Quantcast
Channel: One Day – Lakdasun Trip Reports Archive
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 598

Lesser known peak in upper border of Knuckles massif-Sandamadala-සදමඩල (800m)

$
0
0
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
  1. Start the journey in early morning.
  2. Carry a water bottle of 1l per person.
  3. This less strenuous-moderate strenuous hike. We spent about 2hours to reach the peak from Kotagala side.
  4. Wear an attire to protect your upper limbs from Mana.
  5. There is a bus operating from Naula to Opalgala round 7am and 11am. If you get this bus you can get down at the foot pathway to Kotagala village. Otherwise get a bus to reach Ambana junction and heir a three wheeler.
  6. I don’t encourage climbing from Galboda side as Kotagala side is easier and time saving.
  7. Better mention villagers of Kotagala that you are climbing the peak. They may show directions.
  8. Can predict leeches after rain. Leech protection methods to be followed.
  9. No risk of trap guns.
  10. Don’t pollute the area with plastic items.
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.

Map reading: The approximate place of Sandamadala is marked by black star. Approach from Galboda side is shown by black arrow and approach from Kotagala side is shown by red arrow. Closer peak Karagahathenna is shown by red star. Click image to enlarge.

Map reading: The approximate place of Sandamadala is marked by black star. Approach from Galboda side is shown by black arrow and approach from Kotagala side is shown by red arrow. Closer peak Karagahathenna is shown by red star. Click image to enlarge.

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.

Entering to Galboda village

Entering to Galboda village

Beautiful Galboda village

Beautiful Galboda village

It was a nice sunny day

It was a nice sunny day

Still it has some signs of an old village

Still it has some signs of an old village

First glimpse of Sandamadala peak (most left one)

First glimpse of Sandamadala peak (most left one)

Sandamadala Peak is shown in arrow

Sandamadala Peak is shown in arrow

Last house of the village

Last house of the village

Upper border of Knuckles massif

Upper border of Knuckles massif

Wind Chan

Wind Chan

The pipe line was our land mark and we followed it’s route

The pipe line was our land mark and we followed it’s route

Water stream at Galboda

Water stream at Galboda

Clear foot pathway up to some extent

Clear foot pathway up to some extent

Entering to the forest

Entering to the forest

Ascend through the forest patch

Ascend through the forest patch

Ascend through the forest patch

Ascend through the forest patch

Surrounding view-Towards Bakamuna side

Surrounding view-Towards Bakamuna side

Paddies at Galboda village

Paddies at Galboda village

Surrounding view.....

Surrounding view…..

At the end of Mana patch we are at base of the mountain

At the end of Mana patch we are at base of the mountain

Gedaragalapathana Mountain

Gedaragalapathana Mountain

Hawarimana peak

Hawarimana peak

Forest patch and mana we have passed

Forest patch and mana we have passed

After the Mana patch. I didn't try to click inside Mana.

After the Mana patch. I didn’t try to click inside Mana.

Smiled after a hectic climb through Mana

Smiled after a hectic climb through Mana

More and more close to the base....

More and more close to the base….

It is difficult to climb straightway along the rock

It is difficult to climb straightway along the rock

Move to the side of the peak. But we had to step down as steepness was more.

Move to the side of the peak. But we had to step down as steepness was more.

Coming down....

Coming down….

Coming down....

Coming down….

Coming down....

Coming down….

Under the shades of giant tree

Under the shades of giant tree

Myself and Eshan

Myself and Eshan

Mini cascade found at Galboda Oya

Mini cascade found at Galboda Oya

Deep pond comes across at Galboda Oya

Deep pond comes across at Galboda Oya

Along the pipe line

Along the pipe line

Back to village

Back to village

Good bye till I back to you

Good bye till I back to you

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.

View of northern edge of Knuckles massif in red arrow. Sandamadala is situated at this line. Black arrow shows the borderline mountain of Moragahakanda. The area in front of that would be submerged with water.

View of northern edge of Knuckles massif in red arrow. Sandamadala is situated at this line. Black arrow shows the borderline mountain of Moragahakanda. The area in front of that would be submerged with water.

Closer view and Sandamadala peak is shown by black star. Our unsuccessful attempt is shown by black arrow. Red arrow shows the direction from Kotagala side.

Closer view and Sandamadala peak is shown by black star. Our unsuccessful attempt is shown by black arrow. Red arrow shows the direction from Kotagala side.

Road starts to Kotagala Tamil village

Road starts to Kotagala Tamil village

Starting the journey....Entered into forest.

Starting the journey….Entered into forest.

Walking towards Kotagala village

Walking towards Kotagala village

Foot pathway to Kotagala village

Foot pathway to Kotagala village

Foot pathway to Kotagala village

Foot pathway to Kotagala village

Foot pathway to Kotagala village

Foot pathway to Kotagala village

Foot pathway to Kotagala village

Foot pathway to Kotagala village

First view of Sandamadala peak

First view of Sandamadala peak

Crossing the water stream. This might have a fast flow in rainy days.

Crossing the water stream. This might have a fast flow in rainy days.

Reaching Kotagala Tamil Village

Reaching Kotagala Tamil Village

Get directions from locals...They were positive minded

Get directions from locals…They were positive minded

Blessings from God

Blessings from God

Entering to the forest through a private land.

Entering to the forest through a private land.

Walking up in the forest.....

Walking up in the forest…..

Entering to Mana area. After this whole mountain was covered with Mana.

Entering to Mana area. After this whole mountain was covered with Mana.

View of Lenadora is seen as pointed peak.

View of Lenadora is seen as pointed peak.

There were foot pathways made by wild animals

There were foot pathways made by wild animals

Surrounding view on our way up....

Surrounding view on our way up….

Walking through Mana bushes.....

Walking through Mana bushes…..

Good place for camp site....

Good place for camp site….

On our way to the peak....

On our way to the peak….

Surrounding view....

Surrounding view….

Nearby other peak

Nearby other peak

Surrounding view

Surrounding view

Delicate

Delicate

Sometimes Mana was high up to half of our body

Sometimes Mana was high up to half of our body

Reaching the neck of the mountain. White arrow towards Hawarimana peak. According to our observation it can be climbed from this direction. Yellow arrow towards Sandamadala peak.

Reaching the neck of the mountain. White arrow towards Hawarimana peak. According to our observation it can be climbed from this direction. Yellow arrow towards Sandamadala peak.

Towards the peak..

Towards the peak..

Looked back....Neck of Sandamadala Mountain

Looked back….Neck of Sandamadala Mountain

The side we previously attempted

The side we previously attempted

Sandamadala Peak

Sandamadala Peak

Reaching the peak...

Reaching the peak…

Eshan is on top of Sandamadala peak

Eshan is on top of Sandamadala peak

I am on the peak

I am on the peak

Surrounding view from the peak

Surrounding view from the peak

Surrounding view from the peak towards Gedaragalapathana

Surrounding view from the peak towards Gedaragalapathana

Arangala and Bowathenna reservoir

Arangala and Bowathenna reservoir

Arangala peak in left hand side and Manikdena on right hand side

Arangala peak in left hand side and Manikdena on right hand side

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.

Hawarimana peak with it’s surrounding range

Hawarimana peak with it’s surrounding range

Towards Galboda side

Towards Galboda side

To be our next target

To be our next target

Towards Galboda side....

Towards Galboda side….

Two men team was successful

Two men team was successful

Towards Opalgala side

Towards Opalgala side

Coming down

Coming down

Coming down

Coming down

Temporary shelter made by wild bores

Temporary shelter made by wild bores

Coming down....

Coming down….

Coming down....

Coming down….

Not to be eaten.

Not to be eaten.

Something for their lunch

Something for their lunch

Passing Kotagala Village

Passing Kotagala Village

Passing Kotagala Village

Passing Kotagala Village

It was bit earlier to finish a trip....

It was bit earlier to finish a trip….

Last section of Foot pathway between Kotagala and Opalgala

Last section of Foot pathway between Kotagala and Opalgala

Elephants in Opalgala

Elephants in Opalgala

Thanks for reading


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 598

Trending Articles