Kirigalpoththa

More Unusual Guests

2011-11-20T23:49:00.001+05:30

I met this unusual guest recently. The photo came from a mobile phone as I was not ready for him. I have seen a few porcupines but this one was quite big. Hope someone can identify the exact specie.

The specie was identified as Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica), thanks to Bushana.

Peeli Hatha

2011-10-26T22:52:00.000+05:30

‘Peeli hatha’ means seven springs of water. I saw only one spring of water but the rocky ledge would create seven of them during rainy season. Above place was found about one kilometer from this tree.

It was a nice pool of water but I was disappointed to witness this mess in the vicinity.

Trees of Life

2011-10-15T17:19:00.001+05:30

These amazing trees were captured in Mathugama area. Hope you can identify those peculiar objects hanging from the palms.

I have not seen so many 'wadu kurulu' (Baya Weaver) nests in one place. A closer view is shown here. It appeared that this community has lived here for a long period of time as I saw some of the older nests on the ground.

Facelift

2011-09-24T02:06:00.000+05:30

Hi All,

I gave a bit of aesthetic touch to my blog after a long time.
The design idea for the slideshow is from bloggertipandtrick.net

Let me know how it looks from different browsers. So far no issues with Internet Explorer and Firefox

In addition try the 'Gallery' link in the menu bar to enjoy new features of Google Blogger!

Guest

2011-08-18T23:09:00.003+05:30

This guest was found in a friend's garden. He was slow but faster than this guy.

Camouflage

2011-07-25T22:37:00.005+05:30

This creature had one of the best camouflage suits I have seen for some time.
The photo was taken at the beach near Negombo.

Trail

2011-07-18T00:18:00.006+05:30

This picture was captured somewhere close to Negombo. A few kilomtres from the main airport of Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, an epic Trail, which was started on the 1st of July has now completed two thirds of its journey. It is a walk right across Sri Lanka to collect US$ 2million to build a Paediatric Cancer Ward in Jaffna Hospital.

You can see more information here.

Alagalla, Different View

2011-06-28T11:59:00.001+05:30

This picture of Alagalla was taken from Kandy side.

Kandy from Bahirawa Kanda

2011-05-16T23:47:00.006+05:30

This picture was taken from Bahirawa Kanda. 'Bahirawa' is a demonic mythical figure. Some of the folklore related to this mysterious place is detailed out in this link.

The enitire Kandy city was visible from this point. More photos are uploaded here.

Tall Trees

2011-04-28T22:58:00.002+05:30

This picture was taken somewhere close to Raththota, during my recent hike to Knuckles Range

More from Punchi Lokanthaya

2011-03-30T09:52:00.000+05:30

Above picture was taken from Punchi Lokanthaya or Mini world’s End of Pitawalapathana, Knuckles Range.

You get to see a wide range of area from this point and it is one of the best points to view the beauty of Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka’s largest mountain range.

More photos are uploaded here.

127 Hours

2011-03-24T10:59:00.006+05:30

Have you seen the film, 127 hours? I remembered it while jumping over this vertical crevice with the trapped boulder between the walls of rock.

The picture was taken at mini 'Worlds End' of Knuckles Range.

Horizon

2011-03-18T13:36:00.007+05:30

Knuckles Range is the biggest mountain range in Sri Lanka. The entire region is covered with thick forest, except a few isolated villages. All you see is mountains and forest cover up to the horizon.

The Knuckles Range is part of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka which is already identified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Above picture was taken from Pitawalapathana.

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

First Rays of Sunlight

2011-02-26T19:42:00.006+05:30

This picture was taken from Lower Ohiya. I had an interesting stay there for few days and managed to find out one of the shortest path to Horton Plains from A4 road via Udaveriya Estate.

You can check out more pictures of this journey thro' Anjana’s Blog.

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

Along Thelgamu Oya

2011-02-14T08:13:00.005+05:30

Above picture was taken while hiking along Thelgamu Oya to reach Sara Ella. Oya is a local name for tributary or Creek. More pictures are stored here.

We saw another small waterfall on the way. I think it is known as Punchi or Ihala Sara Ella. (Small or Upper Sara Falls)

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

Steps

2011-02-06T13:25:00.007+05:30

This picture of paddy fields were captured from the top of Alagalla.

Click the picture to see terraced paddy fields.

More interesting photos, taken during the climb are stored here.

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

The Mountain

2011-01-26T09:47:00.005+05:30

This is how Adam's Peak looks from the trailhead of Nallathanni route. The total distance to the top is about 6km.

More from Sara

2011-01-20T13:23:00.006+05:30

I am attaching complete set of photos from Sara Ella (Falls), here.

One of the most remarkable things about the falls is that you can go inside the rock (a cave) and stay underneath the falls. Have a look at this picture, and you can see the cave with people underneath the falls. The cave is quite spacious and about 20 people can be accommodated there.

Ira Sevaya

2011-01-03T12:26:00.014+05:30

I climbed Adam's Peak on the New Year Day and was on top of the mountain on the 2nd morning.

Even tough I had climbed the mountain several times; I had never seen the phenomenon known as 'Ira Sevaya' - Service of the Sun. This time I was very lucky to see this dramatic display of the rising sun.

Ira Sevaya is the rise and fall of the sun just before the sun rise. People believe that the sun is worshipping the mountain. Actually this is a natural occurrence that could be seen from other places too. Due to the unique location of the mountain and the altitude of the mountain top, there is a better possibility of seeing this natural effect from Adam’s Peak than other places. This natural effect is explained very well in this article here.

It was a rainy day on the 1st and it was very misty through out the climb. We were at the top by 5am and the entire mountain was covered with thick clouds. So we had very little expectations of seeing the sunrise. But suddenly around 5.30, just before the sunrise, the clouds and the thick mist cleared out and we were very fortunate to see this fantastic display of sun rise.

Morning Lights

2010-12-30T22:15:00.006+05:30

This scenery was photographed in Kudawa village, bordering Sinharaja Rainforest.

Wish you all a very happy new year 2011!

Sera

2010-12-19T19:41:00.014+05:30

This beauty was found in the northern part of Knuckles Range about 8km from Illukkumbura. The falls is known as Sera Ella and it is one of the many scenic places belongs to Thelgamu Oya.

There is a road that goes very close to this falls and you have to walk about 300m down a foot path to reach there. We did it in the hard way as we walked along Thelgamu Oya and on the way we found another waterfall (Upper Sera Ella / Small Sera Ella) and passed many attractive places down the stream.

All these butterflies were found during that jaunt.

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

More from Thelgamu Oya

2010-12-17T10:27:00.008+05:30

This is a picture taken of Thelgamu Oya of Knuckles Range recently.

The earlier picture, I posted was taken at the border of Rathninda and Etanwela villages some time back.

The above picture was taken about 10km further down from Rathninda, just below Sera Ella waterfall.

More Misty Memories

2010-12-03T18:53:00.004+05:30

I’m attaching more misty photos from the Knuckles Range. The complete set is shown here.

All photos were taken at Mathale side of Knuckles Region. (Raththota-Pallegama Road)

Swarms of Butterflies

2010-11-29T11:12:00.014+05:30

There is a belief in Sri Lanka, that butterflies fly to Mount Sri Pada to pay their respect. I’m not sure how true this is but, many years ago, I used to see hundreds of butterflies in early mornings during certain time of the year, near my home town.

Later on, this behavior was no longer to be seen and I hardly remember seeing that many butterflies over the last decade or so. May be they have vanished from the areas or fled to areas with less human interactions.

Recently, during my visit to Knuckles Massif, I finally saw swarms of butterflies after many years. There were thousands or even millions of them in the jungle. Mainly it was a yellow coloured specie, but there were other types as well. Above picture was taken during the hike to Sera Ella, which I will bring you in a later post.

Infact, I have strong evidence to prove that butterflies/moths actually go to Sri Pada.

P.S. I learnt that such a group is called a rabble or a flutter thanks to Beyond My Garden.

Mini World's End

2010-11-24T12:26:00.012+05:30

‘World’s End’ in Sri Lanka usually means a high precipice. The one at Horton Plains is the more famous one. In addition there are many mini world’s ends in most parts of the Central Highlands.

Usually these places get misty very easily and sometimes you may not see anything other than the white clouds over the edge. To me the real feeling of world’s end is when it is full of mist. But many people like to see it on a clear day. So you can see the spectacular scenery below and over.

This picture was taken at the mini world’s end of Pitawalapathana. You can get to that rocky ledge and witness an incredible view of Knuckles Range and beyond.

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

Pathana

2010-11-20T10:32:00.005+05:30

This photo is from Knuckles Range. The place is famous as Pitawalapathana. Dikpathana (Pronounced as ðIkpʌƟənə) is another name to the same plain.

'Pathana' is a local name for grassy plain, usually seen in mountainous regions.

You can view Maningala as the backdrop here.

Little Haven

2010-11-16T23:48:00.006+05:30

When I visited Bambarakiri Ella last year, I missed this smaller waterfall named as Punchi Bambarakiri Ella. So, this time when I came to Knuckles Range I made sure I see both.

I crossed the suspension bridge and saw the bigger falls and then walked further steps down and came to this little haven. It is a small waterfall, nevertheless an excellent place.

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

Misty

2010-11-12T21:47:00.006+05:30

This picture was taken on a misty evening in Knuckles Range.

Faraway

2010-11-08T22:46:00.007+05:30

This picture was taken from Beragala.

The Road

2010-10-29T19:38:00.006+05:30

I once mentioned that A23 (Ella-Wellawaya) is one of the most scenic roads in Sri Lanka. Then my friend Sbarrkum mentioned that he likes Beragala – Wellawaya stretch even more. I also had to agree with him.

I took the above picture on the same road closer to Beragala.

I hope it will give a glimpse of this very scenic road to all of you.

Sky Over the Valley

2010-10-14T23:21:00.002+05:30

This interesting scenery was captured before coming to this signpost.

Tea Country

2010-10-06T07:03:00.004+05:30

This picture was taken near Kotagala, between Ginigathhena and Thalawakele.

Towards Welimada

2010-09-30T22:14:00.004+05:30

This picture was taken on the way to Welimada from Nuwara Eliya. (A5 road)

Thro' Rubber Estates

2010-09-28T07:16:00.003+05:30

This picture was taken some where close to Kiriella, along Rathnapura-Panadura Road. (A8)

More from Thalawakele

2010-09-24T18:27:00.008+05:30

This picture was taken somewhere close to Thalawakele. Note the little bungalow at the bottom left corner.

On the Way to the Falls

2010-09-20T22:20:00.006+05:30

This scenery was captured on my way to Dunsinane Sheen Waterfall. Click the image for better resolution.

After the Bend

2010-09-17T12:09:00.001+05:30

After passing the bend, down the road, I saw this exciting scenery in front of me.

Down the Road

2010-09-14T22:59:00.005+05:30

I captured this scenery during my recent visit in Beragala area. Click the image for better resolution.

Sunbird Gaze

2010-09-12T17:31:00.001+05:30

These birds on the telephone wire were gazing at a particular object for sometime. Later, I got to know that there was a rat snake on the other side of the lane.

Devon

2010-09-08T15:21:00.010+05:30

Devon is another famous waterfall in Sri Lanka.

It is situated close to St. Clair Waterfall of Thalawakele. In fact like St. Clair, you can view this picturesque sight from A7 road (Avissawella – Nuwara Eliya).

The fall is more than 300 feet high and it is formed of a tributary of River Mahaweli, known as Kothmale Oya.

Kelani Valley

2010-09-01T08:56:00.006+05:30

River Kelani flows through this splendid valley situated at the western edge of the Central Highlands.

This is one of my favorite areas of hiking and this particular picture was taken on the way from Laxapana Falls.

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

Alive

2010-08-29T10:55:00.002+05:30

Although the tree looks almost dead but it is not. A new branch has sprung with full of life.

This picture was taken at Yala National Park.

More Bird’s Eye Views

2010-08-27T17:33:00.003+05:30

Last time I had a similar view up on the top of Sri Pada Mountain. This picture was taken on the way from Thalawakele to Punduluoya.

Sunset at Thissamaharama

2010-08-23T17:17:00.007+05:30

It is a wonderful experience to be near Thissa Wewa during sunset.
The above photo and more photos in this link will prove it.

Hope you remember some of the earlier photos I posted as well.

Ginigathhena

2010-08-20T23:27:00.008+05:30

There are many routes to enter Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. A7 road via Ginigathhena Pass is one of them. This particular picture was taken at Ginigathhena.

Beragala

2010-08-18T19:44:00.006+05:30

This impressive scenery was captured in Beragala, 7 kilometres from Haputhale.

Hills of Rozella

2010-08-16T18:55:00.004+05:30

Sometime back I showed you one of my favourite railway stations, but I could not show you how this area really looks like.

As shown in the picture, Rozella is a beautiful area in the hill country.

The Goddess of Knowledge

2010-08-12T17:37:00.011+05:30

This is the upper part of Dunsinane Sheen Waterfall taken from the top of the bridge. There is a Hindu temple (Kovil) built just adjacent to the falls and the most interesting part is the statue of Goddess Sarasvathi, in front of the falls. The small but intricate statue brings a sacred value to this awesome scenery.

Anyone who is interested to know how this waterfall got its Scottish name, you may refer to this interesting article.

Dunsinane Sheen Waterfall

2010-08-10T19:23:00.009+05:30

This lovely waterfall is situated close to a little town known as Punduluoya. To reach here, I traveled from Thalawakele to Thavalamthenne (New Kothmale Town) and turned towards Dunsinane Estate after Punduluoya.

For some reason I liked the long name of the waterfall and wanted to visit this place. Usually long names are customary in Sri Lanka. There is another estate known as Sheen Estate in the same area. So may be it was named after both estates.

The fall has two sections – above the road and below the road. The combination of two waterfalls creates one of the most spectacular sceneries in Sri Lanka.

Eight Meter Door Frame

2010-08-06T11:51:00.003+05:30

This colossal granite door frame was seen in the ancient capital of Anuradhapura.

Anuradhapura is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it has thousands of ruins scattered in an area as large as 40 square kilometers, belong to the period from 4th century BC to 11th century AD.

This particular building must have built over one thousand years ago as it belongs to the latter Anuradhapura period.

Another Evening

2010-07-29T21:02:00.011+05:30

This picture was taken near Thissa Wewa.

Every evening here, by the banks of Thissa Wewa, brings colorful memories like the one shown in the picture.

Down the Hill

2010-07-27T19:42:00.005+05:30

This picture was taken while going towards Haputhale along A4 road. Here, I’m looking towards Uda Walawe side.

You will see similar sceneries during most part of the journey, along this road.

Abandoned

2010-07-22T22:09:00.007+05:30

This picture was taken somewhere in Kelani Valley on the way from Laxapana Falls.

Crab or Spider?

2010-07-20T20:03:00.002+05:30

I am quite curious about spiders from a long time and this particular species is one of my favorite. Well you already know it is a spider but doesn’t it look like a crab?

See the crab like body armor in the above picture and the claw in this picture.

Montane Rain Forests

2010-07-18T16:20:00.006+05:30

The Sri Lankan variety of montane rain forests are found in few places within central highlands like Horton Plains, Knuckles Range and Sri Pada Range (Peak Wilderness). Usually these forests can be seen in mountain tops above 4500 feet from sea level. Below that level we find another type known as sub-montane forests.

Montane rain forests have thick undergrowth and it is extremely difficult to walk across a forest patch. Due to the cold weather and high winds the trees in these forests are not that tall compared to the rain forests in lowlands. Trees are usually around 20-30 feet tall and there is a low canopy. Sub-montane rain forests are a transitional stage between the lowland and highland vegetation. Both these forest types are high in biodiversity. Another interesting feature is cloud forests, which I have experienced quite a lot while hiking in these forests.

Above picture, taken from Sri Pada Range shows part of the montane rain forest there. More photos in this link show both high montane as well as sub-montane rain forests.

The Little Hut

2010-07-14T22:36:00.003+05:30

This picture was taken on the way to Alagalla. Hope you can see the little hut in the tea estate?

Thirty Kilometres

2010-07-10T10:56:00.006+05:30

Ella – Wellawaya road (A23) is one of the most scenic roads in Sri Lanka.

Ella is situated in the eastern boundary of central highlands and Wellawaya belongs to the low country. The 30 kilometre route from Ella to Wellawaya will descend you nearly 3000 feet. This elevation difference will give you contrasting landscape from the start to end within short distance. The winding road will take you through one of the most beautiful and unique landscapes in Sri Lanka.

The first part of this route is the best part and you will get to see similar sceneries like in the above picture. More pictures of this route are uploaded here.

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

Butterfly

2010-07-07T21:20:00.003+05:30

I have never seen this brown coloured insect before. So thought of posting this one for a change.

I'm thrilled to see that above picture is picked by Conservation Carbon Company in their blog.

At the Pier

2010-07-02T23:21:00.005+05:30

This picture was taken at Thissa Wewa.

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

Power Station

2010-06-28T08:42:00.001+05:30

This scenery was captured between this point and this point.

You can also see Laxapana hydro power station below.

Through a Cave to the Top

2010-06-23T22:02:00.010+05:30

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, the last bit of Alagalla climb was very exciting. The above picture was taken while climbing up through the rocky cleft to the very top of Alagalla. It shows what you see, while looking down from halfway up the cave.

More interesting photos, taken during the climb are stored here.

By the way, this is how you reach at the top!

The Last Bit

2010-06-22T22:00:00.009+05:30

This picture shows the top most point of Alagalla. The last bit of the climb was very interesting, as we had to squeeze through a crevice in the middle of the rocky outcrop shown above.

Succession

2010-06-19T17:49:00.002+05:30

This dead tree was captured in Sinharaja. Two younger trees have grown taller taking its place.

More from Sri Pada

2010-06-15T23:31:00.009+05:30

This picture was taken from the top of Sri Pada. The twin peaks are known as Bena Samanala.

As you may know, there are few routes to reach the top and the local letters in the picture directs you to Rathnapura, Palabaddala route. The same route will take you to Kuruwita, Erathna road as well as Maliboda route. The other route at the top is Hatton, Nallathanni route. Moraywaththa Trail also linked with Nallathanni route.

The complete set of photos taken from the summit of Sri Pada is uploaded here.

Weddagala

2010-06-13T11:15:00.006+05:30

This picture was taken while returning from Sinharaja Forest, just before reaching Weddagala.

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

Ella

2010-06-09T23:44:00.006+05:30

Ella is one of my favorite areas in Sri Lanka.

It is situated in Uva Province quite close to Haputhale. Ella literally means waterfall. Infact, Ravana Falls is not so faraway from Ella. Ella pass is another entry point to central highlands and within two hour drive you can reach Thissamaharama via Wellawaya.

This picture was taken from the famous Ella Rest house.

Thissa Wewa

2010-06-06T12:28:00.006+05:30

This picture was taken from Thissa Wewa of Thissamaharama.

Evening Walk

2010-06-04T05:38:00.006+05:30

Would you like to come for an evening stroll in this area? Hope you could identify Maningala Mountain also in the background.

Green Bug

2010-05-29T00:51:00.003+05:30

This green bug was seen on top of Alagalla.

Misty Mountains

2010-05-27T14:52:00.006+05:30

This photo was taken on the way back from Laxapana Waterfall. This is another side of Saptha Kanya mountains.

Tree and Reflection

2010-05-24T23:54:00.004+05:30

This picture was taken at Yala. Please click and enlarge it to see all the intruders in the picture.

Uda Walawe

2010-05-21T07:43:00.007+05:30

Uda Walawe National Park is situated about 160 kilometers from Colombo and it belongs to both Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces. The park is situated in a plain area but you can see mountains from North and West. The western perimeter is in fact made of Rakwana Mountains.

The reservoir is man made, but it has seamlessly merged with the natural eco system. River Walawe is the main water resource.

It is one of the best parks in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants. You can see more details here.

Butawa

2010-05-17T22:59:00.007+05:30

Above picture was taken in front of Butawa Tank, within Yala National Park. The prominent rock seen on the other side is Elephant Rock.

A few tanks in the park keep all the animals alive during dry periods. Butawa Wewa is known as the last water resource that remains even during heavy draughts. You could see hundreds of crocodiles here, especially during dry seasons.

Bathalegala from Alagalla

2010-05-14T22:32:00.009+05:30

This photo was taken on the way to Alagalla. The prominent book shaped rock in the middle is known as Bible Rock and the local name is Bathalegala. The same rock could be seen clearly as you go through Balana Pass on the way from Colombo to Kandy.

Bird's Eye View

2010-05-11T19:01:00.005+05:30

This was taken from the top of Sri Pada. It shows a panoramic view of the starting point of Seetha Gangula.

I'm on the Top of the World

2010-05-10T11:55:00.005+05:30

Hi All,

Sorry for the slight silence during last few days as it was an eventful week for me.

I was elevated to the rank of 'father' and she is just 3 days old now!

Best Regards,
K

Trees in the Lake

2010-05-03T10:52:00.007+05:30

Above interesting photo was taken from the tank bund of Thisa Wewa (Tank) of Thissamaharama. Thisa wewa is one of the most scenic places in Sri Lanka. I’ll prove it with some pictures soon.

Thissamaharama is a town south of Sri Lanka situated in a vital location. Some of the facts are mentioned below.

The main temple of Thissamaharama is one of the 16 sacred places of Sri Lanka for Buddhists. In addition there are number of important places with archaeological importance. Thissamaharama is very close to culturally important venue of Katharagama, where people from all religions and race come to worship throughout the year. Also it is the closest town to the southern entrance of Yala National Park.

Rhino Moth

2010-04-30T08:11:00.004+05:30

Samanala Kanda (Butterfly Mountain) is another name for Sri Pada. There is a belief that butterflies go to the mountain to pay respect. Actually you find lot of butterflies in Peak Wilderness Area.

I did not see any butterflies at the top of the mountain but I saw hundreds of these peculiar moths. They were flying in numbers towards the mountain top and were resting at the top. In fact it looks like they have made their last journey there, as the fatigue of flying that altitude has made them extremely weary. I saw many of them fallen dead at the top of the mountain.

This particular moth, picked by one of us from the floor was a lucky one, as otherwise he would have definitely squashed by one of the passer-by. Doesn’t he look like a rhinoceros?

Scenery

2010-04-26T23:14:00.006+05:30

This was taken from top of Alagalla.

Sunrise from Yala

2010-04-24T11:34:00.004+05:30

This sunrise was captured in Yala, just before the main entrance at Palatupana.

Alagalla Mountain

2010-04-21T16:02:00.019+05:30

I climbed this mountain recently with a group of friends. Sinhalaya Travels has posted a detailed account on the excursion and so as Libertad.

Alagalla is situated right at the provincial boundaries of Central and Sambaragamuwa Provinces. In fact Kegalle and Kandy ditrict boundary goes very close to the peak of Alagalla. Anyone who travels to Kandy from Colombo by train will surely recognize this imposing mountain on to your left as you pass Ihala Kotte railway station. Ihala Kotte is situated 3 stations after Rambukkana and 2 stations before Kadugannawa.

The mountain face towards Ihala Kotte is a sheer drop as seen in the picture above, so scaling it from that side is impossible. So we had to walk right around the mountain and reach a small village called Poththepitiya. The actual climb started off from there, yet the journey up to Poththepitiya was quite interesting with some scenic views towards Kadugannawa and beyond along the path.

The peak of the mountain is about 1100m above sea level and the total climb from Ihala Kotte is about 800m. This particular mountain stands tall among relatively smaller mountains in the vicinity, as it is postioned just outside the central highlands. The result is some breathtaking scenery at the top and along the path up the mountain!

More into Hiking!

2010-04-19T11:47:00.006+05:30

These days I’m getting quite a few mails asking for information on various places in Sri Lanka. I thought of streamlining the contact mode a bit so I can organize my mails and would be able to give a faster response. As a first step, I have added a little widget to contact me. Still, anyone can write direct to my email as well.

I know that, Lakdasun.com had done yeoman service over the years to ‘discover, explore and conserve the natural beauty of Sri Lanka’. I’m happy to see many people switching to hiking, backpacking and trekking. (Perhaps, I shall explain the difference of all three in another post) I personally like this development oppose to flooding a scenic area with motor vehicles, causing noise and air pollution.

I wish more people could have fun like Sinhalaya Travels, which I had my pleasure of joining them a few weeks back.

Patanangala

2010-04-15T01:19:00.014+05:30

Patanangala is a beach belongs to Yala National Park. This characteristic rock and the excellent beach make this place a memorable one. This is one of the few places where visitors are allowed to get down from their vehicles during their safari through Yala.

To view Patanangala beach from another angle, please click here and see the post by Cerno.

New Cycle

2010-04-13T19:33:00.009+05:30

April is a festive month in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans celebrate their traditional new year on the 14th of April which is tomorrow. Astrologically, it marks the entrance of the sun into the first zodiac sign, Aries (Mesha) from the last one, Pisces (Meena).

Incidentally, April marks the end of Sri Pada season as well. The above picture was captured from the top of Sri Pada.

The Giant

2010-04-12T00:37:00.012+05:30

Although it is more interesting to meet the giants of the animal world, some times it is equally appealing to see giants in the plant world.

This giant was seen in Sinharaja rain forest. It is known as the ‘Giant Nawanda Tree’ and it is one of the key attractions in this tropical rain forest. The tree is about 140 feet tall and the circumference is 21 feet. The botanical name is Shorea stipularis and it is one of the cousins of this particular tree, I saw sometime back.

There were many trees of same size, in this area some decades ago and most were cut off for timber. Nawanda is native to Sri Lanka.

Elephant and the Rock

2010-04-08T16:43:00.008+05:30

This male elephant was photographed at Yala. Usually the bull elephant is a loner. The herd is usually made of female elephants and calves.

There is another variation called ‘Thun path rena’ or three elephants. Some incorrectly identify them as father, mother and child. Actually it is either two female elephants and a calf or a female elephant and two calves. Of course one of the calves is bigger.

The rock far away in the picture is known as Akasa Chethiya, but the renowned name is ‘Elephant Rock' as it looks like an elephant.

Yala National Park

2010-04-07T00:52:00.026+05:30

Yala is a small area in the south east coast of Sri Lanka . The name ‘Yala’ is well-known as Sri Lanka’s most famous and the second largest national park (Ruhunu National Park) is given the same name. In fact Yala is a part of the park itself.

Yala is situated about 300 km from Colombo . The park is about 1000 square kilometers and it spreads in three districts (Hambanthota, Monaragala and Ampara) belong to three provinces.

The southern part is known as Block 1 and it is the more popular section. The entry point to this section is situated at Palatupana. Nimalawa sanctuary is situated adjacent to this entry point. Western and Northern Parts, belong to Uva Province, are comprised of Yala Blocks 3, 4 and 5. Kataragama and Katagamuwa sanctuaries are situated in the west, adjacent to the park. The eastern part of Yala, belongs to Eastern Province is now known as Kumana National Park. This was recently opened to the public after many years of isolation due to security reasons.

Yala is more famous for its fauna than flora. Elephant, leopard and bear sightings are regarded as prized ones while deer, crocodiles, wild boar and wild buffalos are quite common sights. It is also a paradise for birders.

Yala is situated in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The jungle is mostly made of dry monsoon forests, thorny forests and grasslands. Among the larger varieties, Palu trees are quite common. This area gets water from two main rivers (Kumbukkan Oya and Menik Ganga), but those also run dry during dry seasons. A few tanks in the park keep all the animals alive during dry periods. One prominent tank is Butawa Wewa, which is known as the last water resource that remains even during heavy draughts.

Yala is famous for its historical significance as well. Quite a few ancient ruins are scattered in these areas and some are yet to be discovered. There are a few prominent temples situated within this park. Sithul Pahuwa is the most famous temple which is situated on top of a rocky outcrop. There are a few more rocky outcrops in the park and some of the more prominent ones are Akasa Chethiya (Elephant Rock), Jamburagala and Pimburagala.

The Indian Ocean is the southern boundary of Yala and it has some of the most beautiful and unique beaches in Sri Lanka like, Patanangala, Kumana and Minihagalkanda.

Yala is one of the must-go-places in Sri Lanka and I shall bring more about this place soon.

This post was selected for Kottu Section of week end news paper, The Sunday Leader.

Paradise for a Hiker

2010-04-04T17:33:00.014+05:30

This picture was taken close to Haldummulla on A4 road. The two pointed mountains on the left are known as Balathoduwa and Gonmolli Kanda. Both are over 2000 metres high. The plateau on your right is Horton Plains and the valley in between is where you find Bambarakanda waterfall.

Balathoduwa and Gonmolli Kanda are visible from World’s End, if it is a clear day without heavy mist. If you look closer in the picture, you may see a smaller mountain in front of Balathoduwa. It is known as Wangedigala belonging to the same mountain range. It was used as a watch tower in the ancient times.

I wanted to show this picture because, what lies in front of you is a paradise for a hiker!

To see more scenic images, explore this wonderful site - Scenic Sunday.

Found Him

2010-04-02T10:55:00.011+05:30

Hope you remember the leaf litter, I posted a few weeks back, and most of you identified a frog like pattern there.

Yesterday, our ornithology and wildlife expert, Gallicissa identified that toad as a rare species. I will quote his exact words below.

‘What you have photographed is a high-profile amphibian in Sri Lanka, which is endemic and scarce.

It was discovered only in 1998 by eminent Sri Lankan biologists, Kelum Nalinda Manamendra-Arachchi and Rohan Pethiyagoda from Koskulana near Panapola. It has been christened as Noellert's Toad, Bufo noellerti in honour of the German Herpatologist/Batrachologist, Andreas Noellert.

Noellert's Toad looks similar to the Common House Toad aka Asiatic House Toad Bufo melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) that you and I get in our houses and home gardens. However, it can be told apart by using numerous features. The main one that I used to tell this species from the commoner cousin, often found sympatrically, is the absence of 2 pairs of inter-paratoid warts in this species, which is present in Asiatic House Toad. The paratoid gland FYI, are the elevated and elongated sections on each side of the dorsal surface seen behind the eyes.’

My gratitude goes to Amila, as without him above creature would be just another toad!

Pelmadulla

2010-03-31T01:27:00.003+05:30

I captured this photo near Pelmadulla in Sabaragamuwa Province.

Towards Laxapana Continued

2010-03-27T11:34:00.007+05:30

This was also taken on the way to Laxapana but before coming to this place.

Click the image and enlarge it for a better view. Then you will see Laxapana falls like a small white thread in the middle of the picture, with Saptha Kanya as the backdrop.

Towards Laxapana

2010-03-24T22:34:00.010+05:30

Hope you remember the road to Diyaluma Falls and Bambarakanda Falls, I posted longtime back.

Most of the roads leading to waterfalls in Sri Lanka are quite stunning. The above picture is another example.

It was taken as soon as I turned towards Laxapana waterfall from Maskeliya road, near Seven Hills Farm. The mist covered mountain is Saptha Kanya Range.

Eye of Sauron

2010-03-22T22:39:00.008+05:30

I saw it above Thissamaharama recently!

The Bridge on the River Kwai

2010-03-19T08:55:00.013+05:30

Hope some of you may remember the award winning film in the 1950’s – The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Although the plot was set in Thailand, most of it was filmed in Kithulgala, Sri Lanka. The most important part of the film, the bridge was built across River Kelani instead of River Kwai. There is no bridge here today, but you can still see some of the reminiscences of the temporary bridge built just for the film. The above picture shows a recent image of the exact location where the bridge was built in 1957. I have added more pictures of this place here .

You can reach this place via Avissawella - Nuwara Eliya Road (A7). Just before Kithulgala Town, you have to turn to your right and walk along a foot path about a kilometer to reach this place.

Towards Kudawa

2010-03-16T22:42:00.006+05:30

This scenery was captured between Weddagala and Kudawa, on my way to Sinharaja rain forest.

Hope you can identify all the different types of palms in the picture.

Tag and a Story

2010-03-14T22:21:00.022+05:30

I have been tagged by Amaris from the wonderland of Brazil. The rules for this tag are as below.

1. Open your 1st Photo folder.
2. Scroll to the 10th photo.
3. Post the photo and the story behind it.
4. Tag 5 or more people.

Instead of choosing the first folder, I’m doing a little tweak and taking the first folder appears in my Picasa gallery. So this picture happened to be one taken sometime back from Panama Beach (pronounced as paːnəmə) and it shows a part of the curved beach (rather a thin strip of beach), the lagoon and the rocky outcrop. I still do not know what that statue like thing on the rock.

That day, we were swimming in the shallow waters and a few STF (Special Task Force from the Sri Lanka Police) soldiers came via a motor boat from the lagoon side and wanted to cross over to the sea. We helped them to push the boat over the thin strip of sand. We tried our best to convince them to take us to the nearby bird sanctuary, Kumana but they refused on safety reasons.

Remember this was during the height of war in the north of Sri Lanka and there were a few armed gangs from the LTTE, still roaming around the jungles of east. The soldiers were going to the camp in Okanda, between Panama and Kumana, which was restricted to public due to security threats those days. The STF members were doing a yeoman service to the villagers protecting them from the terrorists.

The next day we heard that there had been a bomb explosion in Okanda and two STF personnel were dead. It was such a sad news for us. Later we found out it was not any of the members of that group of soldiers, still we were quite shocked about what happened to their two colleagues. In fact, we understood why they refused to take us with them.

Today I’m relieved that the situation has changed rapidly after the war in the north and this particular area is declared safe for public. Tourism is flourishing and we can hike freely in these areas now.

We, Sri Lankans eternally grateful to the armed forces for their sacrifices to bring peace back to this country!

So that is the ‘story’ on above picture!

Thanks very much, Amaris for tagging me and I have tagged below friends. Next time it may be your chance to relate a story :D

1. George and Betsy from Tennessee, USA
2. Rainfield from Malaysia
3. Nicole right now in Egypt
4. Knatolee from Canada
5. Bhavesh from Pune, India

Find Me

2010-03-11T22:21:00.005+05:30

These scattered dry leaves were pictured in Sinharaja Forest!

Panorama

2010-03-09T22:47:00.009+05:30

This amazing view was captured from Sri Pada Mountain.

More from Dedugala Road

2010-03-06T19:55:00.010+05:30

Today, I’m bringing you the remainder of the refreshing journey I went from Bulathkohupitiya to Dedugala.

As I mentioned in a few other posts, this stretch of 12 km has many surprises. A traveler will come across prominent waterfalls like Rukmal Ella and Rikilla Ella. Also, he will see many smaller unknown water cascades like this one.

One of the prominent sceneries along this road is the 3000 feet high Dulgale Mountain. The road will go pass many rubber estates as shown in the above picture.

In addition to above, the narrow winding road will take you through many interesting places like this cave.

More pictures uploaded here.

Green Garden Lizard

2010-03-02T21:55:00.010+05:30

This is a common type of lizard found in Sri Lanka. I took this photo in Mulawella, Sinharaja rainforest.

He is posing for the camera! Isn't he?