Riding towards Horton Plains by Bicycle (Kirigalpotta hike returned via, Thalawakele)

Year and Month	December, 2013
Number of Days	Three Day Trip
Crew	8 (between 25-30 years of age) Nalaka, Jeewa, Sandun, Thirasara, Ranga, Anuradha
Accommodation	Camping Day 01 – Camping at Horton plains Day 02 – Camping at Thalawakele
Transport	Foot Push Bicycle
Activities	Wildlife Photography, Riding, Discovering, Adventure
Weather	Excellent at morning but drizzling at evening and night
Route	Kandy –> NuwaraeliyaNuwara Eliya -> Blackpool-Horton plains (Camp at camp site 02) Hortonplains -> Thalawakele -> (Stay at Thalawakele) Kothmale -> Gampola -> Kandy
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Camp sites should be reserved in advance from the department of Wildlife. Address: Udyana Mawatha, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Phone:011 2 888585 Do not carry polythene and plastic in to the park. Prepare packages of food items and others using Paper. Avoid fire inside the park, because dry grass may catch fire easily. Kirigalpotta – It’s better if you can carry a stock of water at least for drinking purposed. Start your journey in the early morning. Weather condition cannot be predicted in the place and Mobile phone signals are weak in during bad weather. To visit the Upper Kotmale Dam and Power plant at Upperkothmale Hydropower Project, it is necessary to grant permission from CEB. Address: Chief Engineer, Upper Kotmale Power Station, Niyangamdora, Kotmal. Phone:0777253096 and 98 Keep your Bicycles in good braking condition (steep road may be dangerous if breaks are weak) Foods can be arrange from catering (Dinethra foods – Mobile – 052 492 5181
Related Resources	Attraction: Horton Plains (Maha-Eliya) – Heaven on Earth, 2100m Above Sea Level Trail Guide: Kirigalpoththa Nature Trail – Horton Plains National Park
Author	Amarajeewa
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Our journey was started at around at 4.00 am from Digana. In around 8hrs, we could reach Nuwara Eliya. To reach Horton plains, it took another 4 hours.

Riding bicycles on those hilly roads were somewhat difficult, but it was a life time experience for us. Climatic condition in Nuwara Eliya during December and January is cold and dry. Therefore, it is better to arrange your journey during December.

Prior approval is essential (at least one month before) from Department of wildlife conservation to Camp at Horton Plains. Address: Udyana Mawatha, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Phone: 011 2 888585

Before start the journey, check the condition of your bicycle, because riding on downward steep slope is really dangerous.