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Devil's Staircase

2014-04-20T23:46:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Kalupahana > Turn to Bambarakanda falls road and it will connect to the devil's staircase.

This is a rough track and can be tackled with a good off road four wheel vehicle and a good driver. But if you want to fee the nature go on foot and use shortcuts. This route connects Kalupahana to a village named Udaweriya. It is a beautiful place and if you can find accommodation stay a night there. This village will remind you Shire in LOTR. From Udaweriya you can go to Ohiya or Idalgashinna railway stations.

Around :

Bambarakanda Falls
Summit level

Kandalama Wewa

2012-04-22T22:42:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Dambulla > take Dambulla Kandalam road and after few kilometers you will see the wewa

Above pics were taken from the shore of Kandalama wewa. This is a really beautiful place and if you are seeking a great scenery visit here in the morning or evening. this place is also a very good spot for bird watching. And from here you will be able to see Sigiriya and Pidurangala.

Around Kandalama:

Dambulla temple
Sigiriya
Pidurangala

Richmond Castle- Kalutara

2012-03-04T12:47:00.001+05:30

Colombo > Kalutara > Turn to the riverside road from Kalutara junction and go along that road until you meet the castle in left hand side.

This castle was built by the Padikara Mudali Nanayakkara Rajawasala Appuhamilage Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena in the colonial era. This vast mansion is situated in the southern bank of Kalu Ganga river, in the middle of a 42 acre estate. This castle is a combination of Indian and British colonial architecture. It is said that Mudali built this castle according to a plans of a castle of a Indian Maha Raja. At the present this castle belongs to national trustee.

Waterfalls in Bambarella- Kalupahana

2012-02-09T00:44:00.001+05:30

Colombo > Kandy > Wattegama > Bambarella > From Bambarella turn to Ratnagiriya Tea estate and at the of the estate there is a track in to jungle which leads to Kalupahana and from there to Meemure.

Above photos were taken from the Bambarella to Meemure track which goes through the jungle around Kalupahana Mountain. About 15 years ago Kalupahana area was a village with cardamom plantations. After forest department acquired the land and made the area a forest resvior, people were sent away from Kalupahana area and now jungle rules over the cardamom plantations. This is a brutal track and it's very hard to find the correct path when you are in jungle because it's full of tracks here and there which goes to various abandoned cottages in the jungle. Above all, 2 minutes of carelessness will end you up in a middle of an abandoned cardamom plantation. So if you hope to hike here take a experienced guide with you. And remember this is the capital of leech kingdom.

Around Bambarella :

Meemure and other traditional villages
Knuckles Mountain range

See more:

Oil Farm -Trincomalee

2012-01-24T22:10:00.003+05:30

Colombo > Habarana > Trincomalee > Near Trincomalee Air Force campsite

After the fall of Singapore,Trincomalee became a very important naval base in Indian Ocean for British.So they built a farm of oil tanks using metal for store their oil.They used Trincomalee harbour to pump oil to the oil farm which was well hidden in the jungle.They could avoid many Japanese air raids. But one Japaneese pilot managed to destroy a oil tank and he sacrificed himself doing that.You need special permission to enter to this oil farm.

Adam's peak through Mooray estate

2012-01-22T23:51:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Avissawella > Ginigathhena > Norton Bridge > Norton Bridge - Maskeliya road > turn towords Nallathanniya and turn to Mooray estate few kilometers before Nallathnniya

This is the shortest and easiest way to reach top of the Adam's peak.Public transport is available up to Mooray estate and you have to walk four kilometres to end of the estate.A clear footpath begins at the end of Mooray estate.On the way you have to pass a vast plain area called "Sandagalathenna" .It is a suitable place to have a cup of tea .This route join with Hatton,Nallatanniya route on "Mahagiri Dambaya".

Fishing Huts - Maskeliya

2012-01-19T00:40:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Avissawella > Ginigathhena > Norton Bridge > Norton Bridge - Maskeliya road > turn towords Nallathanniya and turn to Moray estate few kilometers before Nallathnniya

Fishing Huts is pair of log cabins situated on the shores of Baththulu Oya at the edge of Moray estate, Maskeliya. Which means it is at the foot of Adam's Peak. Fishing Huts is a very nice place to relax and forget the busy life. In the morning you can wake up with the sight of Adam's Peak covered with morning sun light. There are few waterfalls near Fishing Huts and you have to take a few hours walk to see them or visit Adam's peak.

See more :

Adam's Peak

Around Fishing Huts :

Adam's peak
Baththulu Oya and few waterfalls

Kinchigune Temple

2012-01-14T16:11:00.001+05:30

Colombo > Avissawella > Rathnapura > Balangoda > Pambahinna > Turn right and then turn right again in Y junction

Kinchigune is an old village situated in Sabaragamuwa district.Actually Kinchigune village is not in existence anymore as it is submerged in the Samanalawewa Reservoir itself,leaving only a handful of original houses.Kinchigune village and Kinchigune temple appear through bottom of the Samanalawewa Reservoir on some dry months in calender.You can also see the last part of Belihuloya and Hirikatuoya.

Baker's Falls

2012-01-13T22:21:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Nuwaraeliya > Pattipola > Mahaeliyathenna or Colombo > Haputale(A4) >Boralanda > Ohiya > Mahaeliyathenna

Baker's Falls in Mahaeliyathenna(Horton Plains) in Nuwaraeliya.The height of the Baker's Falls (Gonagala Falls) is 20 metres.Baker's falls derived its name from Sir Samuel Baker,a British explorer who discovered Horton plains and this waterfall in 1845.

See more :

Baker's Falls

Knuckles nature trail

2012-01-11T19:51:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Kandy > Katugastota > Bambarella > Enter the nature trail from Bambarella and finish it from Thangappuwa

Above photos were taken from the famous Knucles nature trail. It is about 14 km long if you are going only to the first peak and avoids Alu Lena. Hiking here is a really good outdoor experience. If you are going to visit here in the rainy season, remember it's the capitol of leech kingdom.

See more :

Knuckles Mountain Range

Around Knucles nature trail :

Corbets Gap
Nitro Cave

Trincomalee War Cemetry

2012-01-10T18:22:00.001+05:30

Colombo>Habarana>Trincomalee>Nilaweli road>Right side of the road afer 6 km

After the fall of Singapore,Trincomalee bacame a very important naval base in Indian Ocean for British.So lot of Japaneese Air raids attacked Trincomalee harbour.362 soldiers who gave their lives to protect the land lies here in this war cemetry.

See more :

Kooragala / Kuragala

2012-01-08T01:46:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Ratnapura > Balangoda > Kaltota road > Turn to Kooragla road from Thangentenna and end of the road is Kooragala

Kooragala or Kuragala is situated near Balangoda and it was a Buddhist temple in 2nd century BC. But today it is a mosque and a sacred place for Muslims. The only significant evidence of this place being a Buddhist temple is the ruins of a Stupa on top of the mountain. Anyway this is a really beautiful place and when you are at the top of the rock you can catch a beautiful view of a vast area. It is like you are at the balcony of Sri Lanka. And there is a cave on top of the rock you can get in to after some effort.

Great Western

2012-01-06T20:29:00.001+05:30

On Colombo- Badulla railway track between Thalawakele and Nanuoya railway stations

Great Western is the most beautiful station in Colombo-Badulla railway line view of vast area with numerous mountain ranges.This is the 6th highest mountain in Sri Lanka(2212m).

Bopath Ella Falls

2012-01-05T12:46:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Avissavella(A4) > Kuruvita(A4) > Bopath Ella entrance roadBopath Ella is located in Kuruvita in the Ratnapura district of Sri Lanka. In the rainy season this waterfall really looks like a Bo (Bo or Asathu is a sacred tree in Sri Lanka Which has a leaf little bit looks like a heart) leaf. But in dry seasons it hard to see the beautiful shape of this waterfall. There are many local myths and legends based on this waterfall.See more :Bopath Ella Falls

Girihandu Seya (Thiriyaya)

2012-01-04T18:58:00.001+05:30

Colombo > Habarana > Trincomalee > Pulmudei road > Turn to Girihadu Seya road after 45 km

According to legend Girihandu Seya is considered as the first dagoba(Stupa) in Sri Lanka. After enlightenment Lord Buddha spent 7 weeks and in the 50th day Thapassu and Balluka offered the first alms giving and requested some hair relic to worship. As merchants they had to cross Sri Lanka also.So they built a dagoba in Thiriyaya. It is surrounded by the jungle and you can see lot of wild animals in temple area.

See more :

Stupa

Batadomba lena

2012-01-03T18:24:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Avissawella > Kuruvita(A4) > Erathna road > Turn left after 1.5 km

Batadomba lena is an archaelogical site with evidence of habitation from 8000 BCE .its rich in natural beauty and there are lot of water streams with cool water.It tooks three hours to visit this place from Kuruvita and make sure you are using correct route during hiking.

Pettigala(Balangoda)

2012-01-03T17:15:00.001+05:30

Colombo>Rathnapura>Balangoda>Pettigala

Pettigala mountain is the highest place in Balangoda and its about 4500 feet above sea level.February is the month suits to climb this and you can see Balangoda to Rathnapura in a clear day without mist.It take about four hours to climb pettigala mountain from pettigala village.

Around Balangoda :

Kuragala
Duvili Ella
Dethanagala

Corbets Gap - Knuckles

2012-01-02T20:44:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Kandy > Hunnasgiriya > Deanston > Loolwatta > Corbets Gap

Corbets Gap is a saddle point situated near Loolwatta and Thangappuwa. Which means it is at the foot of Knuckles mountains. The place is named after the surveyor who did surveying of this area. If you visit this place in a clear day you can have a really beautiful scenic view of the valley below from here. It is a view only lucky eyes can catch.

Around Corbets Gap :

Meemure
Nitro cave

Arisimale Beach(Trincomalee)

2012-01-01T09:59:00.000+05:30

Colombo>Habarana>Trincomalee>Pulmudei>Turn right near Pulmudei mineralsands factory and drive 2km ahead

Nice place with a sand like rice surrounded by giant rockwave. Sri Lanka Navy helps to maintain this place.Arisimalee means rice mountain in Tamil.

Baththalangunduwa

2011-12-30T21:07:00.003+05:30

Colombo > Negombo > Chilaw > Palavi > Kalpitiya > Baththalangunduwa

Baththalangunduwa is a small sandy island situated in dutch bay near Kalpitiya. To reach Baththalangunduwa you have to take a boat from Kalpitiya dock and it's a three hours boat ride. In Baththalangunduwa you will find very large and lonely beaches and really interesting people.

Dutch Church - Kalpitiya

2011-12-25T09:14:00.001+05:30

Colombo > Negombo > Chilaw > Palavi > Kalpitiya

If you visit Kalpitiya, remember to visit here. After some time now it's a functioning church and now it's renovated. It has six stone carvings which look like tombstones and they believe church has a tunnel which leads to fort.

Kalutara

2011-12-22T19:17:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Kalutara

Above pics were taken from Kalutara bridge in the morning.

Around Kalutara :

Kalutara temple

Baththalangunduwa

2011-12-21T07:19:00.001+05:30

Colombo > Negombo > Chilaw > Palavi > Kalpitiya > Baththalangunduwa

Baththalangunduwa is a small sandy island situated in dutch bay near Kalpitiya. To reach Baththalangunduwa you have to take a boat from Kalpitiya dock and it's a three hours boat ride. In Baththalangunduwa you will find very large and lonely beaches and really interesting people.

Kalpitiya

2011-12-20T23:14:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Negombo > Chilaw > Palavi > Kalpitiya

Kalpitiya is a small town facing dutch bay. If you can get their in early morning or afternoon you can catch few beautiful sceneries around fishing docks.

Around Kalpitiya :

Fort
Dutch church
Baththalangunduwa

Summit Level - Pattipola

2011-12-20T15:00:00.000+05:30

Colombo > Pattipola

Summit Level is situated in between Ohiya and Pattipola railway stations, close to Pattipola railway station. It is the highest place of Sri Lanka railway grid.