Devil’s Staircase, Horton Plains and Bottom of the World’s End drop

Year and Month	August, 2013
Number of Days	Three Day Trip
Crew	4 (between 5-38 years of age)
Accommodation	Bambarakanda Holiday Resort (BHR)
Transport	4X4 SUV
Activities	Scenic / Photography / Adventure drive
Weather	Sunny (No mist at all)
Route	Day 1 Ragama -> Rathnapura -> Kalupahana (Bambarakanda) Day 2 Kalupahana (BHR) -> Devil’s Staircase -> Horton Plains -> Boralanda -> Haputhale -> Kalupahana (BHR) Day 3 Kalupahana (BHR) -> Belihul Oya -> Non Pareil Estate -> Belihul Oya -> Rathnapura -> Ragama
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Bambarakanda Holiday Resort (BHR) Ideal place to hideout from trip makers in peak weekends Basic facilities with tasty Sri Lankan food Owner knows about this area and attractions http://bambarakanda.com Devil’s Staircase You need high ground clearance vehicle (recommend 4×4) with good tyres Drive slowly and carefully, only few places available to pass vehicles You can make decision on continuation of your climbing by checking the road condition beyond the end of the concrete road (about 2 km from BHR). That part will be the worst kilometer to the Udaweriya tea factory. Non Pareil Estate To drive beyond Non Pareil Tea factory you need to get permission from Balangoda Plantation (pvt) Ltd
Related Resources	Attraction: Horton Plains (Maha-Eliya) – Heaven on Earth, 2100m Above Sea Level Trail Guide: Baker’s Falls, World’s End & Mini-world’s End circular trail Trail Guide: Scenic and adventure drive to Horton Plains from Kalupahana
Author	Malika
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We started late morning (as usual) from Ragama to Kalupahana. This trip was originally planned as a 2 day trip. After having lunch we came around 1.00 pm to BHR. Road condition from Kalupahana double bridge (A4) to Bambarakanda Fall was on good shape.

Bambarakanda fall from BHR

Wangedigala from BHR

Gonmollikanda & Balathuduwa from BHR

Bambarakanda fall

At BHR

Since we have enough time, we decided to go to Devil’s Staircase around 2.00 pm. Road beyond BHR was very good (Concreted / paved). Even though we expect bad road, less than 2 kms from BHR road condition was horrible. After climbing about ½ km we decided to revise the vehicle for ½ km and came back to BHR.

Mrs. Sera (Owner of BHR) advised us, we have already climbed close to the V-cut which is the worst part up to Udaweriya estate and after V-cut road condition is bad but not worst.

After the disappointment, we went to base of the Bambarakanda fall and had a bath.

Next day we started again towards Devil’s Staircase around 9.00 am. As mention by Mrs. Sera, worst terrain was up to V-cut. There after road condition was bad. We came to Ohiya road around 11.00 am.

Rough concrete road near BHR

Then nice paving towards up hill

Again concrete road and End with nice view

Kuragala Zoomed

Start of the rough terrain

Different terrain

Famous V-cut

Our team @ V-cut

Feeder stream of Bambarakanda fall

Towards Devil’s Staircase

U-Turn to Heaven

Devil’s Staircase

Abandoned Udaveriya tea factory

Then we decided to visit Horton plains national park. We visited Baker’s fall and returned via Haputhale road. We stayed additional night at BHR.

Chimney Pool

Leg of Mutton Pool

Baker’s fall

Third day the Bonus date, we decided to climb the border of Horton Plaines national park – Nagrak division which lies in the top most part of the Non Pariel estate. Unfortunately estate management not allowed us to drive beyond Tea factory. We got permission to walk to Upper division which is just below the Great world’s End drop.