Piduruthalagala Summit by Motor Bicycles

Year and Month	January 2013
Number of Days	Two
Crew	4 (between 20-25 years of age)
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Motor Bicyceles
Activities	Wildlife, Photography, Mountaineering
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo -> Avissawella -> Hatton -> Nuwaraeliya
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Carry enough water Do not attempt to the summit by three wheelers or motor bicycles Hiring vans area available for Piduruthalagala at Nuwaraeliya city Do not stop your vehicle on the way to the summit Be prepare to heavy cold
Related Resources	Trip reports on Piduruthalagala
Author	MSRF
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This trip was happened in January 2013. I wanted to go the highest mountain in Sri Lanka and at that time I knew that is not allowed due to high security reasons. However I directly called Ministry of Defense office and explain them about my requirement. After that I send a request letter with names, NIC no of my friends and the motor bicycle numbers too. On the same day within 2 hours they faxed my confirmation letter which is under ministry letter head and with the director’s signature. After that I was awaited for that day where I can be at Piduruthalagala.

On that day we four left from Colombo via Avissawella to Hatton and then turned to Nuwaraeliya road which is more familiar to our rides. However on that day we spent 3 hours to reach Nuwaraeliya from Hatton due to the maintenance of the road. On that days Hatton-Nuwaraeliya road is like a hell, too narrow and gravel type road. That day there were big traffics due to renovations of the road and now you all can see a beautiful carpet road which will take around 1 and half hour to Hattoon-Nuwaraeliya.

After we had our breakfast at Nanuoya we stopped our bicycles at the main entrance check point of the Piduruthalagala, We showed them the letter and they took our mobiles and cameras. However I was able to keep my camera secretly with me. One of my friend already contacted a known officer who lived at the camp on the top. Hence we meet him at the top of the mountain and he took us to see the whole area where public cannot go and he allowed me to take photographs of them too.

We spend more than 3 hours and had some tea and biscuits from him and walked around the camp site and we went inside of the satellite rooms and those are not captured by us. Reaching to the mountain from the base check point is about 7km and it is too difficult to use 2nd and 3rd gear at most time. Whole the road is concreted and 10ft wide road. Those days there were small Bankurs on the way of the road and we saw some sambar, wild boar too.

Now anyone can go to this mountain without any prior approval from the ministry. But motor bicycles and three wheelers cannot go on that road due to the protection of the people from Leopards, Wild Boars.

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