| Year and Month | 2016 Octomber 30th |
| Number of Days | One |
| Crew | Two-Chamara and My self |
| Accommodation | Not applicable |
| Transport | Bus, Three wheel and climbing |
| Activities | Hiking, Sightseeing and Photography |
| Weather | Excellent |
| Route | Colombo->Kandy->Ududumbara (උඩුදුම්බර) ->Uda Iluka (උඩඉලුක)->Velangolla Pathana (වෙලන්ගොල්ල පතන) ->Medakelle (මැද කැලේ)->Lihinikatiya (ලිහිනිකැටිය)->Batumulla (බටුමුල්ල)-> Udaththawa (උඩත්තාව)->Udawela (උඩවෙල) ->Hasalaka->Kandy->Colombo |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Related Resources | Back to Yahangala |
| Author | Niroshan and Chamara |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
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This was our back to back visit to Velangolla Pathana in order to view elephants. It was kind of a rare incident to watch elephants at high attitude. We have seen an elephant on Velangolla Pathana on our way to climb Yahangala. It was seen far and we have noticed it was not moving much. We were so curious on watching this elephant and planned a separate journey to visit the elephants at Yahangala Pathana.
But it was only Chamara and myself on the day of visiting Velangolla Pathana. As usual we started the journey early morning and reached Ududumbara. We had our breakfast from Ududumbara and hired a three wheeler to reach the trail head to Velangolla Pathana. We were familiar to the environment due to recent visit.
Chamara and myself reached Velangolla Pathana in 1hour time. Surrounding was bit gloomy compared to our Yahangala visit.
Velangolla Pathana spreads on right side of Yahangala. Basically it is covered with grass and Mana bushes. It is not a flat plateau. Velangolla Pathana has less tall trees except the mana patch. Our plan was to get down to Udawela side from Pathana and reach Hasalaka.
 Yahangala becomes an acceptable tourist attraction |
 Following rituals before enter the forest. Photo belongs Chamara |
 On the way to Velangolla Pathana-Garandigala at back drop |
 At Velangolla Pathana. Two man team with back drop of Yahangala. Photo belongs to Chamara. |
 Get blessings from Gale Bandara Dewiyo. Photo belonges to Chamara. |
 View of Kehelpothdoruwegala from Velangolla Pathana |
 View of Knuckles peaks from Velangolla Pathana. Click credit goes to Chamara. |
 View of Balalgira from Velangolla Pathana. Click credit goes to Chamara. |
 Paddies of Uda Iluka. Click credit goes to Chamara. |
 Moving on Velangolla Pathana. |
We always kept our path at the edge of Pathana to view the drop. Last time we have noticed the elephant at the middle of Pathana. We have passed small Pinus patch and reached almost flat grassy area. Suddenly we noticed an elephant at a drop with 15-20m gap. We were nervous and started to run back. But when we looked back we saw the elephant was also running away from us. It made to stop us and move towards the elephant. The elephant gradually hided into tree cover and we could see another one with this elephant.
 We always kept our path along the edge of right hand side of Pathana. |
 Nice cross section of Velangolla. It shows the step ladder way of climbing Yahangala. |
 This shows our pathway along Velangolla Pathana. |
 The view towards Uda Iluka. |
 Chamara is enjoying the view. |
 Velangolla Pathana and Yahangala. |
 Velangolla Pathana and Yahangala |
 It was kind of a gloomy weather. |
 Foot pathways from Kalugala to reach Velangolla Pathana. We used one of these to descend in 2010. |
 Velangolla Pathana. |
 Velangolla Pathana. Click credit goes to Chamara. |
 Different appearance of Yahangala |
 At the edge |
 Pinus patch |
 Most beautiful section of Velangolla Pathana |
 Most beautiful section of Velangolla Pathana |
 Velangolla Pathana |
 Velangolla Pathana |
 Fresh elephant dung |
 Passing a small peak at Velangolla Pathana |
 Looked back….. |
 Typical plateau. This area is good for camping. |
 Typical plateau. This area is good for camping. |
 The descend of Pathana where we assumed to have elephants. Click credit goes to Chamara. |
 Coming across jumbo…… The elephant is also running away from us. Click credit goes to Chamara |
 The elephant is moving away from us… Click credit goes to Chamara. |
 Under the cover of trees. Click credit goes to Chamara. |
 Under the cover of trees. Click credit goes to Chamara. |
 Click credit goes to Chamara |
 The elephant roaming at Velangolla Pathana. Third encounter. Click credit goes to Chamara. |
 Second one out of three. Click credit goes to Chamara. |
 Hope these elephants have enough food and water at this Pathana. |
Then we moved further and reached the other end of Pathana. Velangolla Pathana gradually connects with the low land from this side. On the other side we saw a
Chena with a small house. But there was a huge drop where we wanted to get down. We looked for a foot pathway to reach this Chena but it was not successful. Then we decided to get down through Mana bushes at the drop to reach Chena.
 Nearby lake at Batumulla side. Photographed by Chamara Perera. |
 18 hair pin bends / photographed by Chamara Perera. |
 The drop to Batumulla side. Photographed by Chamara Perera. |
 The drop to Udaththawa side. |
 Pathana gradually connects with low land from this end. |
 Pathana gradually connects with low land from this end. |
 View of Yahangala and Kehelpothdoruwegala with Velangolla Pathana. |
 Incidental capturing…. |
 Getting down through Mana patch |
 Mana and Velangolla Pathana |
 Where we were….. |
This Chena belongs to Kiri Banda Mama (කිරි බණ්ඩා මාමා) who is 86years old. He lives here with her disabled daughter. They asked us to stop for “Kahata”/කහට but we politely refused it and got directions to Batumulla where we can get a bus. It was almost a descend from there to Batumulla. By one and half hour we reached Batumulla. We had a small wash from Batumulla hospital and hired a threewheel to Hasalaka.
 The Chena at Medakelle |
 Reaching Chena |
 Posed for group photo. Belongs to Chamara Perera. |
 Small road named by his name. |
 Crossing the bridge |
 Map reading: Click to enlarge. Blue star shows our start from Uda Iluka. Black star shows Velangolla Pathana. Red star shows Medakelle village where we descend. |
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