Sesserukanda / Res vehera kanda 350M

Year and Month	October, 2020
Number of Days	One
Crew	Chamara & My self
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Pajero
Activities	Archaeology, Photography
Weather	Sunny
Route	Chilaw -> Nikeweratiya -> Abanpola -> Hettuwewa -> Kathnoruwa -> Res vehera -> Returned via the same route
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Take a bottle of water Do not carry Plastic items (Minimize), Make sure you bring back everything you took. Get permission from the head priest if possible There is a foot path which goes uphill from the base of Res vehera statue but it disappears at a mid point rocky plain. Some places require 4WD or trishaws Wear clothes which cover your body
Author	Ashan
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During my previous visit to Sasseruwa the rainy weather conditions halted my uphill hike to a mid point so after a long pause it was time for completion. Since the sun was blazing during the mornings we decided to hike up early as possible so after reaching the ancient Budhdha statue we started hiking up along the adjoining foot path.

Metered map

path

Res vehera kanda as seen from Galgiriya

Res vehera kanda

famous res vehera statue

There is a clear foot path towards a lovely rocky plain and from here, one needs to pass a cave to reach another huge rocky area where the foot path vanishes to thin air.

first view point

Nikawewa side seen

Galagiriya

arrows were there up to a mid point

through the cave

along the rock

wow	crawling up

.	Kinihirakanda seen

the summit

huge obstacle

From the rocky plain the summit could be seen easily but to reach it from this point we had to tackle a difficult terrain with vines. Last bit of the hike was through short and dry forest cover. The summit consist of 3 huge boulders and after hanging around a bit we headed towards the northern edge where ruins of a pagoda could be seen.

last climb

summit

.	galagiriya, Degadathurawa and nikawewa kanda seen

Kalankuttiya wewa , mullanattuwa wewa,

towards Kekirawa, kala wewa , balalu wewa

gedaragala pathana, beliya kanda, menikdena, kadigala , arangala

giant

Attaragalla – Andiyagala

near by Kathnoruwa tank

summit pano

From the summit one could appreciate Nika wewa kanda, Galagiriya, Atharagalla kanda, Kinihira kanda, Ritigala, Degadathurawa, Kala wewa, Balalu wewa, many near by tanks, Gedaragala pathana, Menikdena, Kadigala, Arangala, Katnoruwa, Siyambalangamuwa tanks and towards meegelewa, etc

After a brief stay we rushed back to the temple to taste a yummy “Thembili” before departing towards our next destination. It only took around 3 hours for the whole exploration and if you are interested there is lot to see in this ancient site (refer my previous report ).