Missed target at Knuckles Kalupahana-Thunhisgala (1627m)

Thunhisgala/ Kalupahana is a prominent peak of Knuckles massif with 1627m height. It is situated at center of Knuckles area-Kalupahana which was covered with Cardamom estates 30 years ago. KMP Wadiya is the only remaining cardamom hut at Kalupahana where you can stay overnight. The reason for the name Thunhisgala is due to three peaks in climbing. (Thun+His+Gala) (තුන්+හිස්+ගල). Alternative meaning is three ridges meet together to form the mountain.

Thunhisgala was in my to-do list for a long time after I read Ashan’s report.
Before I planned this trip, I got instructions from Ashan, Amila and Harinda. They instructed me to have a guide to KMP Wadiya and Thunhisgala as none of us have been there. I contacted Sinniah at Lebanon estate as I couldn’t contact Thayagaraja who was the guide for both Ashan and Harinda. At the end he introduced me a new person Kiri Banda who promised to bring us to Thunhisgala.

We stayed overnight at friend’s place at Peradeniya and got the first bus to Waththegama from Kandy. It was about 7.30 am when we got down at Lebanon estate / Malgudi junction (මල්ගුඩි හන්දිය). This is about 1km before Thawalanthanna (where bus parks). We met Kiri Banda Mama there and started the journey without wasting time. Soon we entered the estate road it divides into two the left hand one directs to Liyangalla division where you can view Lebanon estate waterfall. We climbed up along right hand side road to reach Rathnagiriya estate. The trail head begins from Rathnagiriya division. First it goes through Mana bushes and entered into forest cover. We were able to enjoy the beauty of surrounding mountains and plains as weather was excellent. Piduruthalagala range, Hanthana range and Hunnasgiriya were clearly seen with fainted view of sacred peak.

Kalupahana in Knuckles map

Begin of the journey from Lebanon junction / Malgudi junction

View of Kandasamy Gala (කන්දසාමි ගල). Circular shape rock is seen at Thawalanthanna.

Division of the road. Left hand side road goes to Liyangalla division where Lebanon estate falls situated.

Along estate road….

Using short cuts

Reaching Rathnagiriya estate

We didn’t follow the proper road. Used the short cut along tea estate.

We didn’t follow the proper road. Used the short cut along the tea estate.

Liyangalla division of Lebanon estate

Surrounding view

Liyangalla division of Lebanon estate. Tea den

The line house of Rathnagiriya division

The real journey begins….Guarded with Alum

Weather was excellent

View of Rathnagiriya estate line houses when we climbed up

Through Mana bushes

Posed

Towards Kirigalpoththa and Gombaniya

Piduruthalagala range

Hanthana range-second line of mountains

Hunnasgiriya Mountain

Sharing Wild orange

There was a clear foot pathway…..

The foot pathway we came and fainted view of Rathnagiriya estate.

Mountain at Rathnagiriya estate

Sacred peak

There was a long break at closer to small shrine where we had some snacks.

It was almost ascend till we reach the highest point of the trail-Hulang Kanda (හුලo කන්ද). Following Hulang Kanda it was ascends and descends till we reached KMP Wadiya. We had to cross few water streams and Maha Ela (මහ ඇල) was the largest one. The distance from Lebanon junction to KMP Wadiya is 7.75 kms. We came across Elephant dung closer to KMP Wadiya.

View of Knuckles peaks

Surrounding view

Not to eat

Crossing the first water stream

Get blessings from shrine

Long break at Dewalaya. Kiri Banda mama is a talkative person who had a lot to tell.

Forest pattern is almost like this till we reached KMP Wadiya

There was a clear foot pathway and only few instances it had divisions

On top of Hulang Kanda.

On top of Hulang Kanda

Back to wild

Green Frog

Having a rest

Wild strawberries

Crossing another water stream

Crossing Maha Ela

Elephant dung closer to KMP Wadiya

Thunhisgala

Reached KMP Wadiya

Nobody was at KMP Wadiya when we reached there. It was hard to find a cooking pot to boil water as they have hid everything. We unloaded things at Wadiya and armed with only necessary things for next section of the journey.
Here Kiri Banda Mama asked is it essential to go to that peak (showing Thunhisgala) and said he has not been there before. I got shocked by hearing it. He said nobody has been on top of this peak and we have to find the route.
According to the details I got from Ashan and Harinda there is not a clear foot pathway and anyway we have to find the route. Therefore we decided to climb the peak though the guide doesn’t know the route.
It was the same route from KMP Wadiya towards Knuckles Duwili Falls but at one place we got right hand turn towards Thunhisgala. The foot pathway was clear up to some distance and disappeared in a while. Then we targeted the peak and climbed up towards the peak. Initially it was Cardamom bushes and later thick forest. There was no foot pathway at all and climb was 70/80 degree some times. Though we climbed towards the peak we were not able to get a point with a clear view. At the end the surrounding was clear and bushes were short to have good view. Massive Thunhisgala was seen on side and we were at a side peak of Thunhisgala. (Thunhisgala has three tails, direct towards the peak. The secret of getting on to the peak is getting on to the correct tail). It was really disappointed moment as we have missed the target at the end of the day. Here we understood one thing. Though it is a side peak we would not be able to reach the top of Thunhisgala if we proceed along that tail.
Thunhisgala side peak is also not a bad place to have a good surrounding view. We were able to view Yahangala, Kehelpothdoruwegala, Lakegala, Meemure and giant Thunhisgala. The view behind us was not clear.
As it was around 4.30pm we decided to go back to KMP Wadiya.

There were three water streams along the pathway to be crossed before the pathway gets divide.

Towards Thunhisgala

Towards Thunhisgala

The place where foot pathway gets divide. Right hand side one towards Thunhisgala and side peaks.

It was almost Cardamom bushes.

After hectic hike we are at Thunhisgala side peak.

View of the giant-Thunhisgala. Note we are at a side peak.

View of the giant-Thunhisgala. This shows how three tails join together to form Thunhisgala. It is clear though we proceed along this tail it wouldn’t be easy to reach the top due to steepness.

View of Yahangala and Kehelpothdoruwegala

Lakegala with it’s three sections. Paddies of Meemure are also seen.

Zoomed view of Lakegala. Paddy fields of Meemure are also seen

The drop of Duwili Falls and Ginikeliya Pathana also seen

Front line is Maningala and Riverstone is seen back.

Riverstone is zoomed

Is it Nawenagala?

We returned to KMP Wadiya just before dusk. It was freezing cold of water at Wadiya but somehow we managed to clean ourselves. As there was nobody at Wadiya we had to find cooking pots and other necessary items. It seemed this was a kind of luxury accommodation few decades ago with an attached bathroom (still there). As we were hungry dinner was prepared with no time. Seems the kitchen has been attacked by a wild elephant few days before. There are enough spacious at Wadiya to sleep. But none of us had a good sleep due to extreme cold.

Kitchen of KMP Wadiya. This was attacked by elephants recently.

Preparing dinner

Wild orange-There are few orange trees around KMP Wadiya

Beauty

Flowers at KMP Wadiya

Food photography

Team with Kiri Banda Mama

Four man team in front of KMP Wadiya

Day 02
We didn’t have an exact plan on that day except the return journey to Thawalanthanna. Kiri Banda Mama suggested visiting at couple of waterfalls which are situated above Knuckles Duwili falls.
He bought us in a foot pathway through abounded Cardamom estates.
All these cardamom estate were in wild now and debris of houses and bungalows were popped above bushes. According to him Kalupahana was like a small city at that time. After ups and downs through cardamom estates we have reached a waterfall with less water. I would like to name it as Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-1 (නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-1). Seems it has a height of 15-20m and must be more beautiful at rainy season. The water stream forms this waterfall later join with Maha Ela to form Duwili Falls in Knuckles.
Once you cross the first waterfall, second one is situated. Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-2(නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-2) is smaller than first one but richer in beauty. It has about 8-10m height. According to Kiri Banda Mama, both waterfalls are situated above famous Knuckles Duwili Falls.

Start the journey on second day

Mountainous forest

Debris of old city at Kalupahana. Hemachandra Wadiya (හේමචන්ද්රd වාඩිය).

Getting a rest after tackling of Cardamom bushes

Cardamom

Team except me

First glance of waterfall-1.

Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-1(නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-1).

Lower part of Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-1(නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-1).

Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-1 / (නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-1).

Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-1/(නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-1). Different view

Chamara is at middle of the fall. Can you imagine how big it is.

Another view of the waterfall. The waterfall must be flourished in rainy season.

Another view of the waterfall

Another view of the waterfall

Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-1/ (නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-1).

View towards Ranamure

Macro view

Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-2 / (නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-2).

Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-2 / (නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-2).

Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-2 /(නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-2).Bit difficult to get good front view due to the rock in front of the waterfall

Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-2 /(නකල්ස් ඉහල දූවිලි ඇල්ල-2).

Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-2

Knuckles Upper Duwili Falls-2

After visiting two unknown cascades we have entered the pathway to Rathnagiriya estate. On our way we had a bath at nice man made pond at Rathnagiriya estate.
It ended a nice journey to central area of Knuckles-Kalupahana and attempted hike to Thunhisgala. I have determined to do Thunhisgala hike as soon as possible.

Return journey

Forest pathway

The place we had a bath

Map reading

Work out from Lebanon junction from KMP Wadiya

Work out from KMP Wadiya to Thunhisgala side peak. Note where we have ended up and where is Kalupahana/ Thunhisgala peak is situated. click image to enlarge.

Kalupahana / Thunhisgala. Click image to enlarge.

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