Attractions around Reverse+turn /River+stone/Re-western/Riverston???

It is open for debate what you call this area and I read an interesting discussion on this Forum too. But I simply think that its “Deenston” in Knuckles – South; its “Riverston” in Knuckles – North.

We haven’t been to this heavenly area for a long time and one visit long ago was on our way to Wasgamuwa and the other was a day trip when the kids were very young. Since we had only one night to spare, this was the best destination to end the school vacation in style and to recharge our batteries before going in for the third school term.

Trip Highlights:

• Ridi Viharaya
• Bambarakiri Ella
• Riverston Tower
• Pitawal Pathana
• Mini Worlds End
• Thelgamu Oya
• Sera Ella

We left home around 3.30am; took the Expressway up to Katunayake and proceed along Divulapitiya, Narammala to Kurunegala in the dark and at Ibbagamuwa turned right taking the road to Matale. There was some road construction going on but since it was very early in the day we were not much affected. We decided to take a de-tour to the Ridi Viharaya as we were ahead of our schedule. It was just 4kms away and we were the first to visit the temple that day at 6am!

Ridi Viharaya is a cave temple belonging to the Pollonnaru Period and the shrine room is adorned with beautiful murals – some of it pealing off. But the ancient temple is very well maintained and even at that early hour there was a young monk at the entrance to the main shrine room and asked us not to take photographs inside, to which we obliged.

Shrine Room

“Varaka Valnadu Viharaya”

This is a unique structure – more like a Hindu Kovil – and it is only about 6ft in height. There is a small image house inside and the walls are adorned by ancient murals.

History – Click Image to Enlarge

Ancient murals and shrine room inside “Varaka Valandu Viharaya”

Ancient murals and shrine room inside “Varaka Valandu Viharaya”

“At Varaka Valandu Viharaya”

Having spent nearly 45minutes at Ridi Viharaya (including time spent on b’fast) we proceeded towards Matale and joined A9 at Palapathwela and again turned left at Mandanwala towards Rattota, Riverston. We passed the famous Alu Viharaya before the turn-off towards Rattota but did not stop as we have already worshipped one ancient temple.

Our next attraction was “Bambarakiri Ella” just 4kms from Rattota town. The turn-off is easy to spot as it at a sharp bend and there is a name board too. It is an easy walk of just 100ms from there to the waterfall/s.

The turn-off to Bambarakiri Ella

Clear signs of drought!

Poor-looking Maha Bambarakiri Ella

Scary-looking suspension bridge

The waterfall looked very poor and we did not attempt to cross the scary-looking suspension bridge to see “Kuda Bamabarakiri” on the other side assuming that she too would not have anything much to offer.  Only my son wanted the challenge and crossed the bridge. What we heard from a villager is that the December, 2012 floods in Matale washed off the bridge leaving only the supporting cables!

The suspension bridge

Scenery on the way

After a very scenic drive of over 20kms we reached the turn-off to the Riverston VHF Tower around 10am. It was so windy that we found it difficult even to get off from our vehicles. It was gloomy and the rain clouds were gathering but we decided to take up the 2km hike to the tower.

WINDY!i

We thoroughly enjoyed the walk up to the tower in the gloomy weather. It resembled the drive up to Piduruthalagala. The vegetation and the climate were the same. The only difference was this time we were walking towards the peak instead of driving. One minute the tower was visible and the next minute it was not. We have never experienced what we faced at the “windy bend”. The little ones were virtually blown away and we had to hold them tight to keep them on the ground. It was a novel experience that we all enjoyed.

Windy Bend

Misty

The giant is visible at last

End of road – entrance to tower

It is only 4km from the Tower to our resting place – “Green Nest Holiday Bungalow”. You have to turn left just before the 31st km post and as you turn the bungalow is visible hidden behind some trees. It is a cosy place consisting of two units, each comprising two bedrooms with attached bathrooms and a sitting/dining area. There is a separate outdoor sitting area for each floor too. The kitchen/store/ quarters are away from the main building. There is a large garden and best feature is the breathtaking view of 360.

Green Nest is hidden behind the green

View from the bungalow

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Having unloaded our stuff and given instructions to the cook to prepare our lunch, we left  for a river bath at Thelgamuoya just 5km away. There wasn’t much water near the bridge so we walked upstream towards Forest Department Site and had a refreshing dip in the cool water. Kids had a lovely time in the shallow pools and we were too busy enjoying the river bath that none of us thought of taking some pics. So not a single  pic of Thelgamuoya!

We returned to the bungalow as hungry as wolves. Meals are served in the indoor dining area but we insisted on having an outdoor lunch to enjoy the breathtaking view. They arranged lunch in the “pilla” like area facing the mountains.

Outdoor lunch

Outdoor lunch

After a filling meal it was time for an afternoon nap as we all woke up at 3am that morning. While we were taking a nap we heard the kids playing and running around the garden enjoying the freedom. We got up at 5, had a warm cup of coffee and headed towards the pathana which is just 1km away. Having bought the tickets – Rs.28 each – we walked towards the Mini-Words End and we were instructed not to stay long as they do not allow visitors after 5.30pm. The dried up pathana looked deserted and we walked in the fading sun along the marked footpath to the Mini-Word’s End.

The dried out pathana

Mini-worlds’ End

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The Drop

The Drop

It was getting dark when we returned to the tickets counter and there we met Mr.Lokubanda, a forest officer and a native of the Pitavala village. He was getting ready for his night shift at the office. He told us about the “Red Bana Project”, the creation and the abandon of “Pathanagama” village and stories related to long ago cardamom cultivation in the area. It was interesting listening to his stories and finally we returned to the Bungalow around 7pm.

Pathana at dusk

The Bungalow is powered by a generator and there are a few solar panels too – but they are not very effective. Another party had arrived in our absence and they occupied downstairs while we were upstairs. The cook had prepared our dinner early so there was no “clash of interests” although two parties were there.

Earlier we were told that elephants roam the valley during this season. They had spotted them even the other day too – early morning and late evening. “Green Nest” FB page has many photos of elephants and I presumed them to be Wasgamu jumbos. But latter I realized the photos have been taken from the bungalow balcony. So we were busy flashing our torch lights into the night to spot even one of them, but luck was not in our way, all we saw was some wild rabbits!

We had an early dinner and went to bed as we were very tired after a long day. The generator power is switched off by 10pm and there is very dim solar power thereafter. It rained in the night and the wind was most disturbing. It roared like the “windy bend” and I was glad the bungalow was a concrete structure – it had a slab on top – no roofing material used.

First sun rays – from the balcony

Outdoor sitting area after the overnight rain

We had a filling breakfast of kiribath and left the bungalow around 8am. Our destination was Sera Ella about 16km away. It was a fascinating ride enjoying the cool breeze and the changing landscape. We passed the pathana gleaming in the morning sunlight and drove towards Illukkumbura.

Morning scenery

After about 4km we reached this junction at Illukkumbura and turned left taking the road to Sera Ella via Puwakpitiya. The right turn takes you Wasgamuwa 40km away passing Thelgamuoya at 1.5kms. The board says its 9.5km to Sera Ella but we dared what the road condition would be

The junction giving clear directions

The road was carpeted for the first 3kms and gradually it became a tarred road, washed away at times; concreted at times; gravel at times – but was never impossible by an ordinary car. Sometimes seeing an eroded section we feared worse but soon the condition improved and we were back on a tarred road in no time.  There were a few houses at the beginning but thereafter we were travelling in the middle of a thick forest. There were fresh elephant dung along the road and many “humbus” on either side.  After driving for about 7km we reached this junction where the road divides to Puwakpitiya and Poththotawela. The concreted road going down takes one to Puwakpitiya and the tarred road going uphill takes one to Pothtotawela passing Sera Ella. We took the road towards Pothtotawela.

The last junction

The area had not seen rain for months and we passed many abandoned paddy fields and the water ways were too running dry. There were bare lamp posts along the road with no wires running between them. An old villager to whom we gave a lift said they have been erected about three years ago but the poor villagers are yet to see electricity!

Arid landscape

Dried up waterways

Finally after a hard drive of over one hour we reached the turn-off to Sera Ella. There is no sign board nor a house nearby to ask directions. The only land mark is the footpath going downhill with the supporting bar shown in the picture.

Turnoff to Sera Ella

The nearly 300m path leading to the fall is paved and shady and one can enjoy the walk. There are steps all the way and at the end the path divides – one leading to the cave and the other leading to the observation deck.

The Shady path

The Shady path

The path was not difficult as the supporting bar was there all the way. The latter part of the path ran along a drip cave and passing it the path divided – the left leading to the observation deck and the right to the unique feature of this waterfall – the cave behind the fall.  This was the main reason we chose to visit Sera Ella though it is almost 18kms away from Riverston. We could have easily visited Raththinda Ella and Wadda Pani Ella at Pitawala just a few kms away, but we wanted to see Sera Ella to experience the unique cave. We have seen many pictures and watched a number of videos of her in full flow and were thoroughly disappointed with what we saw.

This is all she had to offer…

Steps leading to the cave

Steps going down to the deck

The cave without water curtain

Although Sera Ella had been reduced to a thin trickle, we enjoyed the surroundings a lot.  Kids walked up to the cave though there was no water curtain as expected. We walked downstream observing the rock patterns made by gushing waters throughout centuries. What a sight it would be during the rainy season!

Water trickling down the rocks

We came prepared for a river bath but sadly there was not enough water and we did not want to take a risk as the place was deserted. So after spending almost one hour enjoying the surroundings, we climbed up promising ourselves to come and see her when she is in full flow.

After a tiring journey we needed a river bath to freshen ourselves. So we came back to Illukkumbura and headed towards Thelgamuoya – where we had a safe bath the other day. The place was crowded but walking upstream we found a nice spot to enjoy ourselves.

We came back to the Bungalow around 2pm, had our lunch and left for Colombo around 3pm. We bid good-bye to Riverston enjoying the breathtaking scenery once again and promising ourselves to be back after the rainy season.

Thanks for Reading