Camping at Karagahathenna Mini WE and trekking to Sera Ella

After visiting at Karagahathenna Mini World’s end, I was dreaming to camp there to enjoy the sunrise. This time Keshan, Nalinda and Prabath joined with me instead of previous group. As we didn’t have a specific task on 1st day we leisurely reached the World’s end around 5/6pm. On our way we were able to enjoy the view of Knuckles massif, paddies at Puwakpitiya area. Our last water spot was the stream closer to line houses. Though we planned to camp at World’s end it was not possible due to extreme windy condition. We selected a place with surrounding forest cover closer to Mini World’s end.

Starting the journey

Paddies at Puwakpitiya

Keshan is showing the surrounding beauty

Giants of Knuckles- Lakegala, Gomabaniya and Thunhisgala

The path we came…

Capturing of road side beauty….Karagasthenna Falls

Abounded Karagasthenna line houses

Abounded Karagasthenna village

Enjoying the beauty

Through the tea patch

Wild beauty

Path to Mini WE

Entering to hidden paradise

Entering to hidden paradise

At Mini World’s end view point-1

The place we selected to camp was covered by the forest in three sides and gave appropriate protection from wind. It was not hard to make a fire with aid of wind. The night was not cold as we expected. Wind was so powerful in night time and we were afraid of moving with the tent.

Our bonfire

Fire, Tent and Hearth….essentials of camping

Cooking…

Beyond the tent

Early morning before the sunrise we have walked to Mini WE. We enjoyed the sun rise from view point-1. It was utterly difficult to stand there and capture due to fast wind. Sun rise was not much beautiful as we expected due to few rainy clouds. After waiting for sun rise we have moved to view point-2. Last time we didn’t walk much beyond this view point-2 towards Karagahathenna towers.

Eastern sky before the sun rise. Omanugala and Rathkinda-Ulhitiya peaks are seen.

Eastern sky before the sun rise

Eastern sky before the sun rise. Dimbulagala is seen well.

Capturing moments…

Glistening of water at Moragahakanda reservoir

Moragahakanda reservoir with lights over the dam…

Sun rise over eastern sky…

Sun rise over eastern sky…

Sun rise over eastern sky…

Sun rise over eastern sky…

Photo of getting a photo

No other way of establishing the camera than this.

Early morning view from Karagahathenna MWE

It’s me enjoying the view. Actually no need this posture if there is no wind.

Filtering….

Now eastern sky is brightening with sun rise

Now eastern sky is brightening with sun rise

Adapted for wind

Close up of Omanugala and Rathkinda-Ulhitiya Kanda. If you look closely can see Thoppigala as well.

Hawarimana and Sandamadala peaks

Sandamadala close up view

Hawarimana close up view. This is the peak we have reached. Note there is no view point on top.

Greenish forest coverage of Hawarimana

Peaks beyond Sandamadala….towards Dambulla and Galewela

Bowathenna reservoir

Mini World’s end-2 with early morning view

Mini World’s end-2 with early morning view

The drop

The drop

Foot path and view point-1

We walked beyond view point-2.

We walked beyond view point-2.

Path in heaven. I still wander how it was made

Our team except me

ගදපාන මල්

I was bit curious to explore the foot path beyond this site. We have walked further along the path and noted it extends to another abounded tea estate. And there is a small water stream is situated somewhere down to view point-2. But it is polluted by cattle. We said good bye to this beautiful place and returned to camp site to pack our stuff.

Foot path / estate road beyond Mini World’s end.

It extended to another abounded tea estate

Returned to mini world’s end

Returned to mini world’s end

Pathway….

Sandamadala, Arangala, Kadigala and Manikdena

Paddies at Galboda village

Returned to camp site

Trekking from Karagasthenna to Sera Ella
This is something planned by myself when I first heard about foot path from Karagasthenna to Puwakpitiya. It was the second part of our trip. We followed our way back to abounded line houses and searched for someone to get information about this foot pathway. Luckily there were old couple and husband voluntarily came to show us the pathway. (I can’t remember his name).
According to this old man there are two foot pathways: one with acute descend and short time and other one with vice versa. He guided us along longest one where first we crossed sloping “Pathana” (where we visited last time as well) and then got into forest patch. It took us one and half hours to reach Puwakpitiya and we said good bye to our guide who went back by another route due to wild elephants. Villagers from Puwakpitiya use this path to reach Karagasthenna to send their cattle. On our way we have noticed a fallen tree attacked by a wild elephant.
There was another 1.5km walk to the Puwakpitiya road. Once we reached there, we hired a three wheeler to visit at Sera Ella.

Back to line houses and get ready for part-2.

Starting the journey…

Crossing Pathana

Cattle…Eager to look at us

Cross section of Knuckles massif from Pathana

There were some Mana at last section of Pathana.

I love this short Mana

Sometimes this foot pathway was not clear. It was important to have a guide here.

Forest pathway

සමනළ තටු

Forest pathway

Forest pathway

Forest pathway

Following rituals. We are leaving forest

Attacked by elephants

Elephant fence…

Reaching Puwakpitiya

Though Sera Ella had less water level compared to my previous visit it was still beautiful. Last time we have trekked from Puwakpitiya to Kambarawa by a foot path but now it is vanished by Moragahakanda reservoir. There were number of notices around Sera Ella to protect it. We spent the time only to get snaps and returned to a branch of Thelgamu Oya to get a bath. Then our target was Hettipola-Matale bus which reached Illukkumbura at 2pm.
It finished two days trip to Karagasthenna and Puwakpitiya.

Beautiful Sera Ella

Beautiful Sera Ella

Low water level

Famous cave behind the fall

Famous cave behind the fall

Thanks for reading