Meeriyathenna (2032m), Udaweriya peak (2069m) and Idalgashinna highest point (=1950m)

Meeriyathenna (මීරියතැන්න) and Udaweriya (උඩවේරිය) are two peaks situated closer to each other at the edge of Udaweriya estate. The credit of introduction of these two peaks, should go to Ranshan who has marked them as Udaweriya-1 and Udaweriya-2. When I carefully examine the metric map, it says one of this peak as Meeriyathenna. Further searching on maps revealed the lower peak has mentioned as Meeriyathenna in peakery.com. Therefore I would like to call them Meeriyathenna (2032m) and Udaweriya (2069m) rather than Udaweriya-1 and Udaweriya-2 as there are evidences.

Meeriyathenna and Udaweriya peaks in Google map.

Udaweriya and Meeriyathenna peaks in peakery.com map.

I have been at these two peaks as a part of trip to Hortain plains. It was a half a day hike to both peaks which have attitude gain around 100m from base.
We have reached Ohiya railway station by night mail. None of the shops at Ohiya was opened and we hang around the station for snaps. After having breakfast from Gamini Ayya’s shop we hired a three wheeler to Ohiya line houses. It was the same road to Hortain plains and then turned down to line houses. Weather was perfect and we got down at Ohiya line houses where two peaks were visible clearly. Even at the entrance of line houses was a nice view point towards southern plateau and Hortain plains.

Good morning Ohiya

Sun rise over rail trek…

Sun rise over rail trek…

Concrete road from Udaweriya to Ohiya line houses.

Known peaks: Wangedigala, Wangedikanda, Balathuduwa, Gommolliya and Adara Kanda

Enjoying the view….

Meeriyathenna peak

Towards Hortain Plains. Ohiya Line houses can be seen.

The estate road continues between two peaks. Meeriyathenna was the lowest and covered by tea bushes, situated more towards south. Udaweriya peak has clear estate road till the top. We first hiked to Meeriyathenna to enjoy the view. It was just 30 minutes hike to the top of Meeriyathenna. A shrine was placed on top of Meeriyathenna. This place provides amazing view towards southern plateau, Adara Kanda, Balathuduwa, Gommolliya, Wangedigala, Wangedikanda, Bambara kanda waterfall, Hortain plains. Samanala Wewa reservoir, Sabaragamuwa University, Kuragala and southern border of Sabaragamuwa hills were also seen. In a clear day you can see Udawalawa reservoir, Wellawaya area, Southern plateau and even sea as well.

At base of Meeriyathenna peak

Idalgashinna range and Nayabedda (behind)

Nayabedda with towers

Hidden

Heading to Meeriyathenna

Shrub area at the lower part

Breathtaking view…

Top of Meeriyathenna peak

Shrine….

Sabaragamuwa University and Samanala Wewa reservoir

Udawalawe reservoir and southern border of Sabaragamuwa Hills

Colombo-Badulla road gets bends

Can you notice upper part of Bambarakanda Falls?

Wangedigala and Wangedikanda

Ohiya Line houses

Ohiya line houses

Udaweriya tea factory

Rainbow over Hortain plains. Rainy clouds crowded over the hills to make the rainbow. This is a bad sign. We had torrential rain at HP when we camped there.

Enjoying the view

Hands stand….

Top of Meeriyathenna peak

Ohiya line houses

Whole Udaweriya in one picture

Let’s move to the structures of other side. Udaweriya peak was appeared right opposite to Meeriyathenna. Namunukula, Nayabedda, Haputhale town, Piduruthalagala range and some highest points of central were appeared on that side.

Giant of Uva province. Namunukula.

Towards highest peaks of central hills

Central Hills-Piduruthalagala range…

Rest of Uva

Udaweriya peak is seen to Meeriyathenna

Namunukula

Nayabedda

Rahangala and? Hakgala

Ohiya-Idalgashinna short cut…

Getting down….

Attitude at Meeriyathenna

After enjoying the view from Meeriyathenna peak, we have moved to the base of the mountain and followed the estate road towards Udaweriya peak. There was a clear path up to the top of Udaweriya peak. It was another 30minutes hike to the peak of Udaweriya Mountain. The view of Udaweriya Mountain is obstructed by the forest patch at the top. We had a same view like Meeriyathenna including more clear view of Haputhale, Idalgashinna, Beragala and Boralanda.

Heading to Udaweriya peak…

View of Meeriyathenna from Udaweriya peak

Bird’s eye

How southern plateau is seen over Meeriyathenna

Towards Wellawaya

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.	Gommolliya range and World’s end. Hawagala is seen behind.

Meeriyathenna and Wangedigala

Beragala and houses at Idalgashinna

Idalgashinna proper peak. Beragala is situated behind Idalgashinna peak.

Haputale town.

Boralanda

Attitude at Udaweriya

Idalgashinna proper peak (=1950m)

Idalgashinna is other railway station situated next to Ohiya. The peak with Pinus top is situated on the side of the railway line of Idalgashinna, is popular as Idalgashinna peak among travelers. It is just a small hike of 30min-1 hour. But actual peak of Idalgashinna range is situated somewhere away from Idalgashinna peak towards Ohiya station. When you carefully look at the terrain map, highest peak of Idalgashinna can be noted.

True peak and famous peak in map

Harinda was the one who pointed out this fact for me and he has been at this place with Sri few months ago. They have started from Idalgashinna railway station and trekked to the highest point of the range. Then they have descend to Ohiya line houses. There was a foot pathway from Idalgashinna to Ohiya which was named as short cut from Idalgashinna to Ohiya. Hari and Sri followed this route in their trekking.
Idalgashinna true peak can be seen from Meeriyathenna and Udaweriya peaks. I have planned to do this trek in other way round. (Ohiya line houses to Idalgashinna proper peak).

Sumedha has joined with me for this journey as his first trip with me. I followed the same plan as previous trip. The short cut follows the border of the Udaweriya peak first and vanished through tea bushes. We have noted another set of line houses along this foot path. These houses were abounded few years ago due to threaten of landslides.

Beginning of the short cut. This is situated between Udaweriya and Meeriyathenna peaks. Actually it is an estate road.

Idalgashinna true peak is seen to Upper Ohiya line houses. Note it has two separate peaks.

Close up of Idalgashinna proper Mountain. You can easily work out of the path to the top.

Abounded line houses.

Actually estate road has become a foot path.

Invasive plant. Yoda Nidikumba (Mimosa Pigra)

Remaining land marks of the estate road.

The tea estate was also abounded as the line houses were removed and foot pathway got vanished after a time. We have entered the forest patch where a fainted foot pathway was descend at the edge of the mountain. Here I have disturbed Hari for several times to clarify the path. (Actually they had a clear foot path). At the end of the descend we have reached the base of Idalgashinna true peak where Pinus patch started with an opening area. Compared to few months ago (according to Harinda’s experience) foot pathway was not clear as large trees were cut by someone.

Get into the wild…..

Signs of human visits….

Kuragala and Udawalawa reservoir

Sooriyakanda

Reached the base of Idalgashinna true peak

Here onwards the direction was straight forwards along the ridge through the Pinus forest. I had the same view towards Sabaragamuwa on my ascend. Especially I was able to identify Pettigala and Sooriyakanda.

Along the ridge of Idalgashinna true peak.

Along the ridge of Idalgashinna true peak.

He is happy with his first hike with me.

I had same view like Meeriyathenna.

Meeriyathenna (left) and Udaweriya (right)

In between two peaks….Upper Ohiya line houses.

Hidden fall

The edge of the mountain was a nice view point

The path we passed

Some more to the peak….

Is this Kiribathgala??

Pettigala with it’s awkward appearance

Samonala Wewa reservoir

Highest waterfall of SL

Reaching the top of Idalgashinna true peak

Idalgashinna true peak has a flat summit with nice view. We have noted signs of camping there. You can have the view towards Idalgashinna village, popular Idalgashinna peak, Beragala, Haputhale, Nayabedda and Boralanda areas. Other peak of this mountain is situated about 100-200m away from this point and seems about 10-20m higher than this point, but has no view point. As rainy clouds gathered around the mountain we rushed to leave the place without going to other peak. It was around 45minutes hike from the base of the mountain to the top.

The flat summit of Idalgashinna true peak

People have camped there

Top of Idalgashinna true peak

Towards Ohiya

Railway line and estate road

Idalgashinna Tea factory

Towards Idalgashinna station

Towards Ohiya and Boralanda.

Beragala and Idalgashinna famous peak

The flag on top…..

Two men team on top of Idalgashinna proper peak

When we were at top. Here I have marked the highest point as Idalgashinna highest point.

When we were at top….. Please not actual highest point has no view point. Covered with forest.

Next part of the journey was to descend to Idalgashinna station. There was a fairly clear foot path from the base of the mountain through Pinus patch. Mist has mixed with Pinus to record beautiful moments in my camera. We have met a group of foreigners with a guide following the foot path to Idalgashinna. Later we reached the tea estate and descend to the railway track. It was about 1-1.5km walk along the rail track to reach Idalgashinna station.
We had a cup of tea from Idalgashinna to wind up the journey.

Mist with Pinus….

Following the foot pathway

Clear foot path

Clear foot path

Beautiful back ground for captures

Foreigners at estate-forest border

Descend along the tea estate

Famous peak of Idalgashinna

Line houses at Idalgashinna

Might be seasonal….

New Sleepers….

End of the journey….

Destination….

Thanks for reading….