Bulathkohupitiya-Narangala Hike (880m)

This was my back to back visit to Bulathkohupitiya area in view of hiking. During the hike of Kankari Gala / Yakgala I have noted the mountain called Narangala. (When I fly the drone from Kankari Gala). Recently popularized Burus Gala / Hada Gala (බුරුස් ගල /හැඩ ගල) and Welanda Ella (වෙළද ඇල්ල) are situated at one side of Narangala. Supun who is one of my friends lives at Bulathkohupitiya area arranged this hike to visit at Narangala. He called to a known person for this hike and we travelled from Bulathkohupitiya to Narangala village via Dedugala road (B67) by bikes as road condition was not good for low ground vehicles.

This aerial photo was taken from Kankari Gala. Narangala is circled.

View of Narangala from Wawulagala

Ranga (who was our guide) was ready at Narangala village and total count was nine at the end. Narangala village is situated at Narangala mountain is full of tea, rubber and cloves. This was clove season and a lot of villagers engaged in plucking cloves.
The sharpen face of the mountain has zebra appearance made to call it as Kabaragala by locals. And there is a cave at this side but it can’t be approached.
There are tea estates till upper part of the mountain and forest patches were in between tea estates. As villagers regularly visit these tea plots, clear foot paths were there.

Narangala road….It is under construction. This is not good for low ground vehicles.

With Eshan

This is a rubber patch

Part of the team

Part of the team

There were forest patches in between tea estates

The place we refill water

Through Tea bushes

There were number of water sources on our way up

In between forest patches

Last tea estate before entering to the forest

He is also from Narangala village

There are huts made by wattle and dub for tea pluckers.

This is the target of the day

This mountain which is taller than Narangala situated behind Narangala. This is Wawulagala side. But we didn’t attempt it.

It was about 30-45 minutes journey through the forest and most special feature of it was boulders. We have passed a large boulder area to reach top of the mountain. This boulder arrangement was different and we spent quite long time here. After hiking through boulders we have reached top of the mountain (7.085333, 80.374030) which has a forest covering but an opening at the edge. The foot pat lies in the flat terrain of the forest patch ended at “Kekilla” – කැකිල්ල growth. Narangala has a narrow view point at it’s edge towards Kalupahana side.

Through the forest patch

Seeds of Kumburu / කුඹුරු

Boulders

Hard part of the journey

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.	This area was fantastic and we spent the time here.

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ඇත් අඩි

Passing Kekilla growth

We initially thought it as a Debara

We were able to view Dedugala area, Nalagana Falls, Kabaragala (Nawalapitiya), Dulgala area, Bathalegala and Ura Kanda from top of Narangala. It took about one and half hours to two hours to reach top of Narangala from the village.

At the end. Narrow opening towards Kalupahana area.

On top of Narangala / Kabaragala-Bulathkohupitiya

Team on top. Actually this place is not good for camping and it is just enough for 4-5 people to sit at once.

Housing project at Kalupahana for the victims of landslides.

Zoomed view

Dedugala road and two parts of Nalagana Falls

Towards Dedugala area. Kabaragala is appearing above all mountains.

This is another mountain situated in between Kalupahana and Berannawa areas. Height is about 900m.

Fainted view of Bathalegala and Ura Kanda

We had our late breakfast at boulder area when we descend.

Another cave like structure we came across when we descend

තිත්ත ගෙඩි /Thiththa

Coming down

After successful hike

Narangala Sliding Rock / Hada Gala / Burus Gala (බුරුස් ගල /හැඩ ගල)  (7.096048, 80.362151)

Narangala became famous recently due to it’s sliding rock. This sliding rock is considered as the longest of SL. This is about more than 50m long. Compared to other famous sliding rock at Patna-Deniyaya this is more continuous.

Welanda Falls / Trade falls situated at downstream of Narangala sliding rock. Villagers commonly called Welanda Ella and sliding rock together as Welanda Ella.

On our way to sliding rock we have visited another cave situated at Narangala. We have passed this cave and reached another thin but beautiful waterfall. The surrounding area was seen beautiful to this waterfall. This waterfall is created by the stream come over the sliding rock. Then it forms Welanda Ella.

Cave situated at Narangala.

Cave situated at Narangala

Cave situated at Narangala

Evidence of camping

The path was slippery

The waterfall situated between Welanda Ella and Sliding rock.

The waterfall situated between Welanda Ella and sliding rock.

The waterfall situated between Welanda Ella and sliding rock.

Hada Gala / Burus Gala / Narangala sliding rock

Hada Gala / Burus Gala / Narangala sliding rock

Hada Gala / Burus Gala / Narangala sliding rock

On top of Burus Gala

Narangala Sliding Rock-aerial view

Welanda Ella and the fall above Welanda Ella.

Welanda Ella, the fall above Welanda Ella and Burus Gala.

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Rikili Ella

Bulathkohupitiya town

The team at Burus Gala

After enjoy the time at Burus Gala we have moved to another bathing place of the upstream of Dummala Ella fall. This fall come across on our way to Narangala village. It was the end of another fruitful day.

End of the day.

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