Dreams come true-On top of Handapan Ella Plains

Year and Month	2017 April 30th and May 1st
Number of Days	Two
Crew	05-Chamara, Ashan, Nuwan, Buddika and Myself
Accommodation	Camping at top of Handapan Ella
Transport	Ashan’s Jeep and Hiking
Activities	Photography, adventure and waterfall seeing and Camping
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo-> Rakwana->Deepdon Estate->Top of Handapan falls and Handapan plains->Back to Deepdon Estate->Rakwana->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	If you have not visited this area previously or no idea of the area, better have a guide or known person. Beware of the roaming elephant. Don’t pollute the environment. There is no shortage of water. Carry a bottle to fill water. Leech protection methods to be followed. Still unpolluted. Please maintain it. Avoid visiting of large groups or event organizers. Otherwise this might be ended up in restricted list.
Related Resources	1. Rakwana-Deniyaya hills — a plea for their conservation by Prof. Nimal Gunatilleke, University of Peradeniya 2. Waterfalls of Rakwana-Climbing Handapan Ella
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Dreams come true-On top of Handapan Ella Plains

My first sight of Handapan Plains and Handapan Falls was the chapter found in book called “Wanasena Wana Peth” (වැනසෙන වනපෙත්) by Mr.Kusumsiri Wijayawardana. I was able to visit at Handapan Falls in 2013 March, but was not able to reach the plain where Handapan Ella falls. That day we didn’t have a solid plan to reach the plain. Thereafter I was searching a way to reach the plain and got some information about it as a marshy land with number of gem mines. I found a person who frequently visits at this plain for gem mines in my journey to Ilimbukanda Duwili Falls. He promised to bring me there from Denawak Kanda village and according to him it takes 4-5hours to reach there. But that promise was unsuccessful in two occasions. If you are thinking of travelling to one place repeatedly it becomes a dream. So reaching Handapan plains was my dream.
Meanwhile I have noticed few pictures of one of my face book friends-Sahshi and inquired about the plains where he has been. The route he has followed is closer to Handapan Falls (What we have followed last time) and following that I was counting my fingers to reach the plain.

Handapan Ella (හදපාන් ඇල්ල)

This beautiful waterfall flows as a cascade from Handapanella Thanna (හදපාන් ඇල්ල තැන්න). Although books say it’s height is 23m, it is wrong as it is a collection of few waterfalls. Handapan Ella can be captured in Rakwana-Kalawana road (another route full of scenic views) in between 3^rd and 4^th mile post.-quoted from my own trip report.

Rakwana River flows from Handapanella Thanna to create Handapan Ella-Captured in 2013.

Closer view of cascades

Handapanthanna (හදපාන් තැන්න) / Handapan Ella plains (හදපාන් ඇල්ල තැන්න) / Handapan plains-quoted from Rakwana-Deniyaya hills — a plea for their conservation by Prof. Nimal Gunatilleke, University of Peradeniya

Handapan Ella Plains (HPEP): HPEP is a kind of a shallow basin. It has a central undulating valley encompassed all around by a rim of mountain ranges clad in windswept majestic lower montane forests, through which the peaks of Ilumbekanda (1192m), Beralagala (1385), Sooriyakanda (1310m), Kabaragala I (1234 m) and Kabaragala 2 (1291m) may be seen. This plateau is at about 1150 – 1250 m elevation and several square kilometers in extent. Among others, a few wet zone elephants, a dying herd, and other large mammals like the leopard, Sambur and Grey Langurs inhabit it. This entire plateau together with the Thangamale Plains could be considered as the tablelands of Rakwana-Deniyaya hills or more aptly the southern equivalent of Horton Plains in the Rakwana-Deniyaya hills.
The forests are short-statured, dominated by species of Syzygium (Dambu), Calophyllum (Keena), Semecarpus (Badulla), Eleocarpus (Weralu) in the canopy and members of Rubiaceae (the coffee family) and Acanthaceae (Nelu) in the understorey. Bamboo species along with Eriocaulon (Kokmota) and Osbechia (Bowitiya) were common in the open grasslands near rocky outcrops. The areas we visited on the plains as well as its outer and inner forested rim showed an exceptionally rich orchid flora, some of them rare and endangered elsewhere in the island.
Some rare amphibians, mollusks and reptiles were also recorded on the plains and in the surrounding forests. The entire area frequently shrouded in thick mist, swept by gale force cold winds during some months of the year and chequered with streams appears to be the last refugium for a number of rare and endangered animals and plants, probably confined to this high plateau and its associated mountain range.
The few elephants (about three according to eye-witnesses) that roam the plains descend the steep slopes along several migratory routes. These may perhaps be a pocketed group of descendants of the large herds that were known to roam the Kollonna and Panamure areas before the advent of tea to the region.

Click image to enlarge. Here I have circled the plain in black and blue star show where the waterfall begins.

The journey we started from Kaduwela where we (Nuwan, Buddika and Myself) got into Ashan’s jeep. Altogether five with Chamara and we stopped at Rakwana to have breakfast and buy necessary things for camping. Our rough plan was to get on to the plain and camp there.
Based on our past experience and Sashi’s information we drove along Rakwana-Depedene-Kalawana road (B181) and stopped infront of the gate of a restaurant. The foot pathway goes behind the restaurant. This place is still under constructions and the care taker was not there. Two dogs live at restaurant also joined with us.
Though there was a clear foot pathway at beginning, soon we entered the forest it got vanished. We tried to locate the foot pathway with help of Sashi’s map. (Thanks Ashan for your maximum effort). Later decided to climb up along a water stream as we knew it must start from the plain. Sometimes this water stream was dry but steepness was high to make our journey tough. We had to lift dogs in some occasions as they are not able to climb some rocks. After 3-4 hour journey we were able to reach the plain.

As usual team except me at the beginning of the journey. Buddika (most right) is a new member who joined to this trip.

The gate and restaurant. Nobody was there to get permission. Mountains which margin Handapanthanna can be seen behind.

Depeden tea estate and mountains of Handapanthanna

Starting the journey. Note doggies are in front line.

Kept in order

Nepenthes distillatoria

Not for thirsty…just for curiosity.

Comparing maps by phones

Hiking along dry water stream

Team leader with a smile

Only few occasions we had direct sun light.

Time for capture

Sometimes it was not a dry stream

Snack time. Always we had to share our food with doggies.

Katu Kithul (කටුකිතුල්)- Common in this tropical forest

Reaching Handapan Plains / Handapanthanna /Handapan Ella plains

It was around 4pm when we reached the plain. We have noticed fairly old elephant dung once we stepped on the plain. (We were not afraid as villagers told the elephant has moved to Sooriyakanda side these days). After getting the brief rest we looked a proper place for camping. Later we decided to camp closer to the water stream which forms the fall. (Actually we would have camp at right top of the fall). This camp site was surrounded by trees and bushes to prevent wind. Slab rock was ideal to pitch tents. One of a previous group has set a row of stones to margin a camp fire. And at the end it was not cold at night.
We were not rushed to wake up early morning as there was no sun rise to enjoy or capture.

Just arrived to the plain

Nice seat. Related to pre historical era???

After reaching Handapan Ella plains

The elephant has roamed here recently

Delicate

Crossing one stream of Handapan Falls-Baby Rakwana River

We decided to camp closer to the stream

Our camp site

The cook and soup

Enjoying the camping fun…

Camp fire at Handapanthanna

Around the camp fire

Our billion star hotel

Energetic breakfast-Samaposha with jam

This camp site was luxury as water stream was situated closer. This is one of dual stream to form Handapan Ella

They like travelling as well as playing

The team at Handapanthanna

Camp site was cleaned. Actually it was not a polluted camp site.

Friends of travelling.

Day 02
We had two objectives on second day: To reach the top of the fall and visit at large marshy land of the plain. There are two water streams to form Handapan Ella and we have camped closer to one stream. Therefore we went down stream along that to reach the top of the waterfall.
Top of Handapan Falls was a nice place for camping in dry season. Landmarks we identified were peaks of Rakwana mountain range-Pannilkanda; Trincowatta peak and Kabaragala pathana were right infront of us, Rakwana-Pothupitiya road, Deepdon estate ect. It was a superb place for capturing photos with the drop of the fall.
Then we walked upstream along the other stream to reach marshy land of the plain. During this journey we have noticed evidence of gem mines.
This marshy land extends to hundreds of acres and surrounded by mountains. There are old gem mines over this area and walking was bit difficult.
We didn’t spend much time at the plain as we had to find a way to get down as well. On our way back we found a foot pathway (more steep but less distance) to reach Deepdon estate. We have ended up about one kilometer away from our starting point at Deepdon estate. There was a nice “Peela” situated at the back of the restaurant to have a bath.
We said good bye to doggies to wind up another memorable journey.