Off to Galaha

Year and Month	Hindagala Temple- 2019 June 15th Badrawathi Temple, Galaha view point and Muthukelina Wewa-2019 February 04th Kande Wiharaya , Dungolla Falls and Marabedda Garden Resort -2020 October 14th
Number of Days	Separate three days
Crew	Day 01-Rakitha, Heshan, Chinthaka and Myself Day 02-Sanjeewa and Myself Day 03-Arjuna and Myself
Accommodation	Marabedda Gardens Resort Rikillagaskada
Transport	By car and walking
Activities	Sightseeing, scenic drive and Photography
Weather	Misty and gloomy
Route	Colombo->Peradeniya-> Galaha-> Delthota-> Hewaheta-> Rikillagaskada
Tips, Notes and Special remark	May need leech protection methods. Please get directions from locals to Kande Wiharaya. And talk with chief priest before you roam around. Most of these places are viewpoints. Therefore visit in a clear day. Unfortunately I have been there on misty days. The byroad to Muthukelina Wewa is narrow and may be difficult to go by a low ground vehicle. Seems Muthukelina Wewa is famous among locals and pollution is around the lake. It is said bathing at base of Dungolla falls is dangerous. Delthota-Hewaheta road is under construction. There are frequent buses to Galaha from Kandy but better go by your own vehicle.
Related Resources	Lanka Pradeepa web site about Hindagala Temple. Lakdasun trip report-One step closer to heaven Lakdasun trip reports on Muthukelina Wewa
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Off to Galaha

Galaha and Delthota are two beautiful entities at Kandy district but hidden from routine travelling routes. The winding road starts from Peradeniya University Junction passes Galaha and Delthota to reach Hewaheta (Nuweraeliya district) and Gampola (Kandy District). It is a scenic drive in most of the time on back drop of beautiful hills. My first exposure to this beautiful area was when I visited at Wind loft retreat hotel at Delthota. When you are passing Galaha and Delthota there are few important places you can pay your attention. This my attempt to overlook these places situated near Galaha and Delthota. The list is

1. Hindagala RMV
2. Kande Viharaya
3. Bhadrawathi Temple
4. Galaha view point
5. Muthukelina Wewa
6. Dungolla Falls
7. Marabedda Garden Resort

Hindagala cave temple come across in first four kilometers when you turn to Galaha road from Peradeniya-University junction. This historical temple is famous for it’s beautiful paintings.

Hindagala RMV (හිදගල රජමහා විහාරය) (7.240559, 80.601183)
The history of this temple goes back to Anuradhapura Era which is described by two inscriptions of 6th and 7th century. The cave temple is situated at the base of a large rock and can be entered through a door way decorated with a “Makara Thorana” (මකර තොරණ). There are two Buddha statues at this cave temple and the seated one is believed to be built by Queen Hena Kanda Biso Bandara during the Gampola period (1304-1408). The cave of the temple was restored during the time of Governor Barnes (1824-1831). Two paintings beneath the drip ledge of the cave belong to Anuradhapura period. The paintings inside the cave belong to the both Kandyan and Gampola period. The outer wall paintings facing the veranda are said to be done in 1917. Hindagala temple is one of the temples where Tooth Relic was kept when it brought to Kandy. This temple was declared as a protected site by a gazette notification in 2009. You can view Ambuluwawa and surrounding hills from Hindagala temple.

Historical Temple

Drip ledge cave and paintings beneath the drip ledge. These are similar to that’s of Sigiriya and Ajanta caves. But these paintings were destroyed by a forest fire in 1960.

There are two paintings beneath the drip ledge. One shows offering of alms to Buddha by Thapassu Balluka. Other mural shows worshipping of Buddha by God Indra and others when he visited to Indrasala cave.

Entering to the cave temple and Makara Thorana.

Makara Thorana

Some of the painting of latter period. The outer wall paintings facing the veranda are said to be done in 1917

Paintings inside of cave temple

There are two Buddha statues at cave temple. The seated Buddha statue is believed to be built by Queen Hena Kanda Biso Bandara during Gampola period.

The Bo tree.

The Stupa.

.	Another small cave.

The path to cave temple

Who visited with me.

View from Hindagala Temple

View of Ambuluwawa from Hindagala Temple

This might be Kabaragala

After passing Hindagala we followed the road to Sarasavigama-Galoya to reach another temple situated at nice view point. This is called Kande Viharaya / Sri Irugalbandara Ranawiru Temple.

Kande Viharaya / Sri Irugalbandara Ranawiru Temple (කන්දේ විහාරය/ඉරුගල් බණ්ඩාර රණවිරු විහාරය) (7.220132, 80.621767)

This is a newly established temple on top of a hill which has a 360 view towards surrounding. Shashi has given me information about this place as he has been there before. We followed the road to Sarasavigama and then Galoya line houses but the last stretch of the road is narrow and bad in condition. There is a concrete road to the temple from Galoya line houses.
It was rainy when we visited the place. As the temple and it’s components are under construction still it doesn’t add beauty to the place. We were able to identify only Gampola town and Ambuluwawa through the mist, but in a clear day you can view Sri Pada as well. Two sermons are at the temple were kind and we were treated with warm Belimal water.

View from Kande Wiharaya

View from Kande Wiharaya. In a clear day you can see Sri Pada from this side.

Towards Ambuluwawa and Gampola town

It was not a good day to visit

The statue of Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thero.

The place was so windy…..

Zoomed view of Gampola town

Not a clear picture of Ambuluwawa

Nearby tea factory and a school

At Kande Wihare

There was another road from Kande Wiharaya to join to Galaha road and we followed it (Get directions from Hamuduruwo). After passing Galaha town we got Pupuressa road (B125) to reach Bhadrawathi Temple eka National Bikku Centre for Health care.

Bhadrawathi Temple / National Bikku Centre for Health care. (7.177273, 80.669717)
National Bikku Centre for Health care is situated at the base of small hill and Badrawathi Temple is situated on top of the hill. This mountain is called Wehera Kanda (වෙහෙර කන්ද) as a temple is situated on top of it. It is another 360 view point around Galaha. There is a well paved road till Bikku Center and we have parked the car there. (You can visit Bikku Centre as well but we didn’t pay attention for it). From the car park it was a short ascend (about 30 minutes hike on cemented steps) to Bhadrawathi Temple.
Seems the history of temple goes back more than 70 years. In a clear day you can have a beautiful view towards Galaha and Delthota areas including Alagalla, Peacock Hills, Hanthana range, Kukulagala, Piduruthalagala range etc. As it was a misty day we were not fortunate to view most of these mountains.

Wehera Kanda from it’s base

Steps to Badrawathi Temple

The path

National Bikku Centre for health situated at base

Zoomed view of National Bikku Centre for Health.

Pupuressa road

The Stupa which was built by Mrs. K.T. Badrawathi Fernando in 1940.

Buddha statue on top

The Stupa and Buddha statue

Surrounding view

Ambalamana peak and Galaha view point. In a clear day Hunnasgiriya range is seen beyond Ambalamana peak.

View of Alagalla

Ambuluwawa with tower

Hanthana Katusu Kanda

Mist is covering the lower part

Nice place for photos

.	Towards Peacock Hills

Towers of Peacock hills. Towers can be seen.

We were back to Galaha town and followed Moragolla road. I have noted a place mentioned as Galaha view point in Google map. Actually it is a road side place closer to Galaha Quartz quarry. They usually don’t allow photographs at Galaha Quartz quarry as it is a private premise. Some people use it as a location for advertisements and preshoots.

Galaha View Point (7.218069, 80.669138)
This is just a road side view point towards Galaha and Gampola side, situated closer to Galaha Quartz Quarry. But it is not a 360 view point.

Galaha Quartz Quarry

View of Peacock Hills from Galaha view point

Galaha town

Wehera Kanda / Badrawathi Temple

Towards Ambalamana

When you continue along Moragolla road can reach Muthukelina Wewa which is a famous tourist attraction among locals. Before reaching Moragolla there is a right hand side road to Piyasara Buddhist Monastery. The road condition of this by road was not at that time for low ground vehicle.

Muthukelina Wewa (මුතුකෙලින වැව) (7.213021, 80.696473)
This small man-made lake is situated at Bellwood area in 1000-1100m height. There is an observation point just above the lake which provides a beautiful view towards Victoria reservior, Thalathu Oya region and Knuckles area. Again as it was a misty day we didn’t have much view from the observation point. Now it has become a famous place among locals as evidenced by some garbage around.

Muthukelina Wewa in mist

The path to observation point

Towards the observation point

View from the observation point towards Victoria reservior

The view

Thalathu Oya Moragolla side

Edges of Victoria reservior

Is this Kandy town??

Winding roads

Another town

??? Alagalla

We got a fairly clear view after a while

Posing

Posing with the lake

Evidence of camping

It was all about the places around Galaha and we were back to Galaha-Delthota road to drive towards Rikillagaskada via Hewaheta. The road is good in condition till Delthota but under constructions till Hewaheta. Famous Loolecondera estate (7.127147, 80.710372) is situated at this area but entry is not allowed due to Corona threat. But this road goes through greenish tea estates and rich in beauty. Loolecondera is the first commercial tea estate of Sri Lanka, established by Mr. James Taylor in 1867. Few kilometers before Hewaheta town we have noted a road side waterfall called Dungolla Ella. Dungolla Ella was full with water mixed with mud due to fallen rain.

From Delthota to Rikillagaskada

Scenic road from Delthota to Rikillagaskada

Posing at the road

Loolecondera estate

It is the first commercial tea estate in SL planted in 1867.

The Story of Ceylon tea

Statue of Mr. James Taylor

View from Loolecondera

Towards Hewaheta

View of Kukulagala

Dungolla Ella (දුන්ගොල්ල ඇල්ල) (7.106567, 80.757595)

This is a road side cascade at Hewaheta-Muloya area, might be 20m in height. I didn’t walk closer to the waterfall as water level was so high. This stream origins from Muloya area and usually the fall shows it’s full color only with rain. There is a foot pathway to the base of the fall.

Dungolla Falls

Dungolla falls in full flow

Posing with Dungolla Falls

Over Dungolla bridge

Another waterfall situated next to Dungolla Ella.

After enjoying the beauty of Dungolla Falls we have moved to Rikillagaskada town to reach our destination of the day-Marabedda Garden Resort.

Marabedda Garden Resort Rikillagaskada
Marabedda Garden Resort is situated at Dimbulkumbura road in Rikillagaskada (same road towards Kukulagala). The location of the hotel is most special feature as it is situated at the edge of a small mountain with 360 panoramic views. The hotel has a beautiful garden with nice landscapes. Infinity pool and roof top add extra beauty to the hotel.
As it was a rainy and misty day I couldn’t identify a lot of surrounding mountains. But you can view Kukulagala Mountain, Randenigala reservior, Randenigala Hills, Mahakudugala, Walapane area and some of Knuckles peaks from this hotel.