The Pilgrimage to Sri Pada via Kuruwita-Erathna route

We are a group of 3 people decided to go and worship Sri-Pada via Kuruwita-Erathna road as we have already been there via Rathnapura-Palabaddala route and Hatton-Nallathanni route.

We started the journey from Petta CTB stand around 2PM on 21st Friday, 2014. There was a Rathnapura bus and we took it to go to Kuruwita. It was around 4.30 when we got down from kuruwita. Our aim was to go up to Erathna and stay there. However after getting down at Kuruwita, we were lucky to catch the last bus that goes up to Adewikanda which is the last point that public transport is available during Sri Pada season. We got meals for the night and bread for the following day morning. Around 5.10PM the bus started from Kuruwita to go up to Adewikanda. If we got down from Erathna, there are few kms that we have to walk or go by a taxi to get Adewikanda. Around 6.30PM we got down from Adewikanda and we stayed the night there. Our main objective was not to climb fast but to walk as normal and see the nature as well. That is why we didn’t start it at night.

Sun set seen from Adewikanda

The following day we visited Mahamevna Asapuwa for religious activities at Adewikanda and started the journey afterwards

Mahamevna Asapauwa – Adewikanda

Tunnels that goes to the hydro power station at Adawikanda

Sunlight rays seen on the way

The color makes the eyes to rest a while

Places where people worship on the way to summit

We walked neither too slow nor too fast

We met this mother climbing down. See how healthy they are.

Nepenthes distillatoria ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepenthes_distillatoria )

Before warnagala resting place, there is a large rock bed with a water stream on the right side of the way (not more than 100m from the path) and it is very beautiful to see and also a good place to rest a little while.

Large rock bed and it’s time for a break

Could hardly see the way back to Adewikanda

Having breakfast

We were visited by these beautiful butterflies

Hardly you will find stairs like this before Haramitipana

It looks so much beautiful and the greenery is amazing

The starting point of the Adewikanda hydro power plant

When you climb via Kuruwita, you will find a price list like this that displays the cost for each item. We have never seen this on Hatton side and also the prices are very much reasonable and well organized.

At Warnagala, we saw so many beautiful things.

There are 3 epigraphs at Warnagala but we didn’t know what it says

You will see many sceneries like this when you come to Warnagala resting point.

A lizard who wants to hide her eggs

After lunch, he was trying to have a nap.

Passing warnagala resting place, it’s filled with beautiful sceneries like this

Thick forest is having millions of these

Walking towards “Sitha Gangula”

On the way, you will find many water streams like this.

There is no climb in some places where you will have to walk as usual.

We reached “sitha gangula” around 3PM.

A tribute for god who protect us during the journey – at “Sitha Gangula”

Around 5.15PM, they switched on the lights. But its better you bring a torch.

You will see this notice at “Haramitipana” where Palabaddala route and Kuruwita route join together.

After “Haramitipana”, you will find another 2 boutiques and this is the one before last.

The new glim that has fixed recently but it’s not allowed to light it because it’s made from stone and it’s already cracked due to heat. So we went for the old glim thinking “Old is Gold”

We didn’t remember how many times we visited.

We were planning to get down via Hatton route but there was a massive crowed who had blocked the way down. Therefore we decided to climb down via the Rathnapura route till we get the cross road that links both Rathnapura and Hatton routes together. It was a good idea and we could reach to “Idikatupana” without any problem.

It was so crowded at Hatton route – “Sitha Gangula”

Beauty of the sun was seen on the way back

Sunlight comes through the trees created a picture

“Saama chaithya”

At Gangulethenna we had breakfast and around 11 AM we could reach to Nallathanniya where we got a bus to Hatton.
We saw lots of people are not aware of how valuable the nature is and polythene is everywhere. It’s less on Kuruwita route because the amount that tackles that way is less compared to Hatton route. Another important fact we noticed is that, there are certain procedure followed by the owners of the boutiques on Erathna route such as they don’t sell cigarettes and having price list so that people can see the prices of each item they sell.
We had walked 24kms in 28 hours. If it is the kuruwita trail, it’s much better not to hurry because it makes us tired soon as well as we won’t be able to see the nature and surrounding. Finally we want to thank all Lakdasun members and especially the trail details published. (http://www.lakdasun.org/trails/trail-18-kuruwita-erathna-trail-to-adams-peak-sripada.htm). It was a great journey at last and having long lasting memories. You may see the video here too. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkVOP3Iz1_U& ). Thank you.