Alugal Kanda Expedition (1809m)

Alugal Mountain is one of my dream targets on this year. Hence I was finding several routes and paths to conquer this mountain easily. Before this expedition I have climbed some of nearby mountains to have understood about Alugal kanda. Hence as a part of it I have noticed that there was a connection between Knuckles five peaks and Alugal kanda. However in March I confirmed the route as Knuckles peaks to Alugal and waited until find a good day to climb it.

Alugal expedition is the most postponed hike in my life, because due to several unavoidable reasons we (Sobasiri Team Members) had to postpone it. Nearly 7 times we postponed it and finally in September I decided to conquer it with only two of our members. Because at that time I wanted to complete the article for my 2^nd book (Adventure Tours in Sri Lanka-2^nd Part). Hence we left from Colombo by 12 noon on Friday and came to Bambarella knuckles trail head by 5.00am.

After that we parked our bikes and handed over the helmets to the house situated there. We started our journey before the sunrise. Hence we were able to reach to the Knuckles 1^st peak within 2 hours. We didn’t stop our journey or didn’t see any other beauty because we have been at knuckles peak on last year. However once we came to the 2^nd peak of knuckles we were struck into a heavy wind power. We couldn’t stand and go or even we couldn’t see the footpath too. Hence we were wait about half hour and started our hike again. So we came to the 5^th peak of Knuckles and took our Offline GPS maps to start the original hike for the day. Around 8.30am we got down to the back of 5^th peak which range will continue up to Thunhisgala range. We were lucky to have blue sky and was seen so many mountains by a different angle.

After we got down the 5^th peak we came to a small flat area which is like a plain. There were several water springs and the marks of Leopard too. We have seen Thunhisgala, Wamarapugala, Uda Wannimana, Meeriyagolla, Lakegala range closely and from the other side mountains from Yakungehela to Kirigalpotta too. Finally we saw our target which was situated far away from current position.

We always trust our GPS maps hence we marked the route and followed it step by step. We select the edge of the mountain which was goes close to the end of the mountain range. We walk across many water streams and virgin forests. For a moment we thought that we were at a heaven. Then we came to a cave complex where two rocky walls situated in 90 degree angle and a small entrance to a cave. We went few meters on it and returned back since we don’t have proper lights and equipment for cave hunting. After 3 hours we came to the middle of Alugal kanda where the area got very narrow. And we came to the Pigmi forest and walked to the summit as we have seen it very closely.

Summit was about 1809m and there were no any rocky plain or view point. Whole the area covered by Pigmi forests which are height about 5m. We stand on those trees and saw the beauty of the Knuckles. This is like we are at the middle of Knuckles forest because we observed 360 degree view of it.

We have seen mountains from Knuckles to Kirigalpotta, Sudugala to Manigala, Thunhisgala, Rehenaketu pathana, Wamarapugala to Lakegala collection and Thelambugala to Dumbanagala including of Yahangala, Kehelpoth, Geradigala, and Dothalugala, Kobonila, Aliyawetunuela, Thangappuwa kanda, Kinihira I and II, Kotagaga plain and mountains around Matale side too.

We spent about 2 hours on there and identified all the mountains around 360 view. After that we started our hike back to Knuckles peaks and this time we followed our alternative route which will go near to the 2^nd peak of knuckles range. That path was bit difficult but we found a Sambar foot track which was about 2km visible. Finally we came to the knuckles peaks by 4pm and got down up to the knuckles falls and had a bath.

Alugal expedition is a very tough hike due to the virgin forest area. And the route we select is the easiest one comparing to the altitude level. However I think Knuckles 5 peaks will be a bonus hike for those who want to conquer Alugal kanda. This is the 4^th highest mountain in Knuckles forest and the 4^th mountain summit of higher than 1800m range. In Terrain maps it shows like 1780m range but nothing in 1800m. But once we came to the top and check our altimeter app it shows 1809m. Alugal kanda is a flat mountain which having few gaps between the edges of the same mountain. That gaps looks like several peaks. Because we noted it last year at Karambaketiya village. Whole the summit area was fully covered by pigmi trees and some water springs. Here we saw the easiest way of conquering Dumbanagala and noted it that route. Once we check our altitudes we wonder that it is true that the Alugallena cave situated at the base of this giant rocky wall which was at the southern gaps of the mountain.

Thanks for reading!

Sobasiri Team © 2018

Alugal Kanda peak seen at the top of Aliyawetunuela Mountain. Note the middle bottom is Sphnix Rock. Other far away mountains are Lakegala, Wamarapugala and Appala Pathana

Alugal kanda right and 5 peaks left seen at the top of Aliyawetunuela

Alugal kanda seen at Karambaketiya village

Alugal kanda seen at Karambaketiya village

It was seen on the way to Corbet gap from Karambaketiya

Misty Alugal summit seen at the top of Dumbanagala

Side of Thunhis, Gerandigala, Dumbanagala and 5 peaks with Alugal Kanda seen at the top of Thunhisgala

The giant appears at the top of Thunhisgala

At the trail head of Knuckles 5 peaks

Knuckles Fall

Hope we can have a good bath after the expedition

Knuckles five peak seen

Kandasamigala side covered

We were above the clouds

Peak of Knuckles Mountain range

The Camping area at the 2nd peak of Knuckles

No not pluck them

Survey mark at the top of Knuckles 2nd peak

Mist towards other knuckles peaks

Its me struck in wind

Getting down from the 5th peak

Little more to the flat area

They are getting clear

Unbeleivable view that anyone can see if they came to the 5th peak under a cleared day

This was my favorite view

From left Thunhisgala, Wamarapugala, Uda Wannimana, Lakegala 3 peaks and Appala plain

Our target seen

Summit of Alugal Kanda seen

We need to go more

Our water sources

One side of Alugal kanda. Note this peak like a rectaingle. There was a same kind of a peak on the other side too

Thunhis and Wamarapu seen

We already conquered them

The mysterious cave complex we found

Se the 90 degree flat rocky plains from the top to bottom

We tried to get down here

Entrance to the cave

Some open caves

Another small cave

Another open cave area

Rocky beauties

Stream falls from the top

Where the small caves located

Continue the path to Alugal

Getting more closer

Towards Meemure

lower side end of Alugal Kanda

Closer to the summit

We came to the summit of Alugal Kanda. Dumbanagala in my back

Corbet Gap, Kobonila, Kinihira I and Sphnix rock with Aliyawetunuela Mountain

Towards Corbet gap. Note the view of Sphnix Rock

Back of Madusanka is Yahangala, Kehelpoth, Geradigala and Dumbanagala

The Original view of knuckles 5 peaks

We were lucky to see this clear view

Nirosh is on a Short tree

Bag is on the Pigmi forest patch

Aeroplanes over the 5 peaks

Resting at the top of Alugal Kanda

Return jouney we planned directly to the second peak

Side view of Alugal kanda

Hope that Alugal Lena is at the bottom of this rocky mountain

Path to the second peak

Following-the-Sambars-track

Again we saw them

Nirosh thinking about old memories on them

Madusanka is capturing

Where we were

Good Bys mopuntains

We three Conquered Alugal Kanda

Target was succesfully done

Alugal, Kehelpoth, Geradigala and Dumbanagala

We planned Dumbanagala hike for the next month as we seen the easiest path from here

Towards Knuckles 2nd peak

Resting at Knuckles Peaks

Pano view of the mountains

Elevation at the top of Knuckles 2nd peak

Elevation at the top of Alugal Mountain

GPS path to the Alugal we followed

We were at the summit of Alugal Mountain