නිශාචරයන්ගේ රාත්‍රියේ බඹරකන්ද ඇල්ල මුදුනට නැගලා කඳවුරු ලෑම (Night at Bambarakanda)

Year and Month	June, 2016
Number of Days	Two
Crew	5 (Sobasiri Team)
Accommodation	Camping
Transport	Motor Bicycles
Activities	Night Trekking, Photography, Camping, Waterfall Hunting
Weather	Good, but Windy
Route	Colombo -> Avissawella -> Ratnaputa -> Balangoda -> Belihuloya -> Kalupahan Junction -> Bamabrakanda Fall
Tips, Notes and Special remark	This is a dangerous hike, hence be confident about yourself before take a decision to a Night Hike In this dry season, Leech protection is not needed. Wear some trouser/ Bottom and pair of shoes Try to carry less weighted items Have your Dinner earlier Do not take foods on the way of this hike Take a good LED Torch Pay attention to the nature Do not have fun at this hike Don’t go anywhere without the LED light cover Try to understand the footpath, sometimes it won’t see. Do not ever use Fire at this forest Camp at the top of Bambarakadna and do not make a fire camp at dry season. Carry a good camping tent If you don’t have any experience on mountaineering, PLEASE DO NOT TRY NIGHT HIKING/ MOUNTAINEERING
Related Resources	Trip reports on : Bambarakanda night hike Discussion : Is anyone had a TRIP at NIGHT?
Author	MSRF
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread නිශාචරයන්ගේ රාත්‍රියේ බඹරකන්ද ඇල්ල මුදුනට නැගලා කඳවුරු ලෑම (Night at Bambarakanda)

I planned this type of trip after seeing Thinuwan’s Night hike, he did it on 2012. So I decided to have this experience.

We left from Kottawa at 8.30pm by our motor bikes a came to the Kalupahana junction at 12.15pm. After that we went to the Bambarakanda fall and parked our bikes over there and started our NIGHT HIKE at 12.30pm. We couldn’t see the giant fall since the whole environment sunk at the darkness.

Then we came near to the ticket counter and start walking along the usual path. We all had good torch and that is enough to see about 10ft. Once we came near to the turning point of Bottom of the fall, we continue the journey towards the pine forest. That path is not clear but we were able to tackle the footpath.

This environment is too dark, we saw some lights from Belihuloya side and we walked to the left corner of the mountain. After that we turned right to the huge pine forest and there was not a clear path. We know that where the waterfall is and we walked to that side. This area is too dangerous because it is near to the dead points. If we got slipped, definitely we will die. Before we turn to this area w walked few meter to the Lanka fall road and that is amazing. We heard the sound if the wind, its hearing like ghosts. It’s an amazing experience to face to this huge wind.

Finally we came to the top of the Bambarakanda fall around 3am and started to make our tent. This is the first time that we used a Tent, because normally we use Open camping. After we make the tent I had a cool bath from the small waterfall at the top of this giant. That is totally like at a deep-freezer. After that we had some biscuits and went to sleep. We didn’t close the door of the tent. This night hike is a brilliant experience to a traveler’s life as we think.

Resting near Opanayaka

At Kalupahana Junction

We at Kalupahan Junction

At the old entrance to the fall

We are looking for the fall

We at 12.30pm

He is try to capture the Giant

Old entrance

We are ready now

Lets go, the Night Hike

At the Ticket counter

Hi, Can we have tickets

The dark path

On the way

The bridge

We at the Bridge

The only creature we saw

More to go

Near the turning point to the bottom of the fall

On the way to the top of the fall

She is at the Dark

Mist is every where

This staircase will end now

Dark Forest

Dark Beauty

Ghosts at the Dark

Break for a Photo

Wind is too High

More to go

We love this darkness

Tallest near the tallest

Obstacles at the path

Facing to the Challenges

More to go

Break for a Photo

Almost at the top near the turning point to Lanka fall and the Top of Bambarakanda

Via the thick pain forest

On the way

This path to Lanka fall

This path goes to Lanka Fall

Wind at the Darkness

Near to the Top of the Giant

Preparing the tent

Ready to Camp

Its done

Lets sleep now

Come on guys, its 3.30am

Good Night Bambarakanda

We waked up at 7.30am and explore the environment to see that where we at now and where we came across last night. Early morning again we had a cool bath for about 30 minutes. Top of the Bambarakanda waterfall pool is safe at this dry season. But as I feel we won’t be able to have a bath on a normal day where the Bambarakanda looks like little fat.

After the bath we came near to the top of the Bambarakanda and saw the atmosphere. It is totally amazing. We could see the Devils Staircase, Gommoli kanda, Wangedigala and lots of mountain ranges. After spending few hours at here we got ready to leave this place.

We walked about 200m and stopped at a place. That place is suitable to build a Studio, because that place is the idle place to capture the pictures. Here we can see the giant fall, it’s really a giant. We spend about 30 minutes here and continued our tour to the bottom of this fall. After few minutes we came to the ticket counter and told the ticket issuer about our journey. Now we could see the giant waterfall. See this previous trip report about the types of Bambarakanda. Even there was heavy rain to Western province and central province around Lakshapana/adams peak, there is no rain to here.

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