Tracking to “Kabbale peak” in Kaneliya

Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya is a forest complex in southern Sri Lanka. This is the last large remaining rainforest in Sri Lanka other than Siharaja. This forest is one of prosperous fauna zone in south Asia. It’s spread over 101.4km area. This is situated about 35km towards Northern western from Galle town. This forest provides good security to many of rivers in southern Sri Lanka. And also this rain forest is a main water source which filled up “Nilwala” & “Gin”.

Even I went Kanneliya before, I tracking on the common route. So we decided to try the way across “kabbale” peak though that route is more difficult. According to that we planned to go along that route in this time.

Four of us start from Galle at about 6am & other two friends join with us along the way. After get the breakfast at Udugama, Other two guys are joined. Then we went to Kanneliya conservation rain forest.

First Seen in “Kabbale” peak along the way

Along the way to Kanneliya

At the entrance

Clear target

There were lot of people came to “Kanneliya” on that day because of a holiday. (But there were not anyone who select “Kabbale” path.) It seems to be a dislike of guides to climb “kabbale” those days because of the evening rain fall. The lightening with the rainfall is the main reason for that. However we contacted a guide and started journey around 9am.

We started from the plantation which situated at preserving center ad entering to the jungle and also we had to face crucial leeches’ attacks because of the wet surrounding.

Select any route – Click Image to Enlarge

Entering to dark forest

Wet surrounding

Crucial attacks

Still darken

Thick forest

We met the first resting place which was “Kospalaketiya” after 1.5km away from the start. It can’t be scene a good condition to stay there and rest and also the leech amount was very high. So we passed there and get some rest at a place which had a good sunlight.

The way from here was a little ascent and the handrail which erected by the wild preservative department is make easy our journey. After 700m ahead from here we met “Gallalidola Ella” and can be getting pure water from there.

Clear path

“කොස් පැලකැටිය” resting place

Co-operation

Get some rest

Start an ascent

Bunch of cap-fungi

“ගල්ලෑලි දොළ” fall

Last beverage source

What a seat…

Hand rail is very helpful

Leaf art

We can enter to the “Kabbale peak” along a hard way with a high ascent. We can see here very beautiful surrounding with a mountain forest range. The wetness of surrounding and the leeches’ attacks are disappeared by now.

“Mada kabbale” resting place is situated small distance ahead from here. That resting place is in a good condition. But it should be said that this is a danger zone in rainy days. Because of that many of trees in here were affected to lightening.

First view point in “Kabbale” peak

Spreading towards sea line

Hard workers

Greenish precipice

Nice couple

බාදුරා (Insect trap)

Strong bind

Type of cap-fungi

Just Click

දුම්මල

Free from leaches

Just click

How cruel

Now we reached “මැද කබ්බලේ”

Ghost

Our gang at the first peak

Resting place in “මැද කබ්බලේ”

Type of cap-fungi

Another one

Looking proudly

Friendly guy

Alien look

Just click

Type of cap-fungi

Go forward

“කටු කිතුල්”

After passing a brow and cossing about 800 M Mountain we met the top of the “Kabbale” which is the key point of this natural forest. This also called as “Mahakabbale” and we can see towards south coastal line from here. According to our guide we can see the Galle harbor also from here in a day having a clear sky.

We decided to speed up our journey because of the forecasting of a rain. The way is fall from here along a high brow. We could scene many of “Mandora”, “Wal warka”, “Hal” and “Kalu madiriya” trees in here.

Poganatum

Type of cap-fungi

Flowers of “ගොන්දිව”

The view from “මහ කබ්බලේ”

Type of cap-fungi

Design of cap-fungi

Passing “ගල්පොත්ත”

Just click

Mini buddies

Get roled up in love

Like lamp shades

Little bit large

Green world

Climb down

It’s like old

Nice colour

Just born

“තණකොළ ගොඩ නැග්මේ” resting place

Creeper

Little stream

“katamada”

Now reaching to plain area

Cap-Fungi

Just click

Type of Cap-Fungi

Green snail

Anthill at “Galgoda kanda giman hala”

Just click

Nice design

We entered to main road at about 2pm with leaving “kabbale” path and then we went to watch “Anagimala ella”. After spend some time there we stepped towards preservative center again with the intention of remove the big hungry and tired.

Entering to main way

Amazing “Anagimala fall”

Full view

Watch tower

Natural tunnel

“Jumping Lizard”

Another one

Green path

Another successful ending

With a long breath

Thank you very much for reading my report.

Have a safe & successful journey!!