Wadinagala (732m) / වඩින්න ආ ගල…..වඩිනාගල

Year and Month	2020 July 11^th and 12^th
Number of Days	Two
Crew	07- Dasun, Eshan, Kasun Lakmal, Keshan, Shashi, Wikum and Myself
Accommodation	Camping at Wadinagala
Transport	By car, Three wheeler and hiking
Activities	Hiking, Camping, Archeology and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo->Mattala Highway exit->Moneragala->Siyambalanduwa->9^th mile post of A25 ->Buddama->Waragama->Wadinagala->Back in same route-> 9^th mile post->Siyambalanduwa
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Road condition from 9th mile post to Buddama is satisfactory but from Buddama to Waragama is not good for a low ground vehicle. It costs Rs 300 from Buddama Hospital to Waragama. Be aware of wild elephants. Luckily we didn’t come across any. Carry enough water. We didn’t come across any water source after the one at base of the mountain. Down load off line Google map. Better have a known person or guide. Start the journey early. This can be tried in one day if you are really fast and track is clear. Wadinagala hike is a strenuous hike and we spent about six and half hours to reach the top. Special thanks to Kavinda Madubashitha and Thilina Agasthi for providing essential information. And Dr. Aravinda Batuwanthudawa who was the doctor at Buddama Hospital and helped us to refresh following the hike.
Related Resources	Lakdasun trip report on Wadinagala conquered, fitness was checked once again Lakdasun trip report on Wadinagala – Hidden heritage of Gal Oya Sanctuary (වඩිනාගල)
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Wadinagala (732m) / වඩින්න ආ ගල…..වඩිනාගල

Wadinagala is fascinating peak situated at Gal Oya sanctuary facing to Jayanthi Wewa / Pallan Oya reservior (ජයන්ති වැව/ පල්ලන්හෙල ජලාශය). It is the second highest peak of Gal Oya Sanctuary and the district border of Ampara and Moneragala lies over it (on the other hand it is the provincial border of Uva and eastern). It is said Lord Buddha choose this peak to keep sacred foot print before he arrived Sri Pada. (බුදුන් වඩින්න +ආ ගල -වඩිනාගල) (The same story applies to number of mountains which resemble the appearance of Sri Pada Ex- Thoranakotha, Hagasulla etc.)

Click image to enlarge. Wadinagala peak in metric map.

Pointed peak of Wadinagala is unique and can be seen to nearby mountains.

Wadinagala is seen to Govinda Hela.

Jayanthi Lake and Wadinagala

View of Wadinagala from Pallanhela

View of Wadinagala to Inginiyagala peak

View of Wadinagala on our way to Konduru Hela

Wadinagala is seen to Viyanhela

How it was seen to Seethawanniya

Ashan has conquered Wadinagala in 2012 and after reading his successful attempt it was one of my dreams to conquer it. Main obstacle was to find a guide to hike Wadinagala as Ashan’s guide has passed away and he has no other contact there. Meanwhile Thilina Agasthi and his friends have summited Wadinagala without guides and it stimulated us to visit the place with no assistance of guides. Following that Kavinda also has hiked Wadinagala with “Man Salakunu” (මo සලකුණු) team and their advices and information were really useful in succeeding this hike.

Approach to Wadinagala is from Waragama (වරාගම) village in Buddama (බුද්ධම). We have planned to do this as a camping trip. Two teams came to Buddama from two sides. Eshan came with Dasun Tharuka and Wikum by their vehicle from Kandy side passing Maha Oya. I came with Shashi, Keshan and Kasun Lakmal via Southern highway to Buddama passing Siyambalanduwa. Our plan is to park vehicles at Buddama hospital and reach Waragama by three wheelers. We had a warm welcome by Dr. A. Batuwanthudawa-Medical Officer at Buddama. After having breakfast we departed from Buddama to Waragama village. Here we filled all our bottles with water as we were informed by Kavinda about lack of water. Three wheel drivers have dropped us to the end of gravel road after Waragama village. We followed the gravel road which goes through Mana bushes and Corn Chena. It was an opening area and we have noted few brick building places as well. The peak of Wadinagala was seen and this is called as “Wadinagala Kotha” -වඩිනාගල කොත by villagers.

Journey starts….The gravel road goes through Mana area. Wadinagala Kotha is seen.

Part of the team.

The road

Nearby mountains…..

Passing a shady area

This open area is filled with Corn Chena and Brick building sites.

We have entered the forest closer to tree house.

We have entered the forest closer to above mentioned tree house (7.084241, 81.519121). The terrain was almost flat up to now and then we crossed a water stream. These streams are finding it’s way to Jayanthi Lake. Next stretch was an ascend under forest cover then number of boulders found where we have to go round the boulders to find the way. It was around 12 noon when we reached a peak (7.094978, 81.515393) which is situated next to main Wadinagala peak.

Get in to the forest. The water stream….

A giant tree

Dasun first time with us….

Rocky area like walls…. Have to go around of these to find the way

.	The area we passed

.	Steep ascend was overcome with assistance of roots

Cave like structures

Having lunch. PC-Kasun Lakmal

We had our lunch at this peak and planned the journey according to the Google map to highest point of Wadinagala. There was a descend from this peak and then an ascend to Wadinagala peak. One last section of the trail was so steep (7.098785, 81.518398) and someone needed to go up and help others to come up. Following that it was another small ascend to Wadinagala peak. It was around 3.30-4.00pm when we reached the top and this was a strenuous journey consuming large amount of water.
Wadinagala peak is basically a narrow one and it has no good flat surface to pitch tents (you will understand by looking drone photos). But it provides 360 view to surrounding. A large part of the view is occupied by Jayanthi Lake. We could see elephants roaming at Lake Bank. Then we were able to view Govinda Hela, Deegal Hela, Panam Panguwa, Gal Oya Reservior / Senanayake Samudraya, Hills around Gal Oya Makare, Maragala Range, Kithal Hela, Muthukandiya Lake and Namal Oya reservior etc.

Govinda Hela (middle) and Deegal Hela (behind). Panam Panguwa is situated in front of Govinda Hela.

Gal Oya reservior and mountains situated around Gal Oya Makare

Towards Meeyagala and Baduluwela

We have reached top of Wadinagala from this peak.

Towards Ambala Oya

Unknown

Jayanthi Lake / Pallan Oya reservior

Streams searching their way to Jayanthi Lake

Close up of Jayanthi Lake

Maragala Range (behind) and Kithal Hela (in front)

Muthukandiya Reservior and hills around Muthukandiya. And towards Buddama.

Gal Oya reservior and Namal Oya reservior seen behind it.

Zoomed view of Namal Oya reservior (far)

Enjoying the view

The team on top of Wadinagala

Relaxing….

The place is just enough to pitch two tents

We were able to enjoy a beautiful sun set from Wadinagala. The sun went down behind five peaks of Knuckles. It was one of the beautiful sun set I had on a mountain after a long time. Night was not that much cold as we expected and good wind was around.

Sun set from Wadinagala.

Knuckles five peak can be seen

?? Towards Mahakudugala and Piduruthalagala

? Madolsima Range

Sun set

Enjoying the sun set

Day 02

The sun rise was not beautiful like sun set and it was from Senanayake Samudraya side. There were letters engraved on top of Wadinagala peak which might be provincial marks / Surveyor marks. Morning hours were the ideal to fly the drone and capture some scenery. We started to get down around 8.30am after having a light breakfast. Here we directly targeted the trail head rather than going to other peak and getting down. As a result we had to overcome steeper descends. I was not keen in get photographs till we reached the water stream at base of the mountain.

Morning Tea

Awaiting for sun rise

Sun rise from Wadinagala

Enjoying the sun rise

It’s me….

Sun rise from Senanayake Samudraya side

Morning view of Senanayake Samudraya

Fainted view of Omanugala (far)

Morning view of Jayanthi Lake

Jayanthi Lake is shining with sun rise

Panam Panguwa, Govinda Hela and Deegal Hela

Unknown….

Jayanthi Lake bunt

Surveyor mark / Provincial marks on top of Wadinagala

Group photo

Aerial photo…So called Wadinagala Kotha / Wadinagala peak

Narrow Wadinagala peak.

We pitched tents on this narrow top

First we reached nearby peak and then followed our way to Wadinagala Kotha. You can easily work out our path by this picture.

Another aerial photo

Over Jayanthi Lake

Jayanthi Lake, Senanayake Samudraya and Gal Oya sanctuary

Classic view of Wadinagala

We are on top of Wadinagala with back drop of Jayanthi Lake

Reached base of Wadinagala.

The exit point into the forest was not exactly the entry point. We have come across some scattered ruins at forest. These might be “Garulugoda Ruins” (ගරලුගොඩ නටබුන්) described by Ashan in his report. It was around 12 noon when we exit the forest. We have called the same three wheeler to accompany us from Waragama to Buddama. After having a wash from Buddama Doctors quarters we reached Buddama junction to get our lunch. Eshan and Dasun said good bye to us from 9th mile post as they drive to Kandy. It ended up successful hike to this awaiting peak-Wadinagala.

Ruins found at Base of Wadinagala

Ruins found at Base of Wadinagala. Photo Credit-Kasun Lakmal

Summary of the journey. Trail head is shown by the bottom green pin. Yellow line is the one we followed. Here we went to nearby other peak and headed to Wadinagala peak then. Red line shows the one we got as GPS points. Our return journey was bit closer to this red line.

This was first two days of three days journey. Our next day plan was to visit hidden Buddha statues at Budupatuna-Ethimale. We have reached our accommodation at Nethmi Regency-Siyambalanduwa by evening. The last activity of the day was visiting at Muthukandiya Lake.

Evening at Muthukandiya Lake (මුතුකණ්ඩිය ජලාශය) (6.972597, 81.508845)

Muthukandiya reservior is considered as one of the largest irrigation project of Moneragala District. The main water source of Muthukandiya Reservior is Meeyan Oya (මීයන් ඔය) which begins at the hills of Meeyagala (මීයගල). It is about 4km from A25 road (Ampara-Siyambalanduwa Road) and road condition is satisfactory up to the reservior. It was the sun set time when we reached Muthukandiya. Kukulumulla and Meeyagala range are situated right behind Muthukandiya reservior. Our last day destination Wadinagala was also seen at Muthukandiya Lake.