Ambagolla Mountain /අඹගොල්ල කන්ද (801m) and Katalagolla cascades /කැටලාගොල්ල දිය ඇලි

Year and Month	Ambagolla mountain- 08th July 2018 Katalagolla cascades- February 2017
Number of Days	Separate two days
Crew	Ambagolla Mountain-Two-Nuwan and Myself Katalagolla cascades-6-Ashan, Chamara, Nuwan, Indranatha, Sampath and Myself
Accommodation	Not applicable
Transport	By bus, three wheeler and Hiking
Activities	Hiking, Trekking, Waterfall visiting and Photography
Weather	Excellent but extremely windy
Route	Colombo->Kandy->Thammitiyana->Mahawela->Kosgolla->Ambagolla peak-> Katalagolla Oya-> Kivula->Kandahena->Gurulupotha->Kandy->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Ambagolla Mountain Start the journey as early as possible. Be aware of wild elephants. Leech protection methods to be followed in a wet day. If it is a windy day be careful in walking along the ridge. And especially when you stand at the edge. There is no water source after crossing Katalagolla Oya. Better carry a water bottle. It is a moderate strenuous hike. Simply a walk over the ridge. It is situated in VRR (Victoria-Randenigala-Rantambe) reserve. Better get permission or inform local officer. This is applicable to Katalagolla Oya as well. Katalagolla cascades Better visit soon after rainy days to see the real beauty of waterfalls. I have noted low water level in my second visit. Numbering of cascades according to Ashan and Chamara. It is about 5 km along the stream and trekking from Kivula to Gurulupotha is another 3-4km. It is a mortable road and can find a three wheeler.
Related Resources	කැටලාගොල්ල කොමලියන් (Cascades of Katalagolla oya)
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Ambagolla Mountain /අඹගොල්ල කන්ද (801m) and Katalagolla cascades /කැටලාගොල්ල දිය ඇලි

Ambagolla kanda (අඹගොල්ල කන්ද) is the other end of Galpadihela (ගල්පඩිහෙල) mountain range. It has a nice pointed peak providing 360 degree view towards surrounding, but it is situated 300m lower level compared to Galpadihela / Kosgolla (කොස්ගොල්ල) peaks (1106m). This peak is well seen when you drive along 18 hair pin bends.
It came to my list when we got down along Katalagolla stream. This peak is mentioned as Belumgala (බැලුම්ගල) in 1:50000 map but villagers don’t use that term. (What they mention Belumgala is a small view point come across along Galpadipela. Now this view point isn’t seen) I got to know it as Ambagolla on my way to visit this peak.

Ambagolla / Belumgala (circled), Galpadihela / Kosgolla (square) peaks and approximate path of Katalagolla Oya in 1:50000 map. Click image to enlarge.

How it is seen as an elephant from Kosgolla / Galpadihela Mountain.

As usual Nuwan joined with me from Kandy and we travelled along Kandy-Mahiyanganaya road to get down at Thammitiyana (තැම්මිටියාන). It is about one and half year after our visit to Katalagolla waterfalls. The routine tea shop was not there and new shop was built facing to A26 road. We have arranged a three wheeler to reach Kosgolla estate where we met a villager who surprised to see only two boys going to climb this mountain. According to him it’s name is Ambagolla.

Dry path at Kosgolla estate. This is more prone to get wild fire.

Under the shade

Crossing Katalagolla Oya

We have crossed Katalagolla Oya and followed the foot pathway to Galpadipela. It was a surprise only Nuwan was with me when we got down along Galpadipela and now to hike Ambagolla. Just before the descend we got a turn to left hand side. It is the ridge of Galpadihela mountain range extending to Ambagolla peak.
July month is well known for windy weather. We have faced extreme wind on our way to Ambagolla peak over the ridge. One side of the ridge is sloped to Mahiyanganaya area and other side is sloped to Katalagolla stream. It was a fight with the wind rather than a hike. Kosgolla peaks / Galpadihela was rising as a giant behind us. After about one hour journey we have reached the end of the ridge: i.e. Peak of Ambagolla Mountain. Following structures were noted in this journey: Rathna Ella, 18 hair pin bends, Kehelpothdoruwegala, Yahangala, Velangolla Pathana, Mahiyanganaya stupa, Kokagala, Dambarawa Lake, Rathkinda-Ulhitiya reservoir, Maduru Oya reservoir, Omanugala, Mahiyanganaya town, Mahaweli River, Sorabora Wewa, Ragala rock, Mahakudugala etc. The drop was like a world’s end and Kivula and Kandahena villages were situated immediately down the edge. We didn’t like to spend much time there as it is bit risky to stay with wind.

Seems we are entering to a new territory. Following rituals.

Mush rooms

Under the shade. There were few broken branches for evidence of wild elephants.

This is the same path to reach Galpadipela.

Now we are at the ridge of Ambagolla / Belumgala. It is sloped to Katalagolla Oya in one side.

Pride of Hasalaka-Rathna Ella

Eastern edge of Knuckles range: Kehelpothdoruwegala, Yahangala and Velangolla Pathana

Galpadihela / Kosgolla peaks. Note this is the continuation of same range.

Towards paddies at Mahiyanganaya

The area we have passed by threewheeler. Aliyakotagala is seen far behind.

We are in the middle of the ridge. Path is straightforward along the ridge.

Mahiyanganaya stupa and nearby lake.

Dambarawa Lake

Minipe Ela

Windy weather

Daha Ata Wanguwa (දහ අට වoගුව) zoomed…

The drop

Zoomed view of Kosgolla / Galpadihela Mountain

Towards Bibile

Standing is also a challenge in wind… What about hiking

Adapted for windy condition…

The path along the ridge

Randenigala reservoir, Mahakudugala and Ragala rock. Couple of peaks next to Mahakudugala might be Hegasulla and Padipola.

Cave like structure

Another end of this range

This is the peak of Ambagolla peak / Belumgala

Some more to the end of the range

Rathkinda Ulhitiya kanda and Omanugala

Paddies

Mahiyanganaya town and Sorabora Wewa

Longest river of Sri Lanka-Mahaweli River

Cascade of Katalagolla Oya

Another Galapitagala?? We had to walk below this rock arrangement to reach the end.

Reaching the end of the range…

The drop towards Kivula and Kandahena

Zoomed view of Paddies

Bird’s eye view of the place of landslides happened at Kivula village in 2017. Happy to see they have repaired the irrigation canal.

Framed view of Galpadihela / Kosgolla Mountain

View towards Galpadipela / Kosgolla

Next part of the journey was to trek to Gurulupotha (ගුරුලුපොත) along Katalagolla Oya. I have done this trekking before when we visited Katalagolla cascades in 2017. In return journey we didn’t walk along the ridge and moved further down and directly reached Katalagolla Oya through Mana bushes. It was not a difficult task though we assumed. Here I would like to include all cascades formed by Katalagolla Oya.
We have noticed 15 cascades along the journey in Katalagolla Oya. Two of them situated above the foot path to Galpadipela. Rest are situated along Katalagolla Oya towards Kivula village.

Katalagolla cascades
Katalagolla Oya flows at the valley of Galpadihela /Kosgolla (don’t know it’s origin) then joins with Maha Oya to get maximum flow. We have noticed 15 cascades along the journey in Katalagolla Oya. We went upstream of Katalagolla Oya to reach Galpadipela and two of these cascades were noted along upstream. Rest are situated at downstream of Katalagolla Oya towards Kivula village. (There might be more along upstream, but this is what we could grab)

රැහැයියා

මලට බඹරෙකු සේ

Beautiful morning

Katalagolla Falls-1

Katalagolla Falls-2

Cascades of down stream
3rd cascade is situated just beneath the foot path to Galpadipela. 4th fall is also situated closer to 3rd one. After that Katalagolla Oya joins with Maha Oya to get additional water. Above mentioned four waterfalls are less than 10m in height. 5th, 6th and 7th waterfalls are situated close to each other and 7th is about 15m in height. After 7th fall, Katalagolla Oya entered fairly flat section and end up in forming 8th fall with acute drop. This is also fairly tall waterfall might be 20m in height. Then it gets a bend and 9th fall is formed during this turn.

Katalagolla Falls-3

Katalagolla Falls-4.

Katalagolla Oya gets additional water from Maha Oya.

Katalagolla Oya.

The team. Photographer is Ashan.

Walking along the river bank

Katalagolla Falls-5

Katalagolla Falls-6 side view of upper part

Full view of Katalagolla Falls-6

On top of Katalagolla Falls-7

Side view of Katalagolla Falls-7

Katalagolla Falls-7

Lower part of Katalagolla Falls-7.Note Ashan elated

Front view of Katalagolla Falls-7.

Fairly flat section of water stream.

Acute drop of the stream to form 8th fall. It reminds me infinity pool of Duwili Falls.

On top of 8th fall.

Katalagolla Oya-8th fall-Upper part

Full view of Katalagolla Falls-8.

Fall-8 with low water level in my second visit.

Katalagolla Falls-9.

Fall-9 with low water level in my second visit.

Katalagolla Falls-9.

It’s me with 9th fall.

Fall-9 in my second visit.

Largest and biggest fall of this stream is number-10 which flows gently over a slab rock. (That’s why Ashan called it as a silky fall). We carefully descend on the side of the fall. It might be 25m-30m in height. After that Katalagolla Oya forms another five small to moderate size waterfalls. Out of them 12th fall is tall about 10-12m and it ends at a deep pool. (I couldn’t capture 14th waterfall). At the end Katalagolla Oya donates some water to irrigation canal runs to Kivula and Kandahena villages. I had a bath at the origin of this canal both times. It is unlikely to have further cascades along the downstream as it flows over fairly flat section.
We have reached Kivula village and Ambagolla peak is nicely seen over the village. It was about 3-4km walk to Gurulupotha from Kivula village to end the journey.