Trekking from Mandaram Nuwara to Piduruthalagala

Mandaram Nuwara is a beautiful village surrounded by mountains and blessed with water falls. The circle of mountains around the village make it gloomy with mist most of the time called it as Mandaram Nuwara. Mandaram Nuwara is situated at drop of Piduruthalagala range.
History of Mandaram Nuwara goes back to King Rawana era. There is a poetry book called “Mandaram Puwatha” (මන්දාරම් පුවත) mentioning history of this beautiful village. Mandaram Nuwara was known as “Mandarampura” (මන්දාරම්පුර) and this area was used as visiting place as well as hiding place by Kandyan Royal Family. Some of villagers in Mandaram Nuwara origins from Wedda.

The main objective of this journey to trek from Mandaram Nuwara (1250m) to Piduruthalagala (2524m). In good old days there was a foot path from Nuwera Eliya to Mandaram Nuwara via Piduruthalagala but it was banded to public due to Piduruthalagala forest reserve. (Don’t know it is the same foot path we have followed to Piduruthalagala summit).
On our way to Piduruthalagala summit we have planned to visit Kolapathana Ella, Kodiya Ara Gala, Beragahana Ella, Seetha Ella and Hansiya Dowa Ella.
I have been at Manadaram Nuwara for waterfall hunting in 2013 and this is my second visit to sensational village.

The journey started from Pettah central bus stand. I have booked late night (12 mid night) Walapane bus which has arrived at Padiyapelella around 5.00am. The expected bus to Mandaram Nuwara from Padiyapelella was not there on that day. Luckily we met a lorry which goes to Gonamaduwa Dewalaya via Mandaram Nuwara.
Just after getting down from Lorry, we had breakfast from a tea shop at Mandaram Nuwara junction. Then we met our guides (Anura and Raja) at Raja’s place. As it took a time to prepare our packed lunch, we just walk around the village.
One of our targets-Kodiya Ara Gala is seen with misty back ground.

Post office Mandaram Nuwara.

Waterfall at Rankotiya Bokka (රන්කොටිය බොක්ක)

Buddha statue at Mandaram Nuwara

Cross section of Mandaram Nuwara. Law land  occupy by vegetable plots and paddies. Hills have tea estates. Kodigala is seen at center of the picture. Piduruthalagala range is situated behind Kodigala. In a clear day summit of Piduruthalagala with towers can be seen.

The peak at front is called Kodigala/ Kodigahana Kanda / Kodiyara Gala. Sinhagala is situated behind Kodigala

Kodigala is highlighted

Tharindu and Keshan. We missed Shashi in this photo as he came late.

Malsara Nuwara is situated closer to Mandaram Nuwara.

After packing everything for two days we started the journey to Kolapathana Ella. Kolapathana Falls is a frequently visited place of Mandaram Nuwara. There is a clear foot path to Kolapathana Ella along abounded paddies. It is not essential to have a guide to visit at Kolapathana Ella, but better have. Bathing, eating and drinking at Kolapathana Falls is strictly prohibited as all these water is used by people in Mandaram Nuwara. When you look at Kolapathana Falls in distance, you may realize it as a cascade of multi steps. There is a side fall which joins with main fall at it’s base becomes more prominent with rain. The water level of the fall was moderate on the day we visited. Kolapathana Fall is situated at 1500m level and it is a 1km hike from Mandaram Nuwara to Kolapathana Falls.

Team-Shashi, Tharindu and Keshan

The foot path to Kolapathana Ella lies along abounded paddies.

The valley of Belihul Oya (note this is not famous Belihul Oya River)

Road side beauty

Clear view of Kodigala

The flag on top of Kodigala is seen.

Gerandi Ella at Mandaram Nuwara

Kolapathana Falls (කොලපතන ඇල්ල) (7.023878, 80.780801)
The story behind the name of the fall is interesting. One day a royal lady called Malasara (මල්සරා) has visited at this fall and bought her food wrapped an Arica leaf / Kolapath (කොලපත). She has kept this Arica leaf at this fall after eating food. The fall she kept “Kolapatha” became Kolapathana Fall.

First view of Kolapathana Ella

Kodigala and Kolapathana Falls. Note Kolapathana Falls has a side stream as well.

Getting closer to the fall

Closer view of two falls. Note Kolapathana Falls is a cascade.

Upper steps of Kolapathana Falls

Classic view of Kolapathana Falls. This is the lowest part of the fall.

Kolapathana Falls from it’s base.

Kolapathana Falls

Kolapathana Falls

Base of the fall

Closer view of the fall.

.

Front view of Kolapathana Falls

Where this lowest part of the fall origins

Enjoying the beauty of the fall

Team photo at Kolapathana Falls

After enjoying Kolapathana Falls we were back in same foot pathway in certain distance and got upward turn to our next destination-Kodigala. Now we have deviated from clear foot path to a forest trek. Our guides were interesting in doing rituals for “Kohomba Deviyo”- කොහොඹා දෙවියෝ (Like Ayyanayaka Dewiyo at Rajarata) before start the journey through the forest. This foot path first lies parallel to the water stream and then we crossed the stream of Kolapathana Falls. It was a continuous hike through forest and Nelu bushes till we reach Kodigala. On our way to Kodigala, we have come across another view point where Mandaram Nuwara is clearly visible.

Valley of Belihuloya Oya

Pointed mountain seen here is Kukulagala. This is the road to High Forest area.

Paddies at Mandaram Nuwara

.

Covering…

Get permission from Kohomba Deviyo

Kohomba Dewalaya

Shapes of nature

Foot pathway parallel to the water stream

Foot pathway parallel to the water stream

This is our next target

Crossing the stream of Kolapathana Ella

Our guides: Anura and Raja

This view point was found on our way up

Paddies at Mandaram Nuwara and Kukulagala

Zoomed view of Mandaram Nuwara

Back to the path. Through Nelu

With aid of a creep…

Rest…

Horn lizard

Pooh…….

Misty mountains

Final flat terrain to Kodigala

Kodigala (කොඩිගල) is also known as Kodigahana Kanda (කොඩිගහන කන්ද), Kodiyara Gala due to flag point on top of the mountain. This is a nice view point towards Mandaram Nuwara. We experienced extreme windy condition at summit point of Kodigala. Pettigala (පෙට්ටිගල) and Sinha gala (සිoහගල) is situated behind and Kollangolla (කොල්ලන්ගොල්ල) Mountain is seen front of Kodigala. Kiriketiya (කිරිකැටිය) Kanda is situated at side of Kodigala. Edge of Kodigala was like a mini world’s end.

Flag on top of Kodigala

The valley

Houses at Mandaram Nuwara

Kukulagala

On top of Kodigala

.

Highest point of Kodigala. The flag point is situated few meters below the summit.

Piduruthalagala forest reserve.

Hands stand on top of Kodigala

Hands stand on top of Kodigala

Paddies and Belihul Oya is seen on side

Second line of mountain range is seen

It is difficult to stand on top of Kodigala due to windy condition

Seetha Pera

Pettigala (small one) and Sinha gala

Lion face at Sinha gala

Pettigala

Back from Kodigala

We have descend from Kodigala to Bera Gahana Ella. There was no proper path to Bera Gahana Ella from Kodigala. You can hear the sounds of “Bera and Kasa” (බෙර සහ කස) on your way to this waterfall.
Bera Gahana Ella is also a cascade with few steps. We had our packed lunch at base of the waterfall.

Mush rooms

Seeds

Get back to forest…

.

Posing…

Reaching Bera Gahana Ella

Reaching Bera Gahana Ella

Bera Gahana Ella

Bera Gahana Ella

Bera Gahana Ella

Bera Gahana Ella is a cascade with few steps

Bera Gahana Ella

Bera Gahana Ella

Reaching the base is bit difficult due to slippery rocks

We had our lunch there

At base of Bera Gahana Ella

Side view of the fall

Pointed Sinhagala

Dry seeds

Sharpen by Elk

We have planned to spend the night at cave closer to another fall called Hansiya Dowa. On our way to Hansiya Dowa, we came across Seetha Pond (සීතා පොකුණ) which is a small pond where medicinal essence were poured in control manner. When we went upstream we could notice a fairly large pond above the so called Seetha Herbal Pond. There were 2/3 waterfalls in downstream of Seetha Herbal Pond.

Seetha herbal pond. Foot pathway lies across this water stream.

Seetha herbal Pond

Fairly large pond situated above Seetha Herbal Pond

Cascades of Seetha Herbal Pond

Waterfall situated below Seetha Herbal pond

.

.

As it was late evening we had to rush to our accommodation arranged at cave. Hansiya Dowa cave is situated closer to Hansiya Dowa waterfall. We had to pass several streams to reach this short height cave where 4/5 people can stay comfortably.

Crossing a stream

“Pasi Gala” පාසි ගල

How big it is…

Hansiya Dowa cave

Hansiya Dowa fall (හාන්සිය දෝව ඇල්ල) is situated about hundred meters above upstream of the cave. There are two sloping rocks situated closer to each other and parallel to form this beautiful waterfall. Water stream flows in between these two rocks to give a mysterious appearance. A round rock has stucked in between two sloping rocks.

Lower stream of Hansiya Dowa Dola

Another set of mush rooms

Hansiya Dowa Fall

Hansiya Dowa Fall

Hansiya Dowa Fall

Lower part of the fall with base pool

Upper part of the fall with stucked rock

It was a nice place to pose

It was a nice place to pose

It was a nice place to pose

At base of the fall

Having a water stream closer to the cave is a bonus in camping. Night was extremely cold as we are closer to the highest point of Sri Lanka. Thick forest covering around and water stream made it worse. Our guides had a lot of stories to tell while we were around bone fire. It was a day with visiting a lot of interesting places.

Settling at cave

Around bone fire

Torch light into fire.

Day 02
Silence of early morning has broken by drizzling. It didn’t rain heavily but continuous drizzling and mist were there. We had early morning breakfast and packed our stuff for the summit day. According to our schedule we would be on top of Piduruthalagala at lunch time. It was a continuous steep hike since beginning of the day till we reached a view point after one hour. Though rain has stopped at that time, mist
has wrapped everything. We hardly watched houses at Mandaram Nuwara from there.

Packed our stuff and guarded with rain coats

Ready for second day

Reaching a point where surrounding view is available

Surrounded by thick mist

Giant fern

Fern

Posed with mist

සුදු රැවුල

Rhododendrons sp.

Towards Mandaram Nuwara and Kodigala through mist

Next stretch of the journey was an ascend through Nelu bushes. After the ascend, we have reached a flat section where Nelu bushes were all over. We were supposed to be at Pathaliya / Lunu Kola Pathana in one hour time but it got delayed to reach there due to mist. Seems guides have missed the foot pathway to Pathaliya.
Pathaliya is a plain covered with grass and bushes called “Hae Lunu” (හැ ළුැණු). Hae Lunu might be a tasty leaves as guides were interesting in cutting them. But we were in chilling cold and finished our last food stuff as final ascend was there. In a clear day towers of Piduruthalagala summit would be popped up above Pathaliya. But we didn’t see anything with mist.

Path through Nelu

Nelu flowers

Nelu flowers

Path through Nelu

Mist was around

Mist was around

Macro

Macro

Macro

Seems another view point.

.

Rising up

Macro

Out of thick forest

Poo…	Pathaliya in mist

Pathaliya in mist

හැ ළුැණු

හැ ළුැණු

Pathaliya / Lunu Kola Pathana spreads

It is a plain with grass and Hae Lunu

Cutting Hae Lunu

Finishing our last food stuff

Finishing our last food stuff

Macro

Ready for last ascend

According to guides it is about one hour journey from Pathaliya to towers but they couldn’t find the correct path. As mist was thick they were not able to find the direction of towers. Here we have used Google map to find the direction to towers. I learnt a lesson of using Google map as second option even you are with experienced guide. So last stretch of the journey was done with aid of Google map. After three hours roaming at Piduruthalagala forest reserve we were able to enter the road to towers about 500m before the entrance. All were tired and chilled with cold when we reached the gate.
We have changed all our wet clothes from Army mess and they helped in finding a van to reach Nuwera Eliya. Though the highest point of SL covered with mist we didn’t forget to get photos there. Highest point of Sri Lanka is marked with surveyor’s mark as well as cement statue mentioning attitudes and longitudes. You can watch the highest temple of Sri Lanka on top of Piduruthalagala.
So it ended a long awaited journey from misty Mandaram Nuwara to highest point of Sri Lanka in memorable way.

Surveyor mark on top of Piduruthalagala.

Cement statue with attitude and longitude markings

At the end of journey… Highest point of SL.

Approximately

Thanks for reading