Journey to Holy peak in off season. (From Kuruwita to Rajamale via Sri Pada peak)

Year and Month	November 2013 (10^th and 11^th)
Number of Days	Two Day Trip
Crew	02
Accommodation	Staying at Resting place in Uda Maluwa (උඩ මළුව විශ්‍රාම ශාලාව)
Transport	By bus, three wheeler and climbing
Activities	Mountain climbing, Sightseeing and Photography
Weather	Day 1 – Heavy rain and misty Day 2 – Excellent
Route	Colombo -> Kuruwita(කුරුවිට) -> Erathna (එරත්න) -> Adawikanda (අඩවිකන්ද) -> Sri Pada peak -> Rajamale (රාජමලේ) in Moray estate -> Maskeliya -> Hatton -> Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Buses from Kuruwita to Erathna and Adawikanda travel in every hour during day time. From bus stop at Adawikanda to trail head you have to walk. Or you can hire a three wheel from Kuruwita to trail head-Rs800.00 Off season Sri Pada hike has following challenges: Heavy rain-Therefore have to be prepared with your rain coat and umbrella. Be careful about electronic items. Leeches are so common in Kuruwita trail as well as Rajamale trail due to rain and surrounding forest. We had leech attacks till Mahagiridamba (මහගිරිදඹ) and it was our routine to remove them throughout the journey. Therefore be aware to get leech protection methods. The foot pathway in Kuruwita road has been invaded by surrounding forest patch in some places. But it was not difficult to find it. Always follow the current wires and which goes with the foot pathway. Foot pathway in Kuruwita trail is flooded with water streams in rain. We had a big difficult in crossing speedy water stream at one place. As no lights during off season, be armed with your overhead lights (Better option) and a torch if you are travelling in night time. Keep extra batteries. No shops along the road. Only human existence you will find at Warnagala (වර්ණගල) power house in Kuruwita trail. Therefore carry your food items and other necessary things. Loneliness-Most of the time you may be the only pilgrims. Don’t worry about water sources. Water streams are abundant along the road. On top of the peak: You can talk to caretakers of “Maluwa” (මළුව) and get open the resting place of Pilgrims for your overnight stay. There are mattresses and mats for pilgrim’s purpose. No competition for them like other days. Get ready with clothes to battle with extreme coldness and wind. Getting down by Rajamale trail is a good option in day time. (Difficult to recommend for night time). It also carries same problems-Leeches Once you come out from forest at Rajamale you will face a real difficult to get a bus. We had a difficult to get a three wheeler even, because they were working at estate at day time. They will say there is a short cut to Nallathanniya (නල්ලතන්නිය) with about 3km but actually far away than this. We were guided to Nallathanni-Maskeliya road again by a “short cut” but it was also a long walk through tea estates. Please be kind enough to not to put plastic and polythene items. If you are an amateur (“Kodu”)-කෝඩු for this journey follow some rituals as much as possible.
Related Resources	Trail Guide: Kuruwita Erathna Trail to Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak)
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Journey to Holy peak in off season. (From Kuruwita to Rajamale via Sri Pada peak)

Sri Pada(ශ්රීd පාද) /Adam’s peak one of my favorites places in Sri Lanka. After having seven visits to Sri Pada I wanted to do it in a combination of trails during off season. I selected Kuruwita-Erathna trail for climbing up and Rajamale-Sandagalathanna (සදගල තැන්න) route for getting down.

Thilanka and I reached Kuruwita around 12pm and got a three wheeler to Adawikanda trail head.

Rain started once we reached to Adawikanda but it couldn’t delay us as we had rain coats. We two started the hiking about 1.45pm amidst rain.

Kuruwita trail. It is shown in red arrow, goes parallel to the Kuru River. Black star shows the starting point of trail head. Red star shows the trail end at Adam’s peak.

Trail head.

Starting from Adawikanda.

First bridge we crossed.

Heavy rain brought water streams over the foot pathway.

.	A tree has fallen on the pathway

Foot pathway is covering with bushes.

Crossing of this water stream was a real challenge for us. Arrow shows the way we have to go.

After checking the depth my friend carefully got into the water stream.

First resting place of the trail-“Jambolagahayata Ambalama” (ජම්බෝලගහයට අම්බලම) -1.6km from trail head.

The list shows the donations to build this place.

Details.

Heenpiduruthalawa (හීන් පිදුරුතලාව කන්ද) Mountain is pouring with waterfalls following rain.

Less clear foot pathway.

When we reach Jambolagahayata Ambalama rain was not there but mist was on its way.

Seasonal waterfalls are everywhere.

“Danger zone”-Advices not to go out of the pathway.

Iron bars were helpful as pathway was slippery following rain.

First set of cement footsteps.

Reaching the second resting place-“Dayimangala Ambalama” (ඩයිමන්ගල අම්බලම)-2.6km

“Dayimangala Ambalama”

Heenpiduruthalawa is covering with mist.

Our next resting place was Warnagala-colorful rock. Warnagala waterfall can be approached by two ways: One is following the foot pathway near to Warnagala Ambalama (වර්ණගල අම්බලම). You can observe a gate opposite to quarters of Warnagala power plant. That road also directs to Warnagala waterfall. This road goes over the large pipes carrying water to the turbines.

Quarters of Warnagala Hydro Power plantation.

Warnagala waterfall. It was quite difficult to reach. Origin is Kuru river (කුරු ගග).

Another waterfall is situated closer to Warnagala waterfall.

Due to diversion of water for Hydropower, no water down to the water falls.

Unusual rock formation.

Warnagala Ambalama and temple-2.8km

Warnagala Ambalama. One of important resting place as it is spacious.

Reaching Warnagala temple.

Buddha statue of Warnagala.

God Sumana Saman ( සුමන සමන් දෙවියෝ).

When we left from Warnagala mist was all around us and it was around 7pm when we reach our next stop-Seethagangula (සීත ගගුල). There were two resting places before and after Seethagangula. Surprisingly it was not difficult to cross Seethagangula even after heavy rain.

Another slot of cement footsteps after Warnagala. This is still bit rare in Kuruwita trail.

Entering to peak wildness sanctuary.

Totally misty.

On top of Warnagala.

“Kunudiya Parwathya” කුණු දිය පර්වතය

Seethagangula-5km from trail head

Reaching Seethagangula Megoda Ambalama (සීත ගගුල මෙගොඩ අම්බලම)

Seethagangula Ambalama and boutique.

Crossing Seethagangula.

Seethagangula area.

Seethagangula Egoda Ambalama (සීත ගගුල එගොඩ අම්බලම).

Next milestone of the journey was Madahinna temple (මැද හින්න) and Ambalama. I was checking the place where foot pathway from Maliboda (මාලිබොඩ) joining the Kuruwita trail and found it about 100m away from Medahinna.

Madahinna Ambalama (මැදහින්න අම්බලම) and Temple-1275m height-7.7km

This came across just before Madahinna Ambalama. We stayed there for a while.

Madahinna temple.

Maliboda trail joining with Kuruwita pathway.

Then we were expecting Indikatupana (ඉදිකටුපාණ) and resting place.

Few benches were found before Indikatupana.

Mist was captured like this.

Indikatupana/Geththampana (ගෙත්තම්පාන) -1500m height-9km

At Indikatupana. Note the collapsed building in front of Ambalama.

Remaining from season.

Passing Indikatupana.

Now rain clouds have gone away and moon was shining. It was so beautiful to see surrounding environment is bathing in moon light. We reached Galwangediya around 12pm and had our dinner.

Half moon.

View under moon light.

Galwangediya (ගල්වoගෙඩිය) -10km from trail head.

Why it is called Galwangediya.

Galwangediya boutique was in good condition.

Black arrow shows the Rathanapura-Palabathgala road. Red arrow shows the Kuruwita-Erathna road. They meet at Galwangediya junction.

At junction.

After passing Galwangediya we reached Haramitipana (හැරමිටිපාන) temple. Now the foot pathway was luxurious with cement footsteps.

Haramitipana-1700m elevation-10.1km

Entering to Haramitipana temple.

Haramitipana Saman Dewalaya.

Standing Buddha statue at Haramitipana.

Passing Haramitipana.

Meelamalakandura (මෑල්ලමලකදුර )-Don’t know the reason for the name.

Adiyamalathenna (ආඩියාමල තැන්න) -11.3km
We met first human existence of this trail at Adiyamalathenna where two army soldiers talked with us. Now the light of Sri Pada peak was seen and we climbed towards Ehela Kanuwa (ඇහැල කණුව).

Adiyamalathenna Ambalama.

Connecting to Hatton road.

Two lines for devotees.

“Ehela Kanuwa”
The rock pillar on which devotees apply lime. It is believed sin of “Kodu” people (People who worship Sri Pada in first time) would go away by this activity. This is a rock pillar in Rathanapura road and wooden pillar in Hatton road.

“Ehela Kanuwa.”

“Dolosmahe Pahana” (දොලොස්මහේ පහන) at Ehela Kanuwa.

“Mahagiridamba” (මහගිරිදඹ) -The Great Rock climb.

Starting “Mahagiridamba” climbing.

Climbing “Mahagiridamba”.

Reaching the destination.

We reached the peak of Sri Pada around 2am and spent our night at resting place. Early morning about 50 foreigners came from Hatton road and gathered for sun rise. We were the only Sri Lankans were there except guides of tourists.

Sun rise-ඉර සේවය

Waiting for sun rise.

Just before sun rise.

It is started.

Now it is completely out.

Surrounding beauty

Bells.

Hatton rail and Peace pagoda.

Painted on sky.

“Kunudiya Parwathaya”. Height-1580m.

From left to right-Thotupola mountain (තොටුපොල කන්ද), Agrabopath (අග්රා බෝපත්) and Kirigalpoththa (කිරිගල්පොත්ත). Giants of Hortain plains.

Sri Pada Maluwa.

Seethagagula waterfall- (සීත ගගුල ඇල්ල)

“Bana Samonala” (බෑණ සමොනල) / false peak. It is called false peak due to similarity to Adam’s peak. Height is 2010m. It has two peaks.

Bunch of flowers

Mausakelle reservoir (මාඋස්සාකැලේ ජලාශය).

After enjoying the sun rise and surrounding view we started to get down along Hatton road and then entered Rajamale-Sandagalathanna trail.

Getting down

This plate you will come across on the first step of Mahagiridamba of Hatton road. In 1960-1970 Walker and Sons company has made these steps of Mahagiridamba.

“Bagawa Lena” (බගවා ලෙන)-This will come across in left hand side of Hatton road when you coming down.

Stone inscription found in “Bagawa Lena”.

Details of stone inscription.

Found in Bagawa Lena.

“Ehela Kanuwa”

We were not alone in getting down.

Mist

Getting down.

Sun rays.

Mahagiridambaya.

At the end of “Mahagiridamba” of Hatton road we came to the starting point of Rajamale route.

Rajamale-Sandagalathanna route
It will end at Rajamale division of Moray estate and a plain called Sandagalathanna will come across on your way in this route. It is considered as the least distance route to Sri Pada if you can come to Rajamale by a vehicle. It is not difficult to find the starting point of this trail just after the Mahagiridamba of Hatton road. Initial 100-200m would be narrow and then foot pathway is much clear. We could finish the trail by about 3hours.

Yellow arrow shows the starting point of Rajamale route. Note iron bars of Mahagiridamba are over and only cement foot steps are there.

Initial part of foot pathway is bit narrow.

Beautiful morning.

Mountainous forest.

.	Inside the forest.

Entering to Sandagalathanna.

Religious beliefs.

Different view of Adam’s peak from Sandagalathanna.

Leaving from Sandagalathanna.

Water streams are common in this pathway.

The way through woods.

It was a real fun to walk in the forest in early morning.

Last water stream we came across.

Entering to Rajamale division of Moray estate.

When we came to Rajamale it was difficult to find a transportation mode to reach a bus route. Although three wheels are there drivers were working at estate. Then we were directed to a shortcut to Nallathanniya about 3km distance. Later some estate workers showed us another pathway to descend to Maskeliya-Nallathanninya road. Somehow we reached that road after spending another 3hours in Moray estate.

Rajamale trail- Red star shows Adam’s peak and black star shows probably trail end. Red arrow shows the way we descended to Nallathanni-Maskeliya road.

Few snaps taken in our way to Maskeliya road.