A walk to Hanthana Mountain Range

Hanthana Mountain range is made up with various mountain peaks and it is a popular destination among the mountain hikers in Sri Lanka, especially among the university students as well as foreigners. This hike was a sudden decision of us since we felt the months of heavy rains just over. We were thinking where to go, then without wasting days we decided to explore Hanthana.

As we checked there are 2 main trailheads which are leading to the top of Hanthana. One is from the “University of Peradeniya” side and the other one is from “Hanthana 4th mile post” (Hatharekanuwa) side. We decided to take the “Hanthana 4th mile post” trail. I have done it for few times but climbed only the 1st & 2nd peaks which are with the communication towers on it. Since all 3 of our homes residing in Kandy area we decided to leave Colombo at night of the previous day & meet up in the early morning on the following day.

As planned, 3 of us met at the Kandy town around 07:30 in the morning. We were able to catch the “Kandy – Uduwela” bus without wasting much time which is going towards the trail head. We had only 2 bottles of water, some homemade sandwiches and a pack of cream crackers. That is because we knew this is not hard like our previous hikes. (There we learnt a good lesson at the end of the trail)

It was a quick ride through tea estates & beautiful sceneries. After around 30 minutes we got down at the trailhead. Please note there was no place to buy anything and we did not see any person around. There is a board placed at the trailhead so anyone can find it very easily. (MOUNTAIN RANGE VIEW POINT AT HANTHANA 4TH MILE POST) We started walking through the 4wd road which exists only for around 200 meters and the foot path begins at the end of it. Trekking the foot path was not that hard and we were able to climb to the top of the 1st peak within 30 minutes time.

Trailhead – Click Image to Enlarge

Beginning of the footpath

Kandy town. On the way to the 1st peak.

The 1st peak

The tower at the 1st peak

Surroundings

Knuckles centered

Surroundings

1st & 2nd peaks are security zones due to communication towers. But there are no restrictions to get ahead & nobody questioned us. There was an easy climb from 1st peak to the 2nd which took us only few minutes. As soon as we passed the tower at the 2nd peak the footpath got disappeared. Then onwards we had to tackle a thick grassland (mana patch). Mana has grown more than our heights. It told us nobody came that way from a long time. At the end of it there is a bedrock which called “Gal Poththa” by the villagers.

1st peak as seen from the 2nd peak

Kandy Colombo road

Long way to go

The crew. Thanks to the self timer

While crossing the mana patch

Alagalla

Sitting at the edge

We had our breakfast at “Gal Poththa” & waited there for few minutes. To continue from here to the other peaks we had to descend through the rock, enter the jungle and again fight with a thick grassland. Footpath was clear in the jungle & it was easy for us to find the way. After few minutes of walk we met the mana patch. Once it is crossed back again to the tree line. This “mana patch to tree line” – “tree line to mana patch” and “descending” – “ascending” processes repeat throughout the journey.

Crossing the tree line

Again. There is no other option

Looking back. Under the trees again

Creations

A beauty

Guess what?

Looking back from the 3rd peak. Gal Poththa & 2nd peak can be seen

The process of descending & ascending

After descending the 3rd peak we could not find any footpath in the trees or in the grassland. Crossing the mana patches was so difficult than crossing the tree lines and tree lines were lesser. It was becoming hot and we were running out of water too. So the consumption of water became limited. We always tried to climb uphill even though we did not see any mountain tops. It was continuous. However we managed to reach several peaks.

Web

A drop

Another

It’s getting hotter

Mahaweli river

Exploring

Everyone wanted to be photographed here

Another drop

Finally as we checked, we were above to climb up the last peak of Hanthana mountain range. As well as we were totally out of water. I badly wanted to continue but considering the situation we decided to descend to the tree line and reach a village. Also we believed that we could find water in the trees. Descending to the jungle was fast. But it was not the one we expected. It was really hard & disturbing to descend through.  There were only little spaces between the trees and leaves which gave us a very hard time. But we were very lucky to hear the most awaited sound……. Of water. Yes. Finally we found it. Pure & precious.

The phase we couldn’t do. The place where we gave up

These were everywhere

A flower?

Waiting till it fills

Pure & Precious

After refreshing ourselves we were back on track but could not go further down even at least 20 meters. It was really amazing. There wasn’t a single space for us to go through the trees. I had to pack the camera & put it in to the backpack in order to manage myself & for safety. Climbing up was the only option we had & we proceeded.

While trekking in this tree line we came across a wall which built by stones (Gal Bemma). As I remember it was like 2 feet high. Couldn’t capture, I was not in a mood to take the camera out. Wonder who did it, when & why? Has anybody seen that before?

We climbed uphill, walked back through the way we came and found a possible area to descend which is a fines patch. The binocular which I got as a gift from my wife helped us to get a clear view & identify everything in detail. There was a 4wd road going through the fines patch. So without wasting a second we started to descend.

Fines patch

Wow

This is not Horton

More water

Orchids

Orchids

Getting there

Time was at around 16:00. We reached the 4wd road & found a water source to have a bath. Next question was “which way we should go?” and we decided to go right after considering several factors. Maps on the phone were not loading due to poor signals.

Road

Bathtub

Endless walk

After a walk of x number of kilometers we came to a place where only few families live in a middle of a tea estate. As per them we have to go to Sarasavigama & take a bus to Kandy. They showed us a shortcut too saying there are only around 1 ½ kms. I usually multiply the distances which villagers providing by 4. And I was correct on this time too.. It took us around 1 hour & few minutes to reach Sarasavigama. We were lucky to catch the last bus from there to kandy.