| 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