Hiking Hanthana Range within a Day

Hanthana is the most popular hiking place among University students. Normally Social Trips and Batch trips are planned to hanthana due to less travelling time. It is my long term dream to hike Hanthana. With the aid of trip reports on Hanthana in Lakdasun we planned this trip.

Hanthana can be hiked from various routes;

1. 4^th Mile Post at Kandy-Uduwela (Hanthana road)
2. Heerassagala – Amaya Hills
3. Peradeniya University – Upper Hanthana Lodge

Sarasavigama- Hadabima janapadaya

Map – click to enlarge

The Shortest and easiest is the 4^th Mile post path. So we selected the 1^st option.

All of us gathered at Kandy clock tower by 6:30 and had our breakfast at nearby hotel. We lucky enough to catch the Kandy – Uduwala bus started journey at 7 am. By 7.25 am we were at 4^th milepost where the trail starts.

The Clock tower of Kandy

Statue of Lieutenant General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa

Dalada Veediya

The Trail head – Towers at 1st and 2nd Peaks are visible.

Team at the trailhead

On the way to 1st peak

From the trail head we reached our 1^st peak within 30 minutes. It’s less than a kilo meter hike. There are telecommunication towers located in the first and second peaks. Also sanitary and drinking water facilities are available at these peaks as there are individuals who resides there to maintain and monitor these towers.

Towers at 1st peak – Peak 2 visible

A good view

Peak 2 in the background

Samasara kanda-Aranayake zoomed

Gatambe Junction – Gannoruwa road

Half-way to 2nd peak

A viewing point

The team-Selfie

There are good views from the first peak. We can see the Kandy city area, Peradeniya, Gatambe, teldeniya areas from this peak. Hiking the second peak won’t take much time it’s about 100 meters. The second peak also gives you an elevated views of the surrounding.

Close to 2nd peak

2nd peak

Greeny paradise.

The Rock phase

To the edge of the rock

The way we came

.	Beautiful path

Beauty

The Hanthana range

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To reach the other part we have should descend along the rock and take the forest path. The path is clearly visible and not a difficult task.

Entering the forest patch

Came out.

Shiny

Clear path

We are following

The Way back

Ratnasiri Wickramanayake Training Centre

Resting time

Rest of the range

Path from Upper hanthana lodge joins here

Good place for camping

Police Barracks

After this point the footpath directs to the tea estate through a forest patch. at the mid of this forest patch we met some members of the University explorers club members and they directed us with the path to Katusu konda which is our final destination. The weather was challenging us very often. so we hurried up folloed the path to the top. We did see the non-other than mist on top.

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The drop

mist

mist

water drops

Colorful flowers

Variety

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Can you see the difference?

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Katusu kondha

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Nothing is visible

The were able to reach katusu kondha at around 2pm. Unfortunately we could see nothing due to misty weather. In few minutes its started to rain. So we rushed in to the cave located closer to Katusu kondha.

At the cave

path

Somebody camped here

Way to Sarasavigama… Descending

Spending some time at the cave we decided to go the the Sarasavigama at around 3 pm. With the rain and misty conditions we couldn’t find the path to Sarasavigama. However, with the help of GPS and Maps we got the navigation. Nothing is visible due to mist. There are rocky phases in the path descending through these a very dangerous. There are very slippery in the rain. So we tried alternated paths. It took around 2 hours to descend this 2 km path.

At around 5pm we reached Sarasavigama and able to catch the bus to Kandy with the help of a threewheeler. by 5:30pm we were at Peradeniya.

At the end it was a new experience and Enjoyable trip!

Thanks for reading..