Two days in Knuckles-Deanstone

Deanstone (ඩීන්ස්ටන්) is one of the beautiful areas of Knuckles and it has a lot of activities to do. My first exposure to Deanstone occurred when I was at University with my batch mates. We have stayed at dormitory of DCC (Deanstone Conversation Center) and walked to Loolewatta through mist.
In 2013 I returned to Deanstone and stayed at Corbett’s view hotel at Koboneela (කොබොනීල) which was situated next to Deanstone. In addition we have passed Deanstone in many occasions when travelling to Meemure. This was kind of a repeat trip to Deanstone as Kasun and Vinoda wanted to go there. And we have selected Corbett’s view hotel at Koboneela as the accommodation option.
Yashoda who was a new friend of mine joined for this trip. We left Colombo early morning and our plan was to reach Deanstone as early as possible to start the trek.

Deanstone (7.330109, 80.861164) is a well-established entry point of Knuckles forest reserve. It has an office, small museum and dormitory. There are walking pathways at Deanstone to Dothalugala Mountain and Mini world’s end.

Dothalugala trekking pathway / Dothalugala Nature trail (දෝතලුගල නැරඹුම් මාවත)
Dothalugala peak (1573m) is situated at Deanstone and there is a well paved pathway to the observation point (1393m) of Dothalugala. But this observation point is not the highest point / peak of Dothalugala. Ashan has been at this highest point of Dothalugala beyond the observation point. My objective of this journey was to reach this highest point.
Total distance of this path is 3.8km.

Dothalugala trekking pathway starts (7.332861, 80.861367) from few hundred meters away from Deanstone office. There is a gravel road till Dothalugala Dormitory and then it becomes a foot pathway. This trekking path is scenic and it takes about two hours to reach the observation point. Initial part of the day was clear and we were able to view some giants of Knuckles: Dumbanagala, Gerandigala, Alugal Lena Mountain and Kehelpothdoruwegala. There were number of water streams starting from Dothalugala Mountain and crossed the foot path.

Four man team for the trip. Yashoda (left) joined as the first time. This is the gravel road to Dothalugala Forest Dormitory.

He requested to come with us.

.	Navenagala Peak. The view from Dothalugala side.

The gravel road

Fifth person for the journey.

Giants of Knuckles Forest Reserve

Alugal Lena Kanda

Out from dark

A lot of streams were active and crossing the path. Dothalugala Forest Dormitory is situated here.

Beyond the Dormitory

This is kind of a junction of the trekking path. You can get your way to Dothalugala, the waterfall and Dothalugala camp site.

Following above mentioned junction (7.338632, 80.851030) the foot path continued towards the peak. There were ascends and descends in the trek. Though morning was clear later it changed to misty weather. We were keen to get snaps with mist and dark created by the forest. Forest department has recently renovated this path.

Ascend of the foot path

With time clouds came up

Shady foot path

Water streams crossing the foot path

Water streams crossing the foot path

Water streams crossing the foot path

Doggy is walking before us

The bridge

True peak of Dothalugala

Trees have fallen on the path

Towards Hunnasgiriya

Surrounding was misty when we reached Dothalugala Observation Point (1388m). (7020.345’, 80050.560’)
Therefore we decided to not to attempt beyond this point. After having a break at this place we walked a bit away from the view point to get a view through the mist. False / True peak of Dothalugala was seen to this place.

Dothalugala Observation Point. Forest department has marked GPS location of the place.

As Dothalugala peak was misty we didn’t attempt it.

Surrounding was misty

Edges of Victoria Reservior

.	Rest after a hike

The team at Dothalugala Observation Point

With our guide

In return journey we have visited Dothalugala camp site (7.332754, 80.861140) and manmade pond with waterfall. According to trail guide this has a circular path but it was not clear. All were under renovation to have a better outcome for travellers.

Return journey

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Dothalugala waterfall is about 10m in height and there is a pond at the base made by forest department.

Dothalugala Waterfall and man-made pond.

With Dothalugala Waterfall

With Dothalugala Waterfall

We walked further down the stream

Out of the trek

A seat

Gerandigala Falls

Lakes of Mahiyanganaya

We have returned to Deanstone Forest Office by noon and said good bye to our little guide. Our choice of accommodation was Corbett’s view hotel-Koboneela.

Corbett’s View hotel-Koboneela (7.357051, 80.851763)
Corbett’s view hotel is situated at Koboneela. This is my second visit to this place. It has two cottages and this time I selected the one at lower level. Everything has been changed: Management was different and previous caretaker Janaka was not there. New management has developed the place in a better way. New addition of the hotel was sun desk. The cook as well as caretaker was friendly and food was delicious. I woke up early morning and accompanied Yashoda to enjoy the sun rise. It has almost 360 view including Dumbanagala, Koboneelagala and Dothalugala side.

Corbett’s view hotel and their newly built sun deck. Koboneelagala is situated right behind the hotel.

The place is situated on top of a small mountain

Koboneelagala-Aerial view. This area is rapidly developing with hotels due to it’s fantastic view.

Koboneelagala

Towards Dothalugala side

Paddies at Kandegama. The view from the ground opens to Kandegama area.

Dumbanagala with mist cap.

In this aerial picture Alugal Lena Kanda is also seen

Sphinx and Knuckles five peaks (Right upper corner)

There is a carpet road from Kandegama side

Paddies at Kandegama

Paddies at Kandegama

Paddies at Kandegama

Balalgira silhouette view

.	Awaiting for sun rise

Enjoying

Enjoying

Enjoying

It is happy to see Yashoda is enjoying the place …..

It is happy to see Yashoda is enjoying the place …..

It is happy to see Yashoda is enjoying the place …..

Sun rise

The Cottage we spent the night

Just after awake….

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Good morning Dothalugala

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Front view of the Cottage

Garden….

Dumbanagala again

They also had a dog…..

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With caretaker

Day 02
After having a beautiful sun rise at Corbett’s view hotel we were back to Deanstone conservation center in view of visiting mini world’s end. This is again my third visit to the place.

Deanstone Mini World’s End (ඩීන්ස්ටන් කුඩා ලෝකාන්තය) (7.334335, 80.866979) (1192m)

The foot path to Deanstone Mini World’s End starts right behind the forest office. They have built a park with a lake at office premises. This lake is known as Deanstone Lake. It is kind of a circular trail from conversation center to Mini World’s End view point-1 and 2. First we followed the right hand side path to reach the first view point of Mini world’s End. Mini World’s end path mainly lies within Pinus forest. First view point (7.334335, 80.866979) directs to Thalagune Falls-Elle Gedara Falls / Thalagune village and Hapugaskumbura side. We were able to see Ududumbara town and Aliyakotagala peak.

Paved path around the lake

Cross section of Knuckles from Deanstone

Deanstone Lake

Dothalugala peak above the lake

The path under forest canopy

The bridge

Foot path

Passing Pinus patch

Steps to Mini World’s End

Deanstone Mini World’s end. 1st view point

The dog has guided us this time

Thalagune Falls-view from Mini World’s End. I think Gedaramada Ella is also seen at top of this picture

View from Mini World’s End-Hapugaskumbura

View from Mini World’s End-Paddies at Hapugaskumbura

Ududumbara Town and Mahiyanganaya Road

Aliyakotagala Peak

The team at drop

I have filed the drone at first view point to look the beauty of Mini World’s end.

The drop of Mini world’s End

The drop

Paddies at Hapugaskumbura

Paddies at Hapugaskumbura

Nawenagala

Thalagune village and Thalagune Falls

We are at first view point

First view point

First view point

Second view point (7.335882, 80.867378) (This was marked as first view point in Google map) is situated 170m away from first view point and it faces to Kalugala side. Kalugala Gerandi Falls, Sphinix-2, Alugal Lena Mountain were seen from second view point. In a clear day you can see number of Knuckles peaks from this view point.

Heading to second view point

Koboneelagala

Sphinix-2 and Alugal Lena Mountain seen from 2nd view point

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Kalugala Gerandi Ella

Second view point of Deanstone Mini World’s end

Second view point of Deanstone Mini World End

Mini World’s end trek is a circular trail and we have joined to the initial path later. On our way back to Deanstone Forest Office we had some Rotties.

Scorpion met…..

A place to get a break

Break…

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Back to DCC

It ends our two days visit at Deanstone.

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