මීදුමෙන් වැසුණු දුම්බානාගල/ Misty Dumbanagala (1642m)

Knuckles massif has more than thirty individual hiking peaks and Dumbanagala is one of the giants of them. It can be well seen on your way to Meemure via Loolewatta just before and after the Corbett’s gap. The peak of this mountain is covered by the mist most of the time. Even in a clear day to rest of Knuckles range, top of Dumbanagala might be misty.

Dumbanagala (1642m) in metric map. Click image to enlarge.

View of Dumbanagala on our way to Sphinix-2 rock.  It is like a mountain with head and tail.

How Dumbanagala is seen to Dothalugala camp site. This is completely other side of above picture.

Appearance of Dumbanagala to Meemure road. This was captured just after the Corbett’s gap. You can’t see Dumbanagala right at Corbett’s gap.

Closer view and colorful appearance of Dumbanagala at Balalgira.

Dumbanagala Chalet is situated at base of Dumbanagala.

This is the view we got from Aliyakotagala. Dumbanagala is shown by the arrow.

Another view of Dumbanagala in a clear day.

Though above pictures shows clear peak of Dumbanagala, the day we hiked was not good. When you look at the Google map of the area it is easy to understand the easiest path to hike Dumbanagala is follows the tail of the mountain. My plan is to reach this tail of the mountain from Loolewatta-Corbett’s gap road.

Let’s see how it worked:
As usual we got early morning bus from Colombo to reach Hunnasgiriya. We four joined with Lakmal who travelled by motor bike. Then we hired a three wheeler up to Loolewatta tea shop. There was a drizzling at the beginning and we passed the time by taking our breakfast from Loolewatta. Later the rain went off but gloomy appearance lasted. We followed the winding road to Corbett’s gap. After passing the road to Dumbanagala Chalet we entered the forest. It was a continuous hike of about 500-750m till we reached the tail of the mountain. There was a fainted foot path but we mainly followed the Google map. A dog also joined with us for this hike as 6th member of the trip. The forest covering Dumbanagala was not thick as we thought. Undergrowth was not that much thick and mainly formed by Bamboo and Nelu. Gradually we have reached the tail of the mountain.

The team at start: Keshan (left), Ishara, Kavinda and Lakmal

Followed the short cut to Corbett’s gap through Pinus.

New member of the trip

Entering to the misty forest

මිහිදුම් වනාන්තරය

Mist gives a beautiful appearance to mountainous forest.

A break during hike

We have reached the tail end of the mountain.

Once we reached the tail of the mountain, there was a clear foot path up to the peak of Dumbanagala. We have passed couple of open areas before the summit but almost the track lies under the forest cover. It was easy to follow this foot path and it evidenced someone has recently visited there with clearance of the path. This foot path follows the tail of the mountain to it’s peak and it was a gradual ascend. In another one hour time we came across the peak of Dumbanagala. We have spent about two hours to reach the peak from the road.

Foot path to Dumbanagala

Doggie follows the path

Bamboo made arches above the path

Passing the open area

Passing the open area

Passing the open area

Last bit of hike

Reached the summit of Dumbanagala in mist

It is fairly narrow summit covered by short bushes of Rhododendrons family. In a clear day there must be a good surrounding view towards rest of Knuckles range. I tried to capture various flowering bushes as we waited at about 2 hours to get a clear surrounding view. There was some degree of clearance but low cloud cover didn’t allow us to get a good surrounding view. We had a fainted view through clouds towards Gerandigala side and a hotel situated at base of the mountain. Though bluish sky appeared over the mountain clouds didn’t like to move away.

Bushes of Rhododendrons family on top of Dumbanagala

Flowering bushes

Grandfather’s beard

Another tiny flower

මීවන	Flowering bushes

Doggie having a rest on top

Fresh leaves

Top is covered with bushes of Rhododendrons family.

Little bit clearance. Surrounding view from the top. This is the area between Dumbanagala and Sphinx-2.

Zoomed view of a cottage of a hotel at base of the mountain. This is situated at opposite side of Dumbanagala Chalet.

Expecting the clearance with aiming cameras

Blue sky over Dumbanagala

“Maha Rathmal” / මහ රත්මල්

Tiny leaves

Thick leaves

Stones on top of Dumbanagala

Having some Roti on top

Fairly narrow summit with uneven floor. Can pitch couple of tents on this uneven floor.

On top of Dumbanagala

On top of Dumbanagala

On top of Dumbanagala

Cloud moving from Gerandigala side

Cloud moving from Gerandigala side

Posing

We are on top of Dumbanagala

After about 2 hours we decided to move down along the same path. On our way down we had fainted view of Aliyawetunaela Mountain and Sphinx-2 from the opening area I described earlier. It took another one hour to reach the trail head from Dumbanagala top. Though we didn’t have a clear view from the top, it was a successful journey as we could reach the summit.

Getting down

Return journey

අo කටුස්සා

Mushroom

Aliyawetunaela Mountain is just visible

Appearing of Sphinx-2. Photo credit Keshan Jayalath.

Winding road to Meemure and the hotel at Corbett’s gap.

Smiley faces

Getting down

Back to trail head.

සුලo කුරුට්ට / “Sulan Kurutta”

The path we followed along the tail of the mountain.

Loolwatta Falls. This is situated just few meters away from Loolwatta tea shop. 15-20m tall waterfall.

Thanks for reading