| Year and Month | 2018 August 04th |
| Number of Days | One |
| Crew | 04-Eshan, Rasika, Keshan and Myself |
| Accommodation | N/A |
| Transport | By bus, three wheeler and hiking |
| Activities | Hiking, Photography, Trekking |
| Weather | Excellent |
| Route | Colombo ->Neeldandahinna (නීල්දන්ඩාහින්න)->Theripaha (තෙරිපැහැ)->Padupola plain->Back in same route to Theripaha->Neeldandahinna->Colombo |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Related Resources | |
| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
Hike to Hegasulla (හෑගස්උල්ල) opened new travel destinations for me. This beautiful area called me to explore it extensively. As weather was perfect, I decided to walk beyond Hagasulla after 2 weeks’ time.
I gave the opportunity to new team including Eshan, Keshan and Rasika to enjoy the beauty of area. My plan was to go beyond Hagasulla and conquer couple of hills (this area is marked as Korahana in 1:50000 map) with splendid view.
Like Hegasulla hike, I decided to reach Theripaha early morning. We selected overnight bus from Colombo to Neeldandahinna. Rasika and Eshan were supposed to join with us to travel by bus at Kandy. They missed the bus badly due to wrong calculation of time to wake up. It made them to follow the bus by motor bike with enjoying the night breeze. Somehow we managed to reach Theripaha village around 4.30am while whole village was sleeping.
We had to wait till our routine tea shop is opened and uncle treated us with crisp patty and plain tea. While others were enjoying the tea I chat with a villager who knows very well about this area. According to him there is a beautiful plain beyond Hegasulla called Padupola. There was a school and one family lived there before Mahaweli project is started. Currently Padupola (පදුපොල) is occupied by Elephants and belongs to VRR reserve. It needs to cross few mountains to reach Padupola. Randenigala rock is situated next to Padupola. So we set Padupola as our target and started the journey at 6am. Our initial plan was to follow the route till Hagasulla and descend there. But he advised us to not to follow this descend, as it is difficult to overcome. (Later we realized this as a wrong decision).
We had to follow the road to Mala Oya (මළ ඔය) till it end and get right hand side foot pathway to reach the Elephant fence. An old villager came to show the foot pathway to reach Elephant fence. He advised us to follow the foot path towards Hegasulla. (Actually this foot path goes on side of the mountain range. It was clear in most of the time and we passed a Pinus patch as well. Roaming elephants was the main threat and Elephant dung were seen over the foot path. At the end we reached a nice view point facing to Randenigala reservoir, which is similar to Hegasulla view point. Different phase of Hegasulla was seen in my right hand side. We snapped with background of Randenigala reservoir.
 Team at Theripaha junction: Rasika (Left), Keshan (middle) and Eshan (Right) |
 Following the road with Mala Oya |
 At beginning…. |
 It is a sub section of VRR reserve, called Kandyaya reserve |
 Pride of peacocks |
 He showed the path till elephant fence |
 Balancing… |
 “Go on this way” |
 Reaching elephant fence…This is the same one we passed in Hegasulla hike. |
 “ස්තූතියි මාමාට” |
 There was a clear foot pathway on side of the mountain |
 පයිනස් ගෙඩි |
 Flesh and bones ….found on our way |
 Crossing Pinus plot |
 Having a break |
 Go along the slope… |
 Go along the slope… |
 Left side slope towards Mala Oya |
 Number of mountains in VRR reserve |
 Reaching the first view point of Randenigala reservoir |
 Enjoying the view… |
 Zoomed view of Randenigala reservoir |
 These two mountains in Korahana area were seen nicely beyond Hegasulla last time. This time we have to pass it. |
Next part of the journey was bit challenging as there was an acute drop ahead. We were able to get down it without any damage. It was a meadow where we got down and another sharp hike was ahead of us. Hegasulla was seen with it’s forest cap for first time. We didn’t want to spend much time at this shrub area as it might be a place for Elephants. Along this slope with help of small bushes we reached another wide plain where Randenigala reservoir was seen nicely.
 This is the acute drop we followed. |
 Having a break before next session |
 Have to climb this…. |
 Hegasulla with its forest cap….. |
 When we looked down… |
 |
 With Hegasulla. We didn’t see it’s this shape in Theripaha side |
 These short bushes were really helpful in climbing |
 Crawling…. |
 Flat section between Hegasulla and other two mountains. Now only we realized we would have come along Hegasulla rather than following this path. |
 Forest patch in this meadow might be a hiding place for Elephants |
 Reaching the second view point. |
We had amazing view towards Randenigala reservoir from here. Half-filled Randenigala reservoir with it’s islands gave beautiful appearance to our pictures. This area is ideal for camping if we carry enough water. We spent much time to capture pictures here.
 Zoomed view of Randenigala reservoir |
 It’s time for photos |
 The team except me |
 View of Hegasulla from 2nd view point |
 The drop of Hegasulla…. |
 It’s me…. |
 Posing….. |
 The part of reserve obstructing the view of Randenigala reservoir |
 The meadow for Mala Oya which flows between this plain and mountain |
Then we moved along the side of next set of mountains. There were some fainted foot pathways between dry Mana. One option is to reach the peak of one of these mountains and go from one peak to another. But we prefer to move along the slope rather than the peaks. It was not difficult to understand the direction as most of the time we have to walk in open areas. Hegasulla was rising behind us always and we were able to identify Narangala, Namunukula and Lunubissa behind Hegasulla. Uma Oya was searching it’s way to Rantambe on our left hand side. Sharpen view of Raja Mawatha appeared through forest and Kukulagala and rest of the mountains were seen in front of us. Further walk made us to reach Raja Mawatha and Randenigala reservoir. Galpadipela and it’s range, Dumbanagala, Kehelpothdoruwegala, Yahangala and some other peaks of Knuckles massif were also seen. At the end we reached a smooth drop where range is further extending and a sloping plain is situated lateral to it. According to the villager this plain is called Madathenna (මඩතැන්න).
 Complete view of Hegasulla |
 Couple of mountains we have to pass next. |
 Link between Hegasulla and these two mountains |
 Leading… |
 Angle… |
 We didn’t try to reach top of them… |
 Dambarawa and Mapakada lakes… |
 Having a break…. |
 Other side of Hegasulla. Seems it’s more like triangular shape mountain |
 Giants of Uva- Narangala, Namunukula and |
 “Raja Mawatha”-රජ මාවත |
 The view in front of us…. |
 When we looked behind after walking some distance |
 Walk along the edge of the mountain |
 Rest alone… |
 Walking along the edge of the mountain…. |
 The area we have to pass |
 Galpadihela and it’s range is in front of us |
 Some peaks of Knuckles range are seen: Kehelpothdoruwegala and Yahangala |
 Dumbanagala |
 Some other peaks of Knuckle range… |
 Further move…. |
 Hegasulla is gradually disappearing |
 Most of the time we have to walk at open areas |
 Yahangala like structure |
 Yahangala like structure |
 The plain we have to pass. Madathenna is situated lateral to it…. |
 The path we have to cross… |
 Loggal Oya reservoir |
 Madathenna |
 Madathenna and lakes near Mahiyanganaya |
 Madathenna |
 A friend met on our way… |
 A friend met on our way… |
 When we looked back…. |
 Peaks of Uva…. |
We didn’t pay attention to reach Madathenna and passed it. Next part of the area was full of thick grown Mana and only path between them was Wild elephant tracks. We have reached a slab rock where Mana was over. One of the most beautiful plains I have seen was in front of me. This is Padupola plain. It was covered with greenish grass and Mana. We could notice a water source in middle of Padupola. Therefore it must be a playground of elephants and wild animals in night time.
The last rock / mountain of this side stands next to Padupola is Randenigala (රන්දෙනිගල). Randenigala dam is connected to this rock from one side. People of Theripaha called this as Randenigala. It has a majestic view from Raja Mawatha side. But when we visited at Randenigala range at Ududumbara-Bopana side they called this rock as Kanamee Gala (කනමී ගල) and the mountain in contact with dam in their side as Randenigala. Don’t know which name is correct.
Rest of Randenigala range, Knuckles range, Galpadipela, Randenigala reservoir and lakes around Mahiyanganaya were in back drop of Padupola plain. We spent a time to enjoy this amazing view of Padupola plain with back drop of Randenigala. As we have to follow the same path to Theripaha in return journey, we decided to not to get into this heaven like place. It was kept for next journey.
 The area we passed… |
 Overgrown Mana |
 Reaching the slab rock… |
 So called Padupola plain |
 Padupola plain |
 Padupola plain |
 How this Kanamee Gala, Randenigala and Padupola plain are situated |
 Galpadihela range |
 Padupola plain |
 Looking at Padupola plain |
 Padupola and surrounding view… |
 More pictures with Padupola |
 More pictures with Padupola |
 The team with Padupola….Photographer-Rasika |
 This is the most beautiful plain I have seen. |
We followed the same path in return journey but pass the peak of Hegasulla. The forest patch at side of Hegasulla had a slope but can climb through it. It took almost 12 hours to whole journey and we were able to reach Theripaha at dusk of the day. (Return journey was slow as one team member developed a sprain in leg)
 Padupola plain is circled here. The rock next to Padupola is marked as Randenigala (852m) in 1:50000 map. The mountain on the other side with contact of dam is marked as Waddandamana (856m). Click image to enlarge. |
 How Padupola is shown in Google map. |
Thanks for reading