Day Hike to Kokagala /කොකාගල (640m)

Year and Month	2017 April 16th
Number of Days	01
Crew	08-Chamara, Indranatha, Sampath, Chanuka, three local guides and Myself
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Bus, Car and Hiking
Activities	Hiking and photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Polonnaruwa->Kandy->Padiyathalawa (පදියතලාව) ->Maunnewela (මාවුන්නේවෙල)->Kokagala (කොකාගල) ->Kandy
Tips, Notes and Special remark	No need permission Start the journey early. Better wear long attire. Carry a bottle to refill with water. There are water streams at low levels. No fresh or drinkable water on top of the rock. No wild elephants or trap guns Need a guide This is an unpolluted area. Please maintain it. It takes 2-3 hours to reach the peak.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Day Hike to Kokagala /කොකාගල (640m) Related article: Mighty Kokagala the vantage point of Padiyatalawa (640m)

Kokagala is a rock situated at Ampara district closer to Padiyathalawa town. It borders Badulla and Ampara district. On the other side it touches Maduru Oya forest reserve. Though Kokagala has no historical value it has been used as a vantage point by two surveyors in colonial period.
It has been at my to-do list for a long time once Ashan has conquered it. While Chamara and myself were discussing about a hike after Sinhala New Year it came to my mind. With a short notice Ashan has contacted the guide-Sumanarathna. Unfortunately he has planned to visit at relatives place on that day but promised us to introduce someone who knows the path.
I have joined with Chamara at Kandy and we have reached Padiyathalawa by bus. Other three came by the car and joined with us at Padiyathalawa. Sumanarathna came to Padiyathalawa to accompany us. First we were offered by New Year sweets with tea at Sumanarathna’s place. Then he called to the guide who was a 17 years old boy named as “Bolaya”-බෝලයා by others. Sumanarathna’s son also joined with us.
At the end there were eight for the journey and we started the hike by 10.30 am which was fairly late.
Kokagala has a typical dry zone forest and we had to ascend under forest canopy first. We came across a water spring there to refill our bottles. This first stretch of ascend was bit tough and there was a place we had to climb with assistance of creeps. At the end we have reached an open area where view was incomplete.
Second stretch of forest canopy was relatively flat and then we entered second open area. Then onwards we had to walk on a relatively flat area to reach the summit.
Kokagala summit is a flat area of about hundred acres. The highest point was identified by engraved letters done by two British surveyors. Erskine (1910) and John Silva (1921) have been here. I came across evidences of Erskine on Galpadihela and Kukulagala as well. As it was situated in the middle of the peak, we had to walk to an edge to enjoy the surrounding view.
Though weather was sunny, there was a mist which hides clear surrounding view. We had to try our best to identify surrounding peaks and reservoir. It was around 1pm when we reached the peak. Surrounding structures were Rathkinda-Ulhitiya reservoir, Maduru Oya reservoir, Rathkinda-Ulhitiya Mountain, Namal Oya ranges etc. Though Ashan has identified number of peaks we were unable to work out.
After having lunch with grams and sweets we started return journey which made in 2 hours.
We said good bye to three young boys and Sumanarathna. Our day was completed after having a dip on our way back.