| Year and Month | October, 2013 (16,17,18) |
| Number of Days | Three Day Trip |
| Crew |
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| Accommodation |
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| Transport |
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| Activities | Hiking & Trekking, Photography, Waterfall hunting, Camping |
| Weather | Every morning was sunny. But after 4pm heavy rain continued at least 5-6 hours. |
| Route |
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| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Author | upul nandana |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
The idea of seeking knuckles like a beautiful dream of a seeker is born in my heart before long time ago. The end of my interest is run out of this journey with beautiful memories.
I give my special thank to “Lakdasun” because of the help for materialize my dream.
We start our journey from Kurunegala to Kandy bus at about 4.00am and we reached Katugasthota about 5.15am. From there we went to Mathale at 6.30am by Anuradhapura bus. We took breakfast from Mathale & buy some other goods which we need to our journey from Mathale.
There is an only one bus from Mathale to Pitawala and also it is run twice a day. So if you use public transport, you must pay your attention well. The first turn of this bus is to be at 7.30am (You can confirm whether the bus is available or not. CTB Depot Mathale 066222228)
 Our gang at Mathale bus stand |
But the bus was late from one hour on that day. So we were left from Mathale at 8.30am. After 2 hours we get down from Pitawala junction at about 10.30am.
Mr wasantha who found as our guide was send a 3wheel to pitawala for us to his home Atanwala. Our guide Mr. Basnayaka gathered us from Atanwala and it was about 11.00am when we start our journey.
 At the pitawala junction |
 Just click |
We met “Wedda peni Ella” after 500m ahead and we stayed there a moment & then start our hike again by crossing “Thelgamu oya”.
 Manigala mountain with a prosperous faddy field |
 Beauty of the “Wedda peni Ella” |
After another 500m along we met a very prosperous paddy field of beautiful “Atanwala” village boundary. We were not forgetting to visit a villager’s house of Atanwala. We were very lucky to get their treats & hospitality also. One old woman in this village talked with us loyally. It was touched our heart toughly, which she said “ගල් ගෙඩි උඩ පන අරින්නේ නැතුව පරිස්සමෙන් ගිහින් වාරෙන් මයේ පුතාල…”
It was a great pleasure which talk with like that much unfeigned people and we said them to good bye & started our way again.
 Prosperous paddy field in “Atanwala” |
 Another side of beautiful village |
 Feel with their hospitality |
 Authenticity |
 Loyal chat with innocent villagers |
Our next target is the Walpolamulla village which we entered to the jungle from right side of the Manigala range. Though the Walpolamulla is considered as a village, there was no any sign of human being. It was about 4km from Atanwala to Walpolamulla and that way also very hard. After passed on another few kilometers we could see the faces of elephants on the path. In here we weren’t forget to put some crackers to informed elephants which our arrival. Specially our guide said that “මහත්තයලා පය ඉක්මන් කලොත් හොදයි…”
 A visitor who met in transit |
 Get the blessing of god… |
 A moment of catching the beauty |
 A moment of catching the beauty |
 Another angle of “Manigala mountain’ |
We reached to Walpolamulla after 1.5 hour tired journey. There was a one dilapidated house & others seem to be as ruins. There was a paddy field beyond that. At very first time the travel head of “Kalupahana Kanda” was seen here and also there was a very beautiful surrounding. We could see the “Thunhisgala” mountain range & other mountain ranges were in back side to the “Kalupahana range”.
 Finding various angles |
 Walk along the paradise… |
 The first scene of the destination |
 Decayed cottage in “Walpolamulla” |
 “Thunhisgala” mountain standing as a hulk. |
 While small shooting… |
We spend some time there and started our journey again with a new inspiration and power. The way of this time was across a dip. The main problem was the path was very slippery due to the dry leaves. After 1 hour of hard journey we managed to finish our mountain dip.
Then we met a stream and we decided to have our lunch there. We rest for some time and started to walk again around 3.00pm. Our root was across a mountain range with a narrow ascending by that. We could reach to “Nugathalawa” at about 4.pm. It was a narrow dip from “Nugathalawa” to “Weddahena”. We faced an unexpected heavy rain and it destroyed all our plans. When reach to “Weddahena” we were tired and it was about 7.00pm.
Some members of our gang prepared dinner and others went to find some fire wood for bonfire. We faced some other problem as we had limited water for all uses at that time. After that the dinner was swallowed by us very eagerly and that was a very long and acrimonious night for us. Before the sleep we had to dry our wring wet clothes by using bonfire. Then we got asleep. All the members were affected by the cruel chigoes attacks by that morning.
 Start withdrawing from “Wlpolamulla” |
 “Nugathalawa” (This a better place for camping) |
 First day night bonfire… (That was a long and acrimonious night with a chigoes attack and effluvium of bats) |
 With the intention of seeking beautiful dreams… |
Second day
We started our second day hike at about 6.00am by adding sweet memories of earlier night to memory book. But we had to face an unexpected leaching force early morning because of their inspiration with the last night rain. We could reach to “Puswelketiya oya” after quarter an hour journey and first of all we got a long bath as our wish. We returned that place at 7.30am after having the breakfast also. We walked along nearly for two hours with the new inspiration and the road was across a valley.
 Amazing beauty… |
 Feeling the cool of nature… |
 One of precious gift by mother nature… |
 What a great beauty… |
 The great morning in Knuckles |
 The hidden beauty of nature |
 Another angle… |
 Kingdom of bumble-bees |
When we entered to “Kalu ganga” and the time was 9.30am by that. We met the first two waterfalls away from few kilometers. It’s a very beautiful waterfall with a tiny pool. We stayed there at a moment and feel its beauty as our wish and again started our journey.
 The beauty of the first mermaid which we met |
 Woww..!!! |
 Another angle of first water fall |
 The second mermaid (Though the height is less, it’s spread in wide area) |
 The tastiest water drop I had ever drunk… |
 Along the dream… |
The path of the journey was away from the river by that and we had to climb the mountain across a narrow ascent. We had to go out from our way in order to watch the water fall, so we kept aside our baggage and get relax to feel that beauty of the water fall. 3,4,5 water falls were very close to each other.
 Amazing third mermaid (This falls to a deep brae, so it’s very dangerous to reach there.) |
 Zoom view of in third mermaid |
 Fourth mermaid (This situated in over the third fall and also there is a deep pool) |
 Can you persecute to mother nature furthermore..? |
 Sign of danger!!! |
Again we entered to our way and came to “Kalu ganga” across a tough dip. We fed up too much by that, so we had got the lunch there and get a rest. Again we started to walk at about 12.30pm and then we entered to “Kalu pahana kanda”. It is also very difficult track and crossing this track also hard. It was risky because of the slipperiness of the path. We were affected cruel attacks of leaches because of the wet surrounding. This was much of snakes and but we could safe because of wearing safety boot.
 Climbing the “Kalupahana mountain”. It’s a very fed up moment |
 Too…difficult (The road was tough & slippery) |
 Bleeder is not give up his effort yet |
 Though the size is small, the beauty is a lot… |
We reached to “Duwili Ella plain” after 2.5 hours difficult journey. All of us got a good rest there. According to our guide reached our destination by that. After another half hour it was full filled our beautiful dream. We celebrated our victory with showering from the water fall.
 The moment after materialized the dream… |
 Overflow the joy & happiness |
 Result of successful team effort |
 Beautiful “Knuckles Queen” with the angle of cave |
We collected fire woods before getting dusk with the experience of early day. We spend second day night at “Duvili Ella cave” and it was an unforgettable night in our lives. The rain which started evening was continued till mid night. The water amount of the water fall is increased by that and it was a fresh experience also.
 The beauty of Knuckles Queen |
 Another angle… |
 Don’t jealousy, feel the beauty and try reach it sooner or later … |
 Another angle from the cave |
 How do you feel..? |
 Yes I know it’s an amazing… |
 Extremely feel…preserve for next generation |
 As a victorious gang from the trail head. |
 Simple way… |
 Having a long bath as our wish… |
 So cool… |
 Beautiful night in “Knuckles” with moon bath |
Third Day
We ready to go back before sun rising to the Knuckles. It seems to be very unlike from our gang because of the departure of Knuckles. However we had reached to “Rambukoluwa” before the dusk. So we left there with sad moods.
 Is she the mermaid whom we seek? |
 Zoomed click of “Riveston peak” |
 Another beautiful morning of “Knuckles” |
 Beauty of nature |
 Just click… |
 Zoom view on “Karagahathenna transmission station” |
 Deep in “Knuckles” range |
 “Duvili Ella” with the cave (We spend second day night in this cave) |
 Finally we seek our “Queen mermaid” |
 Actually It’s amazing… |
 The cave is beyond the water fall (The cave which we spend second day night) |
 The cave is beyond the water fall (The cave which we spend second day night) |
 Dedication for one intention… |
We hurried to “Pusselketiya” with watching other missed water falls in second day at it was at 12.00pm by that. Then we had our lunch & started our walk again and it was 1.00pm. We selected “Rambukoluwa” way for our return. Because that way was easier than “Atanwala”.
 Another beautiful mermaid (Our gang named this one as “Padipela Ella” because of the position) |
 What a great beauty like a sari… |
 It fall down to deep pool |
 Foaming water like milk |
 Sixth mermaid… |
 Creating fifth water fall… |
 It has a great bio diversity |
 Fantasy of mother nature… |
 While preparing lunch in middle of the “Puswel ketiya oya” |
 We are also good chefs… |
 Mmm… Lunch is ready… |
The way was parallel to the “Kalu ganga” & it was across a valley. This was a great consolation for our fed up gang.
We could see other beautiful fall which “Deganthuduwa Ella” after a 1km along the way. At very first time, the “Aswedduma paddy field in “Rambukoluwa” village had seen after another 2km. It was little rain by that & it was quickening our walk.
 Beautiful “Deganthuduwa fall” |
 Our gang entered to “Rmbukoluwa” way… |
 Another little water fall (You can see this along the “Rambukoluwa” way) |
It was seems to be signs of human settlement so far ahead. There was a little bit narrow path & the evidence to people walking. We reached to the boundary of “Rambukoluwa” village at about 4.00pm & we were completely wringing wet by that.
 Amazing view of “Kalu gaga” (This join with “Mahaweli” river which starting from “knuckles” range with feeding “Ambangaga”) |
 View of “Aswedduma” paddy field in “Rambukoluwa” (The first sign of human settlement after 3 days) |
 Quick steps towards “Rambukoluwa” |
“Rambukoluwa” is another beautiful isolated village in Knuckles range like “Atanwela”. The people who living there is very poor by physical properties but they have high level of human qualities than us. We stayed a moment in their house & came back with finish of successful & adventuresome journey in whole 3 days nearly 30km walking.
But very special thing is by that also our gang was in high mental & physical health even with many challenges.
 Dilapidated house in “Rambukoluwa” |
 Our 3 day adventure journey finished like this… |
We came from “Rambukoluwa” to “Pallegama” by hired taxi & we could catch the “Dambulla” bus at about 6.30pm. We could reach to “Dambulla” at 8.30pm. When we reached our home the midnight was passed also.
If I had not a gang shoulder to shoulder with me like that & also our guide Mr basnayake, I never get experience as much as beautiful like this.