Year and Month | Octomber 01st 2017 |
Number of Days | One |
Crew | 04-Anupama, Keshan, Nuwan and my self |
Accommodation | N/A |
Transport | Bus and hiking |
Activities | Hiking, Sightseeing and photography |
Weather | Intermittent drizzling |
Route | Colombo->Mawanella->Dippitiya->Hulangkapolla->Kodigala ->Back in same route |
Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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Related Resources | N/A |
Author | Niroshan |
Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
Samasara Kanda (සාමසර කන්ද) is situated at Aranayaka area and became famous since last year May due to fatal mud slides. It cost number of lives and displaced families. Samasara Kanda is a range and this landslide happened at one area only.
This unfortunate mountain is related to Rama-Rawana legend. Prince Rama has flown his arrow to King Rawana from top of this mountain in historical war. Therefore it is called Rama Sara (රාම සර), now became Samasara.
It is a mountain range and it has a proper peak-Samasara peak and accessory peak called Kodigala. Kodigala is about 1040m in height and famous trekking peak among villagers. They have put a flag on top this peak giving the name called Kodigala.
I have noticed Kodigala at my journey to Sandaraja Wana Arana. It stands with Samasara peak and sharp rock called Kukulpitiya Kanda. The flag has been placed at the view point. I decided to conquer this mountain in next week and clarified the route from villagers.
We got the first bus to Hulangkapolla-හුලo කපොල්ල (actually Ganthuna bus at 7.05am) from Mawanella and reached there by 8am. Anupama has joined with us there by his bike. There was a road towards this peak from Hulangkapolla and it is a mortable road. Tea estates occupied a major part of Samasara range. We walked along this road and got a left hand turn towards Kodigala (This was just before road side “Peela”). The foot pathway winds through tea bushes and disappeared when tea estate was over.
The climate was superb when we reached Mawanella but changed to gloomy then started to rain. We halted our hike and got an interval at a boutique. That stop was worth as I could get more information about mountain from boutique owner while having a cup of tea.
We had to restart the journey with misty weather though rain stopped. Leeches were active following rain. At the end of the tea estate forest patch started. There was no proper foot path at this forest patch and we had to tackle thorny bushes as well. It was the most difficult part of the journey and we ended up at slab rock on top of Kodigala. Surprisingly blue sky appeared when we reached the peak.
![]() Samasara peak and Kodigala peak |
![]() Back to memories. This was captured when I was going to Sandaraja. It shows how Kodigala situated with Samasara Kanda. |
![]() Zoomed view of Kodigala. |
![]() View of Kodigala, Samasara range and Kukulpitiya Mountain in one raw. This was captured when we descend from Sandaraja Wana Arana to Sakkarakanda |
![]() Left turn from the gravel road |
![]() There was a Pinus patch between lower part and upper part of tea estate |
![]() Starting of a misty day… |
![]() Foot pathway… |
![]() Time for pose… |
![]() Climbing up… |
![]() Reaching the upper tea patch. Actually these tea patches belong to villagers |
![]() Along the tea estate |
![]() Mist…. |
![]() Getting bit clear… |
![]() Tent of villagers who lost houses in mud slides |
![]() Get into forest patch…. |
![]() It showed nobody has visited there for months |
![]() Bushes are above his height… |
![]() Need a help to get on to the rock… |
![]() Walking along the rock till reach the flag point |
![]() Top of the mountain was a nice long rock |
![]() Reaching the flag point…Superb view point |
Kodigala is a superb view point with 270 degree view. One side of the view is obstructed with Samasara Kanda. We have observed Dolosbage range, Lepalawa Mountain, Dotel Oya area, Sandaraja Wana Arana, Moratiya Estate Falls, Asupini Falls, Ambuluwawa, Kukulpitiya Kanda, Road to Ganthuna, Dewanagala, Rahala Kanda etc.
Weather was not kind too much to enjoy the surrounding view. We had another pouring rain on top of the peak and waited under umbrellas. Return journey took only about 45minutes to reach Hulangkapolla.
![]() Samasara Mountain-proper peak. Seems it is 40-60m higher than Kodigala. But both are in one range. Might be the target of next week.. |
![]() Kukulpitiya Kanda…This rock is sloped in three directions…added to TO DO List |
![]() Zoomed view of Kukulpitiya Kanda… |
![]() Ambuluwawa… |
![]() Asupini Ella and Rahala Kanda on other side |
![]() Dolosbage range |
![]() Dolosbage range |
![]() Nearby mountain…This is not a landslide. It is a geographical variation |
![]() Road to Ganthuna |
![]() Paddies…. |
![]() Dotel Oya area, Road to Dotel oya and Moratiya estate falls |
![]() Winding roads at Ambala Kanda and Mount Kamel tea factory |
![]() Dotel Oya tea factory |
![]() Star shows the approximate area of Sandaraja Wana Arana |
![]() Where we came…. |
![]() Team on top of Kodigala |
![]() Tents of refugees… still some people live there even after one year. |
![]() On top of Kodigala…As usual I am missing |
![]() I was not fortunate to have clear back ground for my picture |
![]() Samasara Kanda can be climbed in this way. |
![]() Return journey |
![]() Kodigala is covered with mist |
![]() Misty peak… |
![]() Finishing… |
![]() Hiking map at the end |
Thank you