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Follow the path of Udaya Dewi Train- Rail walk from Maho to Habarana-Part-1

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Year and Month Day 01-Maho to Moragollagama-2017 Octomber 14th
Day 02-Moragollagama to Awukana-2017 Octomber 18th
Number of Days  Two
Crew  Nuwan and Myself
Accommodation  Not applicable
Transport By train, foot and bus
Activities Rail walk, Photography and sight seeing
Weather Day 01-Intermittent showers
Day 02- Brilliant weather
Route Day 01-Colombo->Maho-> Konwewa->Moragollagama
Day 02-Colombo->Awukana->Negama->Siyambalangamuwa->Moragollagama->Kurunegala->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark Maho to Moragollagama (18.5km)
1. Easiest way to reach Maho junction is travelling by the train. The first train reaches Maho junction is Udayadevi (6.05am from Colombo fort). This is called Udaya Dewi-up and the other train from Batticalo is called Udaya Dewi-down.
2. There is a slow train starts from Maho at 6am. Maho junction can be reached by bus as well. You can get Colombo-Anuradhapura (57) bus and get down at Daladagama. It is about few kilometers from there to Maho.
3. This is again one of least busy railway lines. We came across only one train apart from the one we came from Colombo fort. But there are oil trains and cargo trains.
4. Walking along the railway line is prohibited in law. To refresh this law, railway department arrest few people once a year and produce them to court. According to law only tea estate workers can go along railway line to reach their estates.
5. Please study a bit about surrounding of railway track. It will make the journey interest.
6. Beware of wild elephants.
7. Carry a water bottle to fill from stations. I have noticed all stations have drinkable water.
8. Believe me it is a paradise of butterflies. First day I didn’t spend time to capture them. Second day was the day of butterflies.
9. Last bus from Moragollagama to Kurunegala is at 5pm. Moragollagama is a small town with few boutiques.Moragollagama to Awukana (16.3km)
1. Watching and capturing butterflies need more patience. We tried to do it as much as possible during the rail hike of this part.
2. There was about 2km from railway line to Maha Siyambalangamuwa Lake. It was an extracurricular activity.
3. I am not a butterfly lover and not familiar with their names. Butterflies were identified according to “A pocket guide to the Butterflies of Sri Lanka.” By Himesh Jayasinghe, Chamitha De Alwis and Sarath s. Rajapakshe
Related Resources A pocket guide to the Butterflies of Sri Lanka.” By Himesh Jayasinghe, Chamitha De Alwis and Sarath s. Rajapakshe
Author Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

Udaya Dewi (උදය දේවි) is the name of Colombo-Batticalo train which leaves Colombo fort by 6.05am. Maho junction (මහව හන්දිය) is the place where northern line and eastern lines separate. Express Udaya Dewi gets a rest at Maho junction and train engine is attached to the other end of the train. Hereafter Udaya Dewi changes the track to eastern line.
This was one of long awaited rail walks to be done at dry zone along Batticalo line.
I wanted to do the rail walk from Maho junction to Habarana as forest coverage of this section is satisfactory. Though I have done this stretch as four parts in different directions, I would like to write as one report consists of two parts.
Udaya Dewi usually doesn’t get delay and reaches Maho junction by 8.55am. Nuwan and myself got down at Maho junction waited till train pass us. It is interesting to watch where three railway lines get connected at Maho. Maho has a fuel station as well. People gathered at tail end of the train to watch how the engine is attached with the main body. Once the train left we started the journey.

Maho junction

Waiting to see how engine is being attached

Must be a safest joint

Maho junction station

My way of showing Maho junction

Fuel station situated at Maho station

Maho to Moragollagama (18.5km)
After passing Maho station we came across Maduragama Lake (මදුරගම වැව). It seems an abounded lake situated somewhat closer to the railway line. Yapahuwa (යාපහුව) rock has risen from my right hand side after passing Maho station. Then we crossed the road to Yapahuwa and halted at Yapahuwa rail stop. We got a rest at Yapahuwa rail stop and Batticalo-Colombo morning train passed us there. Then railway line has passed a rocky mountain area and later I found the name of this interesting mountain as Diyabettekanda-දියබෙත්තේකන්ද (256m) in the map. Konwewa (කෝන්වැව) substation was found after Yapahuwa. A torrent rain was started when we passed Konwewa station and we had to stay at a”Pela“of a chenna. Another rocky mountain called Nikawewa (නිකවැව) Mountain was seen when we passed Ranmukgama (රන්මුක්ගම) substation. Nikawewa isolated mountain was seen till we reached Moragollagama (මොරගොල්ලාගම) station. It was around 4.45pm and we refreshed at station to get the last bus at 5pm to Kurunegala from Moragollagama station.

Maduragama Lake is situated closer to Maho town.

Most of the time rail line is margined by bushes. Therefore railway workers have to clear these bushes to keep the rail track margin.

You can see straight railway lines only in dry zone.

Getting a bend.

This speed limit boards were seen at most places.

Yapahuwa Rock

Yapahuwa rail halt. Only “Thoppiya”-තොප්පිය stops here. Thoppiya is the nick name given for slow train travelled from Maho to Batticalo as it stops everywhere.

Nice railway crossing gate hut. Another interesting point was finding railway crossing gate huts at each and every main crossing. They were different.

CTB bus is crossing the railway line…

Morning Batticalo train passes Yapahuwa station. There is a train free period of 6/7 hours following this.

Nuwan is getting ready with camera

Proposed site for deviation to northern line. But this proposal has been abounded.

Passing 142Km post.

එක යායට

Nice bend….

This interesting spiky mountain is mentioned as Diyabettekanda (256m) in map. But when I asked from some villagers in Moragollagama they said it’s name is Kaikawala.

Whole range of Diyabettekanda. This spiky rock is best seen to top of Yapahuwa.

Close up…

Another railway crossing

At ground level

වරා

Another small rock situated at side of railway line.

Konwewa sub railway station

Passing Konwewa railway station

Common place for wild elephants

Happy face of my travel companion…

Another railway crossing gate hut. This is Nikawaretiya-Moragollagama-Siyambalangamuwa road.

Foot pathway to a house

Wooden railway slippers are replaced with concrete slippers.

Crossing a railway bridge

Ranmukgama substation. Nikawewa Mountain is seen behind the station. Photo credit goes to Nuwan.

Ranmukgama Lake. This is also seen as abundant lake situated closer to railway line. Photo credit goes to Nuwan.

Passing another railway crossing gate hut. Photo credit goes to Nuwan.

Nikawewa Mountain is seen on left hand side of the railway line. Photo credit goes to Nuwan.

Nikawewa Mountain. Photo credit goes to Nuwan.

Nikawewa Mountain

Reached Moragollagama station. End of the day. Photo credit goes to Nuwan.

Work out

Moragollagama to Awkana (16.3km)
Though it is mentioned as Moragollagama to Awkana, actually I did it in other way due to transportation difficulty in the evening.
We arrived at Awkana railway station by Udaya Dewi train around 10.45am. The train was about 30minutes behind it’s schedule and Udaya Dewi-down also passed Awkana station few minutes later. Awkana (අවුකන) was a small town and famous Awkana Buddha statue is situated in walking distance from the station. After packing with some food stuff we started the rail walk to Moragollagama.
There were plenty of butterflies gathered around wild flowers on either side of railway line. We spent much time to capture them. Negama (නෑගම) was the first substation came across following Awkana. This section was fairly crowded with houses on either side of the railway line. Wild elephant board was noticed after Negama substation. Soon after we entered the forest reserve called Kahala-Pallekele (කාහල-පල්ලේකැලේ) and railway line goes through the forest section. There was a high possibility of coming across wild elephants and we have noticed old elephant dung at rail way line. At the end of Kahala-Pallekele forest reserve we crossed a cart road where left hand side road ends at Maha-Siyambalangamuwa (මහ සියඹලන්ගමුව වැව) Lake. We spent a time to visit Maha-Siyambalangamuwa Lake as well. Galgiriya mountain (ගල්ගිරිය කන්ද)-longest isolated mountain was seen on right hand side of the road. It brought my memory back to 3 years where I noticed this beautiful mountain while travelling to Polonnaruwa by Udaya Dewi train. It made me to go there and conquer Galgiriya Mountain. Next station was Siyambalangamuwa (සියඹලන්ගමුව) substation where we had a small break. We wanted to walk next few kilometers to finish the day without having a break as it was almost 3pm.
Moragollagama (මොරගොල්ලාගම) was the destination for the day and we were lucky enough to capture a cement train which passed Moragollagama station.

Here we came to Awkana station

Udaya Dewi-down is passing Awkana station

Class M4 755 engine is named as Mahaweli

Udaya Dewi-down is crossing Andarawewa-Balaluwewa road

Here she goes

Train has come to it’s normal speed limit after passing the station

By road is crossing railway line

It might be wild flower season

Dance with wind

Dance with wind

Sometimes we walked on side of the railway line

Foot path on side of the railway line

Slipper train is passing us…

A kilometer post

We have reached Negama substation

Nice seat

It crosses Galnewa road

This building was found closer to Negama substation and built in 1946. Don’t know how it relates.

Dried completely

Entering to Elephant kingdom

Elephant fence

Werunkulama Tank (වෙරුන්කුලම වැව)

Passing Kahala-Pallekele forest reserve

Passing Kahala-Pallekele forest reserve

Passing Kahala-Pallekele forest reserve

Elephant dung

Passing Kahala-Pallekele forest reserve

End of Kahala-Pallekele forest reserve. This road directs to Maha Siyambalangamuwa Lake

Galgiriya mountain-Longest isolated mountain of SL

Details of Maha Siyambalangamuwa Lake

Maha Siyambalangamuwa Lake

Maha Siyambalangamuwa Lake

Only picture of mine captured in this trip

Peacock-another common finding of dry zone rail walk

Reaching Siyambalangamuwa substation

Rusted and abounded

It was popular finding beyond Habarana, but less number of turtles here

Weather was perfect for a rail walk

100th mile post of Batticalo line

Crossing lines closer to Moragollagama station

We came to the destination

Last train for the day-cement train travelling from Trinco

Work out

Butterflies I came across

Catospsila Pomona / Lemon Emigrant

Zizula Hylax / Tiny Glass Blue

Junonia Lemonias / Lemon Pansy

Not sure with the name

Junonia almana / Peacock Pansy

They love these wild flowers

Ideopsis smiilis / Blue glassy Tiger

Not sure with the name

Euploea core/ Common crow

Euploea core/ Common crow

Junonia almana / Peacock Pansy

Appias Galene / Lesser Albatross

Delias Eucharis / Jezebel

Hypolimnas Misippus / Denaid Eggfly

Delias Eucharis / Jezebel

Tirumala limniace / Blue Tiger

Junonia Lemonias / Lemon Pansy

Vpthima ceylonica / white four-ring

Not sure with the name

? Rathinda amor / Monkey puzzle

Spindasis vulcanus / common silver line

Don’t know the name

Eurema brigitta / Small Grass Yellow

Not sure with the name

Pachilopta hector / Crimson Rose

Pachilopta hector / Crimson Rose

Thanks for rerading


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