riverston base is the highest elevation of Mathale- Raththota – Pallegama Road. It’s Nearly 26 km from Mathale and 16/17 km From Raththota . From the Base there is a well paved uphill road towards left till you reached the Riverston Towers( 2 km ) Vehicles are not allowed to go in that road . Technically you have to walk that distance …Elevation gain is somewhere around 200m. This area is also called Bata Dandu Kanda.

On the way to riverston

A good view point in the road

More views

Riverston peaks

Scenic Road

From Base of Riverston to Riverston Peaks

On the way

More views

Bit gloomy

At Hualng Kapolla

Duwili Eli Seen to Riverston

Riverston Tower

Views from Riverston Tower

Pitawala Village Seen To Riverston

Back to Main Road

Nice view Point

Kingdom Of mountains

Scenic

resting place closer to Pitawala Pathana Where we had Lunch

We had our lunch here observing the beauty of nature

Around 3.00 p.m. We reached Thelgamu oya . Then we entered the Dumbara wana Niwahana. Caretakers welcomed us and showed our apartment. We gave all the rations and menus for dinner , Breakfast and lunch

Thelgamu Oya( 38-39 kms in Mathale – Pallegama Road)

This is the place we spend the rest of the day

Office

Conference Room

Nice garden Too

Remember

Tiny passage which separates two apartments ( 14 pax & 16 Pax )

Inside our apartment 14 can accommodate

Dinning Area

Path To the Bathing Spot

Where we Bathed ………………But Pls don’t go far if you are not confident

Around 6.00 p.m. My father came to the place (via dambulla – Pallegama – illukkumbura )and we all had a relaxing chat at open veranda till dinner. Climate was not that cool as this place is much closer to the dry zone of knuckles .We had delicious dinner and went to sleep
In the morning we went to observe the morning beauty of Thelgamu oya

Thelgamu oya at dawn…water levels have increased a bit

Relaxing time……………….

Two sisters

Then we came back to the bungalow and had our breackfast. Then we left the bungalow with an eye to visit Sera Ella, Pitawala Pathana/ Mini Worlds End and Beautiful Etanwala

Info about Sera Ella
When You are coming from Mathale- Raththta- Pallegama road at about 36km post will see a left turn off to Puwakpitiya village . You have to drive about 10 kms till you find a Y junction. Left path will lead to Puwakpitiya village and Right path will lead to Poththatawala village. When you drive trough Poththatawala Path after about 1.5 km you will see a foot path to your right (with some metal bars) Which leads to Sera Ella. You have to go down in that path for about 250m to reach Sera ella. Important thing is there is a cave behind the fall where you can observe the fall cascading in front of you

On the way to Sera Ella

Group Photo at Wambatu hena Bridge ( There is a tiny waterfall behind )

Closer to Puwakpitiya

Sri Caught these fellows

Butterfly gathering

Entrance point to Sera Ella

Had to Descend

Beautiful Sera Ella

Major part

Deep Base pool Not recommended for bathing

Photo Session

Group Photo With little Sri

Natural ………………………

Sri And his Wild Friend

Side view of the falls

Inside the cave . Waterfall Cascades In front

Another Group Photo

After spending some time there we return back from Sera ella and reached Pitawala Pathana

Roads of Puwakpitiya Village and Kawdagammana Mountain

Wow

My Father loved these paddy fields

Came to Pitawala Pathana Ticketing Office

Some Info About Pitawala Pthana
Its Near the 31 km post in Mathale Pallegama Road. You have to buy tickets before entering.( Rs. 28/-per head ) Then there is a small hike ( nearly 1 km ) through Pathana area till you reach the Mini Worlds End

Small hike

Pathana area

They were enjoying and I was going backwards

Some rest

Nice views

Why they were going Zig zag is to follow the path marked in red on stones

Finally Resting of Little fellow

Flowers

Now very close to The mini worlds End ( Photo : Sri )

Mini Worlds end Drop

Dangerous too

Nice views

Severe drop

Paddy field of Isolated Pathanegama Village

Group Photo

Isolated Rock

After visiting Pitawala Pathana our group wanted a nice bath. But I knew Famous Thelgamuoya would be busy with noisy crowd as it was a holiday. On the other hand I wanted to show them the beauty of pitawala, Rathninda and Etanwala villages. So I decided on visiting Wedda peni ella in Etanwala and have a nice bath in Thelgamuoya which also flows via Etanwala

How to reach Etanwala
At about 34 km post in Mathale Pallegama Road There is a right turn to Pitawala Village.( Distance to Pitawala is nealy 3 km from this point ) You have to go further 2-3 km to reach Etanwala where the mortable road ends

Concrete bridge closer to pitawala turn off

Wedda Pani Ella @ Etanwala

Full Package for them

Thelgamu oya at etanwala. Where we had perfect bath. No crowd to bother you . There were only two three villagers

Then We came to our bungalow and had a hearty lunch. After saying Good bye to our humble caretakers we returned back home around 2.00 p.m. We all came home before 9.00 p.m.

Sri And our Lovely caretakers ( Photo Sri )

Our Group ( Mahppa, Me, Sri, Punchi Amma, Mother & Father and our helpful river )

Thank You Knuckles for giving a good time for my Family Members
We’ll Come Back Again

Thanks for reading