The peak of eastern edge of Knuckles range – Kehelpothdoruwegala කෙහෙල්පොත්දොරුවේගල (1529m)

The name Kehelpothdoruwegala (Rock shaped like a plantain sheath gutter) came to my knowledge in 2012 February in our Yahangala climbing. We have noticed a giant standing in front of Yahangala (1220m) and got to know it as Kehelpothdoruwegala.

But the day of conquering came after one and half years of Yahangala climbing.

Peaks of Knuckles range. Taken from http://www.knucklesrange.org/sef.html.

We spent the night at Mahiyangana and reached Ududumbara around 5.30am. Following our short breakfast at a small hotel at Ududumbara we met a three wheel driver to reach Uda iluka.

I have discussed with Heen Banda mama (A villager lives in Kalugala who met during our Yahangala hiking) in previous day of our arrival to get to know the road towards Kehelpothdoruwegala. But he was out of home when we reached there. Then we decided to climb it alone after getting the directions from villagers.

Our plan was to first get on to Velangolla Pathana (Where we camped on Yahangala climbing) and then reach Kehelpothdoruwegala along it’s edge. We started the climbing around 7.30am.

There is a nice foot pathway from Uda iluka to Velangolla Pathana with scenic background. It starts just after the bridge of Uda iluka and first ascends through the village. Then it enters the thick forest and background scenery was so beautiful. Finally it connected with the foot pathway from Udagaldebokka at Dewalaya of Gale Bandara Dewiyo. (ගලේ බණ්ඩාර දෙවියෝ)

Black arrow till green star shows the pathway towards Velangolla Pathana from Kalugala. Then black arrow shows our hiking towards the peak of Kehelpothdoruwegala peak (in red star). Green arrow shows our pathway to Udagaldebokka village.

The foot pathway on right hand side of this three way junction was the way to Yahangala and we had to go to left hand side to reach Kehelpothdoruwegala.

The road in Uda Iluka.

Foot pathway within the village.

Climbing.

Scenic view in the back.

Central Hills.

Southern part of the Knuckles range and the valley where Hasalaka Oya runs.

Toddy man. We were able to taste “Mee Ra” (මී රා).

Drop

Our bags made climbing difficult.

The foot pathway towards Velangolla pathana.

Gale Bandara Dewalaya. White arrow shows the direction towards Udagaldebokka. Red one shows the way to Yahangala. Black one is the direction to Kehelpothdoruwegala.

Beliefs

Mighty Yahangala.

Yahangala and Velangolla Pathana.

Kehelpothdoruwegala. Star shows the peak and line shows our plan to reach there.

Time was around 10am. We started the climbing. Climbing along the edge of the mountain to the peak was not easy at all. There was an unclear foot pathway in some area may be due to cattle. It has no forest cover but Mana bushes and thorny bushes were there. Although it was seemed as considerably less distance final one was about 3-4km with ascends and descends. Finally we reached the Kehelpothdoruwegala Mountain around 3pm and climbed it to some extent. According to previous experience of this area we knew mist will come down in another 1-2hours. Therefore we decided to camp there without reaching the peak.
It was difficult to find a flat area to place our tent.

Starting of the journey. Note Mana bushes

Kehelpothdoruwegala and Watabandigala (වැටබැදිගල). Watabandigala looks a small version of Yahangala.

New appearance of bed rock. (Yahangala)

Surrounding mountains of Knuckles range.

Creeping…..

Getting on to a peak of the edge…But some more to go.

Now Kehelpothdoruwegala is bit closer. Note it has a different greenish colour than others.

Black arrow shows the peak of Kehelpothdoruwegala and red arrows show peaks of Lakegala/Galtuna (ලකේගල /ගල්තුන)

Longest river of Sri Lanka.

Mahiyangana town zoomed.

Nice place to sleep.

Suddenly met a wide gap

Only way to getting down and then climbing up.

Peaks we have crossed.

Final cut down. Now we are about to climb Kehelpothdoruwegala

Going through bushes.

Rocky part of Kehelpothdoruwegala

Our cooking

It was difficult to find a place for tenting

Painting on the sky

Our fire

Tomorrow target. Peak of Kehelpothdoruwegala

Night was so long as usual in other camping experience. We had to battle with cold and wind. We came out of the tent around 5am to set our fire again and had a cup of tea. We were able to reach the peak of the mountain around 7.30am. Surrounding view from top of the mountain was superb. Rest of Knuckles range could be seen here including Lakegala/Galtuna, Thelambugala (තෙලබුගල) and some other peaks much higher than Kehelpothdoruwa.

Early morning sky

Sun rise

Colorful

Good morning Yahangala

Lakegala/Galtuna

Thelambugala (1331m) in black star. Ununugala/Kuwenigala (උනුනුගල/කුවේණි ගල) in black arrow. It has a unique shape similar to Uthuwankanda. Lakegala/Galtuna in red arrow.

A peak higher than Kehelpothdoruwegala, covering with mist.

Yahangala is bathing with sunrays. Note the peaks we crossed to reach here.

Another prominent peak

Another prominent peak of knuckles. ? Garandigala (ගැරඩි ගල) according to inch map

This one is also higher than Kehelpothdoruwegala Mountain

Meemure area zoomed

The team…on the peak

We have planned to get down to Udagaldebokka village in our return journey. Then we searched to get down directly from Kehelpothdoruwa peak to Udagaldebokka village but attempt was unsuccessful due to acute angle of the mountain after one level. Only option was to follow our pathway to Velangolla pathana and then go through routine pathway.

Getting down directly to Udagaldebokka village was not easy. Then we gave up it.

Good bye Kehelpothdoruwegala

.	Getting down to Udagaldebokka by routine pathway

Foot pathway was scenic through the forest

No tired at all.

Notice at Yahangala estate

One and half years ago this foot pathway was not that much clear. Now it is clear.

First house we met at Udagaldebokka. Last year in our journey we had a warm welcome here by Bandara Mama and his wife. But now this house is abounded and they are living at faraway.

Unique appearance of Udagaldebokka village

Once we reached at Udagaldebokka we had a bath from a “Peella” (පීල්ල). Then we walked another 5-6km from this isolated village to reach Udaththawa to have a bus.

View from Udagaldebokka village. Note the appearance of Kehelpothdoruwegala is different now. A-Yahangala B- Kehelpothdoruwegala. C-Thelambugala.

Thanks for reading.