Year and Month | Successful attempt- 13th August 2016 Initial visit- 28th February 2016 |
Number of Days | Two separate days |
Crew | 3-Eshan, Anupama and myself |
Accommodation | Not applicable |
Transport | Bus and Hiking |
Activities | Hiking and Photography |
Weather | Excellent |
Route | 1st visit: Polonnaruwa->Naula->Ambana junction (අඹ්න හoදිය) in Elahara road->Opalgala (ඔපල්ගල) Road->Galboda (ගල්බොඩ) village->Sandamadala->Back along same route to Polonnaruwa 2nd visit: Opalgala road->Kotagala (කොටගල) village->Sandamadala->Back along same route to Polonnaruwa |
Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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Author | Niroshan |
Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
Sandamadala is a lesser known peak situated at upper border of Knuckles massif. I have never know about such a peak till Eshan mentioned about it. He has been at beautiful Galboda village to visit Galboda waterfall (not famous Galabada waterfall in Watawala) and noticed this beautiful peak.
This journey was special as we tried to climb this mountain in two sides and only second attempt was successful. After first visit I have done map review and found this Galboda area is situated closer to Karagahathenna. But I couldn’t locate where this peak is situated when I was on Karagahathenna. It is very prominent and beautiful in Galboda side and less prominent in Kotagala side. (Not the famous Kotagala in Nuweraeliya).
First visit to Sandamadala from Galboda side
It was a bright sunny day and I travelled from Polonnaruwa to Naula and got a bus to Opalgala. Then I got down at Ambana junction till Anupama and Eshan come by bike. Ambana junction was familiar to me due to my previous visit to Opalgala cascades. It was a three way junction and we drove towards Galaboda village. Galboda is a beautiful but kind of an isolated village situated proximity to Knuckles forest reserve.
We parked our bike at Eshan’s known house at village. Then we followed the foot pathway at edge of Galboda Oya. Galbada oya joins with Amban Ganga at Ambana junction. It was not difficult to trace the foot pathway as the pipe line was laid there.
At one point we entered into the forest towards Sandamadala peak.
From there onwards it was a continuous ascend under the shades of trees with no proper foot pathway. We targeted the peak. The forest joined with a mana patch which was uttered difficult to creep. Then we were at the base of the mountain. The steepness was more to climb and fewer bushes were there to hold. Then we moved to side of the mountain and climbed for some height with assistance of bushes. At one point we decided to give up the climbing as steepness was more and more.
Return journey was also bit difficult but we reached the village in 2hours time compared to 3-3.30 hours we spent for climbing up. It was bit disappointed time as we couldn’t reach the peak even after tough climb. But we assumed the peak can be reached via easier way and said bye to the challenging mountain.
Successful visit to Sandamadala from Kotagala side
This was the day luck was with us. As usual I came from Polonnaruwa and I got a lift till Ambana junction. I was able to view Sandamadala with the nearby giant-Hawarimana range above reserved Moragahakanda area. I met Eshan at Ambana junction (who came by motor bike) and had our breakfast. Then we drove along Opalgala road and got left hand side turn to reach Kotagala Tamil village. After about 500m drive road ended and we parked the bike at nearby house. They said it’s about 30-45minutes walk to Kotagala village.
It was a scenic walk under the shadows of trees at the edge of a water stream. We met few villagers coming down to buy their daily needs from Opalgala on our way. It was an ascend to Kotagala village and Sandamadala with it’s nearby similar peak were viewed just before the destination.
Kotagala Tamil village shelters for about 25-30families. They were asked to leave the area due to the threat of landslides. This isolated village doesn’t have a road and connected to Opalgala and Andawala side by foot pathways.
We inquired about Sandamadala peak but they are not using such a name for the peak. It is just another mountain for them but can be reached. After getting directions from locals we started the journey. First we came to the end of the village and then entered the forest through village border. Then we creped through bushes till meet Mana patch. From here onwards till the peak it was full length of Mana. There were foot pathways through Mana area but it misled us sometimes. We targeted the peak and reached their in 1-1.5 hours time. This was considerably an easy hike compared to our 1st attempt in other side of the peak.
The neck of the mountain has blow of wind. It was the place where Hawarimana range is connected. After reaching the peak we got down somewhere down to other side to work out our previous attempt. Steepness was more in that side but possible to get down to Galboda village.
We could view Arangala, Bowathenna reservior, Manikdena, Lenadora, Gedaragalapathana, construction area of Moragahathenna and Galaboda village from top of Sandamadala mountain.
After reaching the peak we descended somewhere down towards Galboda side to see what happened us in last time. The steepness was more but to get down from that side was possible. It took around one and half hour for return journey. It was kind of early finished one day trip.
Thanks for reading