Petals along the railway (Nanu oya to Nawalapitiya)

Year and Month	October, 2013
Number of Days	Two Day Trip
Crew	One
Accommodation	Hatton Inn (no 30 Dunbar rd, Hatton)
Transport	Public transport & Train
Activities	Rail hike (65Km)
Weather	Mixed weather
Route	Monaragala -> Wellawaya -> Bandarawela -> Nuwara eliya -> Nanu oya(3.7Km) -> Radella(5.5Km) -> Great western(3.9Km) -> Watagoda (5.1Km) -> Thalawakele(6.8Km) -> Kotagala(7.3Km) -> Hatton(5.1Km) -> Rozelle(3.9Km) -> Ihala Watawala(3.7Km) -> Watawala(2.1Km) -> Galboda(9.2Km) -> Penrose(2.6Km) -> Iguru oya(3.15Km) -> Hynford(2.6Km) -> Nawalapitiya(3Km) -> Gampola -> Peradeniya -> Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Take a bottle of water Do not carry Plastic items (Minimize), Make sure you bring back everything you took. Don’t disturb wild life There are leeches here and there Shoes are recommended Beware of grease Not recommended for people with vision and hearing impairment. Avoid long stays in tunnels Need a torch per person Do not panic in Tunnels Try and walk always on the side walk Get information about the train schedule from the stations Talk with locals do not ignore them During the rail hike keep your eyes and ears fully open Off your phone if possible Walking along the railways is prohibited by law and it seems like they are going to implement it(I noted that all the warning boards were newly painted) SPECIAL THANKS to Priyanjan
Related Resources	Trip Report: Life along the railways of uva badulla to ambewela Trip Report: Ambewela to Nanu oya
Author	Ashan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Petals along the railway (Nanu oya to Nawalapitiya)

The map – Click to enlarge

It was long ago I did a rail hike that was in February. So with the upcoming long weekend and been clueless, I decided to do a 3 day rail hike which I had to fast track to two days because Kasun invited me for another trip. Doing 65 Km’s for two days is more like a rail run but guess what I didn’t miss a thing. Walking speed was around 4.2Km’s/hour and I have never walked on a road even that fast. As most of you’ll know this stretch is not known for any special locations or scenery but I found out that there was lot to offer. My main focus was on flowers, may be wild or grown at stations as garden flowers, so please forgive me for adding many images of these beauties.

Day 1 the hike was commenced from Nanu oya and it was around 8.30am. I had to hurry up from the beginning because I started very late. From the start onwards flowers were smiling at me and I was in business. Just passing nanu oya I crossed three streams and the first was Nanu oya, second forming Nanu oya falls at a lower level and the 3^rd was lower reaches of Glassaug falls. I was lucky enough to see Adams peak that day which always brought up a grin on my face. Just before Passing Radella I came across tunnel no 17 and in few minutes Great western was in sight. The 6st highest mountain range was clear of mist inviting hikers to climb it if they dare too. From great western to Watagoda it was a walk along picturesque tea estates and after passing tunnel number 16 Devon falls was seen plunging far away. Next stop was Thalawakele and just before the station St clairs mini, Upper Kotmale reservoir came across my visual path. Walking across a reservoir gave me an awkward feeling that I have never felt before. Tunnel no 15 was just after Thalawakele and a “dakkuwa” filled with passenger passed whistling by me while I was in the tunnel. Plenty of kids were following me thinking I was a foreigner and was attempting to get some money out of my pockets which they failed to do so. St clairs was my next attraction and seen it lacking its beauty which she once had made me almost tear. Kotagala stretch provided me with some misty scenery before entering the dark and spooky tunnel of Singimale. The walk through this 500m odd tunnel was really scary but meeting locals who were traveling up and down regularly was a relief for me. When I reached Hatton I was dead tired and an early dinner and an icy bath completed my day.

starting point

halted at nanu oya

reddish beauty

just like a sun flower

had to bend my back to get this one

a lovely orange

this is a rapid flowing stream at nanu oya

upper nanu oya falls

pink standing tall between the logs

tiny yellow beauties

finally a pure white one

greesed

this was seen commonly

oh the boogy man

smaller bowitiya version

what they play with

glassaugh falls

lower cascade

wild but colourful

they play with sharp blades

this one was a bit shy

life between logs

Elebedda??

towards hatton side

a panorama of lidula

gave me a nasty look

give me some room

a Ashy prinia

Adams peak

while on duty

watchful

tunnel no 17

bye bye

they make sure that we live another day

a cascade at radella

another cascade

off they go

first landmark

on the way scenery towards lidula

hooded partial cave

horton plains

mighty great western

on the edge of a mountain

a lilly?

Again i had to crawl to capture this beauty

white again

mixed together

some wood for my home

yellow tinged

my ever loving gandapana

towards the shade

next station is close by

a white daisy

the colours i love

lovely yellow border of the petal

orangish yellow

searching for the last drop of honey

wish it had a drop of water on a petal

The Great western

two rails is helpful

the blue ceauty

touch of white

dark red it is

oh she smiled

minature flowers

Pied Bushchat

white on black background

lovely isnt it

they were joyed to see me

missing school to earn few bucks

beautiful landscape at great western

scenic track

hard life

the traditional basket

the path they walk on

crossing over

please forgive me, I mean no harm

Watagoda reached

balcony view

art on a glass

friends i met

a short one

tunnel 16

Devon falls seen from watagoda

near by cascades

crossing over

st clairs mini falls

upper kotmale

ah a beauty

the face says his story

they walk on the rail road coz they have no option

roses

once this was a river

high contrasting colours

thalawakele

came across a dakkuwa while in tunnel 15

after a tiring day

the dam

upper kotmale project scheme

st clairs the current state

evolved version of a monkey :-)

I love these

light pink it is

landscape

derryclair station

last power set train i met

kotagala cascade

lovely flow

kotagala peak as seen from the station

wondering where her kids are when needed

all in one

find the odd one

portrait

oh a surprise one

mist setting down

lovely isnt it

a cuckoo

galkandawatta wonder if they stop here even

gods on the side of the railways protecting the travelers

longest railway tunnel in sri lanka (singimale)

atlast the end

reached hatton

Day two the hike was initiated at 5.45am from Hatton station and it was another day of lonely walking through tea estates. Sun was denied its rights by the mighty clouds but it produced some magical scenery which I relished. Wild orchids which I came across after Rozella were the highlight of that stretch and also the stunning scenery as always pleased my hunger. While walking towards Watawala I came across a crew repairing the rail track and it was very interesting to listen to what they were saying while pulling a log. They used a unique language just like when the fishermen pull their nets! For ex: “Hoi wamata adin” Hoi Kelin adin”. Watawala to Galaboda was the longest stretch I have come across up to now, the 9.2Km track seemed to be never ending and it was through a lonely pines forest where I only met two linesman. Thanks to the dog who accompanied me I didn’t feel lonely that much. Seen Galboda at last was a great relief and a 5 minute break was required to regenerate the lost energy. After Galboda I came across two tunnels in succession where a bridge intervened. From Galboda to Iguru oya I was blessed with heavy showers and it was a relief that it lasted only one hour or so. Just before Hynford station I took a by road and reached Upper Hynford falls where I washed myself and had a quick change before getting back to the railroad to rush towards Nawalapitiya to catch the 3pm express train to Colombo. When I got to Nawalapitiya it was 2.45pm and I hurried towards a pastry shop to fulfill my hunger and returned in time to catch the express power set train which provided a comfortable 4hour ride to Colombo to my tired soul. I was more than satisfied with what I achieved and the stunning images do justify my rail run in search of petals!