| Year and Month | January, 2015 |
| Number of Days | One |
| Crew | 2 (myself & Kamalawarna) |
| Guide | Gopal |
| Accommodation | Friends place at Badulla on the previous day |
| Transport | Pajero |
| Activities | Scenery / trekking / Hiking / Photography |
| Weather | A mixture of Sunny and misty conditions |
| Route | Badulla -> Hali ela-> Welimada -> Nuwara eliya -> Brookside -> Mahakudagala watta -> Nuwara eliya -> Kandy -> Chilaw |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Author | Ashan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
The map – Click to enlarge
It was the end of North – East monsoons and the sun was shining on mother Lanka. Since this was the ideal period to do a hike around Nuwara eliya, we decided to attempt to conquer the 9th highest peak called Mahakudagala which was once a part of Piduruthalagala reserve. Kamalawarna decided to join me with all of his lenses on this hike and I was happy to find a companion at the last minute. We reached Nuwara eliya around 7am and took the Udupussellawa road. Just before Brookside we took the high forest road until we reached Mahakudugala factory. While we were finding a place to climb up we came across Gopal who volunteered to show us the path.
 Dawn at uva |
 namunukula as seen from hakgala |
 maha kuda gala and ragala range |
 our target |
 a different view |
 standing tall |
After taking many turns in the tea estate we came to a small shrine where we halted our vehicle and started climbing through the tea bushes (refer the gps map to see the trail head). We did have our breakfast on the way before we entered the jungle path. We were told that even foreigners do this hike and on some occasions they do camp here. The path was marked on trees with red paint at some locations but even without those markings one could follow a clear path along the neck until the summit is reached. Just before the summit there was a nice camping site (but no water) which we decided to camp on another day.
 off we go |
 entering the forest |
 the path |
 decaying |
 mountain forest |
 micro life |
 bit of sun |
 kamalawarna was running with gopal |
 webbed |
 camp site close to summit |
We reached the summit around 10am ending a one hour uphill hike. It was very well rewarding. On one side we could easily see the Piduruthalagala range and the gap where Mandaram nuwara is located. Though it was bit misty we did manage to see towards Rikillagaskada, Udupussellawa, Ragala, High forest, Padiyapelella town and etc. we did proceed towards another rocky ledge where one could enter the dense forest of Ragala range.
 wow what a view |
 looking down |
 Padiyapelella town |
 zoomed |
 towards rikillagaskada |
 misty central hills |
 high forest |
 tree tops from birds eye view |
 life on the summit |
 mountain tree tops |
 colourful |
 another view |
 with many lenses |
 our guide gopal |
 ashoka |
 piduruthalagala range |
 piduruthalagala summit |
 lovely isnt it |
a pano
 summit flag |
 locating landmarks |
 the next view point |
 gorgeous |
 zoomed leaves |
 ragala side |
 the forest |
 bowitiya |
 misty ragala range |
 life on the rock |
 mist is catching up |
 he didnt want to leave |
 time to leave |
 the team (Kamalawarnas pic) |
 serpent eagle (kamalawarnas pic) |
 good bye mahakudagala |
After having a snack we decided to get down since the mist was not in our favour. The most interesting thing was our guide Gopal who was afraid of heights and he always kept good 30 feet away from the edge. After getting down and thanking Gopal we returned back to Nuwara eliya to end our half day hike and return back to our destinations.
 getting back |
 Within the forest (kamalawarnas pic) |
 a leech on the frog |
 the violet tinge |
 returned back |
 awaiting our return |
 we were there |
 Our guide,Gopal’s family (kamalawarnas pic) |
 Brookside |
 bomburu ella reservoir |