බත්තුලු ඔය දිගේ සිරිපතුලට (Battulu Oya-Paradise-Sri Pada trail)

Sri Pada /Adam’s peak is one of the most visited travel destinations in Sri Lanka not only locals, even foreigners. I have been there at eleven times since my childhood. Once I started to travel after grown up, used different routes to reach Sri Pada during season (December to May) and off season. There are only two official trails to reach Sri Pada: Hatton and Rathnapura trails. All other unofficial routes get connected to these two routes at the end.
Apart from documented six routes to Sri Pada, two new routes were introduced by Sashika in Lakdasun in 2013.
1. Battulu Oya-Paradise-Dehenakanda trail
2. Battulu Oya-Adam’s peak base-Dehenakanda trail (waterfall trail).

Both these routes start from famous Cabanas called Fishing hut and lies along Battulu Oya. After about 900m they separate as Battulu Oya divides into two branches. Left side branch will bring you to the famous rest point of Dehenakanda trail, called Paradise.(The name paradise used by travelers) Right side water stream meets Dehenakanda trail at much higher point closer to the base of Adam’s peak. After that you can follow Dehenakanda trail (දෙහෙනකන්ද පාර) till it joins with Rathnapura trail just below Ehala-Kanuwa (ඇහැළ කණුව).

This is my journey along Battulu Oya to Sri Pada via Paradise-Dehenakanda trail.
As we are travelling in season, we decided to go in a weekday due to extreme crowd at Sri Pada on weekend. Colombo-Badulla night mail reached Hatton by 2.30am and routine bus to Nallathanniya was there at that time. We have reached Nallathanniya around 4.30am. After having a tea from Nallathanniya we searched for a three wheeler to reach the trail head-Fishing hut. We were able to leave from Nallathanniya by 6.15am which is quite a late start but it rewarded us by scenic view on our way to Fishing hut.
Sri Pada was seen with it’s Hatton trail after travelling some distance. It was not hard to identify Maussakele reservoir, Dell Mountain, Elbedda range, Bopththalwa, Hortain plains, Gartmore falls, Upper Gartmore Falls dropping from Gawarawila.

Good morning…

Scenic Nallathanniya-Fishing hut road

Kasun and Vinoda joined with me after a long time.

Mount Dell with Maussakele reservoir

Maskeliya town

Elbedda range is seen behind

Most probably one peak of Ballanbendihela

Sacred peak

Unknown peaks

End of Battulu Oya-Gartmore falls. This drops into Maussakele reservoir.

Upper Gartmore Falls

Scenic….

Elbedda range, Bopaththalwa peak and Mountains in Hortain plains

Sun rise

Sacred peak and Battulu Oya valley

Entering to Fishing hut

Fresh sun rays….

Fishing hut Cabana’s was not waiting to welcome us as we didn’t book it. We entered Battulu Oya just before Fishing hut and walked upstream. Here I had a doubt about water level as the area had heavy rain in evening time few days ago. But water level of Battulu Oya was not high to make our journey hard.
This is very straight forwards journey till peak of Sri Pada. We leisurely walked upstream till Dehenakanda trail (at Paradise) meets. The distance from Fishing hut to Paradise is about 2km. Along the stream we came across four significant waterfalls including Battulu Oya Falls / Fishing hut falls and Paradise falls. Sometimes we had to change the trek into the forest as there is no way to go along the stream.

Getting into water…

Good morning Battulu Oya

Feeling…

Water level was not high to make our journey hard

Breathtaking…

Mini cascade

Along Battulu Oya

Always we followed the left bank of the river as we had to follow left branch of water stream

Along Battulu Oya

Division. Left side stream goes to Paradise. Right side stream goes to base of Adam’s peak

Vinoda is showing waterfalls trail and Kasun is showing Paradise trail

Rapids

Posing….

After the division….

There are more boulders here….

First significant waterfall. This is about 5m tall.

First significant waterfall. This is about 5m tall.

Enjoying….

We spent much time to get pictures with waterfalls

Closer view

Fishing hut falls / Battulu Oya Falls (6 4742.8, 80 3104.1) is situated just above this waterfall. It is said Fishing hut falls is about 7m in height. After getting snaps of Dotharugala Falls, we got into the forest in it’s right side and reached the top of the waterfall. After Fishing Hut Falls, steepness was more along the stream.

Distance view of Fishing hut waterfalls / Battulu Oya Falls

Fishing hut waterfalls / Battulu Oya Falls

Fishing hut waterfalls / Battulu Oya Falls

Fishing hut waterfalls / Battulu Oya Falls

Closer view

Closer view

Closer view

Closer view

Top of Battulu Oya Falls

Top of Battulu Oya Falls. Weather was perfect.

Ascend along the stream

Peak wilderness

Along the stream….

Sloping banks of the river

Significant 3rd waterfall. This is like a cascade. Height is about 15m.

3rd waterfall.

3rd waterfall along Battulu Oya.

3rd waterfall along Battulu Oya.

Diya Buneela

After third waterfall, Battulu Oya became more clam and flat till we came across so called Paradise waterfall. The name Paradise is not in the map / not used by villagers. As this section has shallow flat bathing places, it is called Paradise by travelers. Paradise Falls is situated just below Paradise. It is about 15m in height. We followed right side of the water stream to reach Paradise where Dehenakanda trail crosses Battulu Oya.

More and more paradise beyond the paradise

Paradise Falls

Paradise Falls

Posing with the fall

Side view of Paradise Falls

With Paradise Falls

With Paradise Falls

With Paradise Falls

It is easy to identify Paradise by threads attached by travelers as this is considered as Geththampana (ගෙත්තම්පාන) at Dehenakanda trail. (This is called Menik Ganga / Ushimale by locals) A temporally made hut was noted at side of the water stream, which might be the only shelter after “Somarathna Ambalama “in Dehenakanda trail. Unfortunately there were scattered garbage around this hut including empty arrack bottles. We have spent about 5 hours to reach Paradise from Fishing hut along Battulu Oya. Here I didn’t concern about timing as it was worth to spend more time for capturing waterfalls as we had enough time.

On top of Paradise Falls

Paradise. They are trying to make a soup at the break.

Paradise

Next part of the journey lies along routine Dehenakanda-Mukkuwaththa trail. Basically it was a continuous ascend after Paradise till you reach the valley before Adam’s peak. You will have beautiful view of Sri Pada along this flat section of the valley. Though I have been at this route twice didn’t have this much clear view of Sri Pada before. There were number of Nelu bushes at this flat area including greenish Nelu. We have crossed other branch of Battulu Oya where waterfalls trail starts. This must be the last water source before you reach Rathnapura trail.

Restart the journey

As it was continuous ascend, they needed more and more stops.

Nelu / නෙලු

Clear pathway indicates frequent visits of travelers.

Nelu	View of Sri Pada

View of Sri Pada at Dehenakanda route

View of Sri Pada at Dehenakanda route

Hatton path comes in it’s right side and Rathnapura path comes in left side.

Other branch of Battulu Oya.

Where waterfalls trail start.

Final ascend from base of Adam’s peak till Rathnapura trail was continuous and sharp. As weather was still clear we were able to identify surrounding structures and the path we came.

Enjoying the view

Surrounding view- Must be Dethanagala and Pettigala

Surrounding view

Surrounding view

Surrounding view

Gawarawila and Upper Gartmore Cascades.

Few line houses at base of Gawarawila

Zoomed view of Upper Gartmore cascades

Mountainous forest

Enjoying the view

It’s near by

Valley of waterfalls

Surrounding view- Bana Samonala (left) Darmarajagala (right)

Foot path

Final ascend to Rathnapura trail

Known friends: Bana Samonala, Darmarajagala and Kunudiya Parwathaya

Reaching Rathapura-Palabathgala trail just below Eheala Kanuwa.

We have spent another five hours to reach Rathnapura trail from Paradise. As it is a weekday Sri Pada was not crowded at all. We were able to view the sun set from Sri Pada at this time.

Sun set from Sri Pada

Sun set from Sri Pada

Darmarajagala and Kunudiya Parwathaya

Sri Pada is not crowded as it was a weekday.

This marked my 12th visit to Sri Pada.

Our descend happened along Rathnapura-Palabathgala route. We have spent the night at Ambalama at Geththampana and restarted the journey next day morning. I was able to cover some waterfalls near Palabathgala at the end of the journey. (I will come in waterfalls in Rathnapura-Palabathgala route).

Lights of Rathnapura and Kuruwita trails. Note these two trails separate at Galwangediya.

Morning view of Rathnapura-Palabathgala trail

View of Kunudiyapawwa from Rathnapura trail

Land marks of the journey: Black line shows Dehenakanda trail from Paradise to Adam’s peak.

Thanks for reading.