| Year and Month | 2017 July 09th |
| Number of Days | One |
| Crew | 07-Chamara, Nuwan, Indranatha, Sampath, Supun, Nalinda and Myself |
| Accommodation | N/A |
| Transport | Bus, Car and hiking |
| Activities | Hiking and photography |
| Weather | Sunny and intermittent drizzling |
| Route | Colombo->Nuwara Eliya->Ragala->Diyanilla (දියනිල්ල) (67th KM post)-> Ragala Range->Rathnayaka Pathana (රත්නායක පතන) at 70th KM post-> Walapane->Kandy->Colombo |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Related Resources | Ragala Rock රාවණා රජුගේ තවත් එක් කතා පුවතක් You tube video clip |
| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
I was searching some literature about Mahakudugala (මහකුඩුගල) and accidentally found this video clip in my search. It was about Ragala Rock which also relates to Rawana Legend and situated closer to Mahakudugala. Actually Mahakudugala and Ragala Rock are two peaks of one range.
Ragala rock has unique appearance due to it’s out growth rock and has different viewpoints. King Rawana got injured in Rama-Rawana war and he was bought here to treat. Seetha has made some herbal pills but Rama converted them to small stones. Villagers believe these stones still can be seen at somewhere of this rock. And it is 19th highest peak of SL.
I have arranged it as a day trip altogether there were seven hikers at the beginning. It was around 9.30am when we got down at 67th KM post at Ragala-Walapane road (B413). (Though the documentary says starts at 68th KM post we were directed by locals this as a short cut).
Soon we entered the tea estate and passed few houses where we filled our water bottles. We got directions from locals and got left hand turn infront of small play ground. All the way it was Eucalyptus trees and after about 100m foot pathway got vanished. We directed towards the peak and soon we realized why it is called as the short cut probably due to steepness. It was much difficult due to slippery dried leaves on the floor. There were fewer bushes to hold and somehow we reached the peak of the range in one and half hours time.
 Ragala Rock is shown by black star and red star shows Mahakudugala. Note both are in one range. |
 Different peaks of Ragala Rock and Mahakudugala are shown in Google map. We reached most right hand side peak first and walk over the range. |
 View of Ragala rock at 68KM post |
 The team at the beginning |
 Unique appearance of peaks…. This reminds me Idalgashinna Mountain. |
 Passing the tea patch |
 Passing the tea patch |
 Get directions from locals |
 Small village at the end of tea patch, where we filled our bottles |
 We got left hand side turn closer to play ground |
 Climbing up…greater challenge with dry eucalyptus leaves |
 Thanks for some intermittent bushes to help us in climbing |
 Waiting for others…. |
 Under the shades of Eucalyptus |
 Having a brief rest |
 Steepness we tackled… |
 Second phase of climbing… |
 Reached the peak. Arrow shows the direction to other peaks. There was a clear foot pathway from here to other peaks. |
 Evidences of cattle |
I would like to number it as peak-01 but it has poor view towards Harasbedda and peaks of Uva province above trees. We noticed people have cleared trees at this peak for unknown reason. Randenigala reservoir was also seen and giant of Uva-Namunukula was always seen.
 The team on top of 1st peak |
 So called first peak with trees |
 Harasbedda Town |
 Towards Harasbedda….. |
 Ragala-Walapane road gets a bend (Thennekumbura-Rikillagaskada-Ragala B413) |
 Forest patch we passed |
 Nearby peak-Holiakotuwepathana (1310m) |
 Different peaks towards Uva province |
 Hakgala is seen in back drop… |
Then we have started to explore the range by moving to other peaks. There were ups and downs and top of the range was covered by Eucalyptus trees. Therefore it has no particular good view point (360 degree). Highest point of the range (peak-02) also provides the same view, seems like a good camping place due to flat surface. Meanwhile we were caught to a rain and we had to stay without moving for about 30minutes. At the end we reached a place which was like the neck of the range (peak-03) which provides the view towards Rikillagaskada and Ragala sides. At this point Mahakudugala was standing in our right hand side.
Altogether we could observe Ragala and Kandapola towns, Heritance tea factory, Mahakudugala, Diyanilla, Rathnayaka Pathana areas etc. Second line was Namunukula, Narangala, peaks of Uva, Kukulagala etc. I was not difficult to identify some peaks of Knuckles massif as well.
 Moving to other peaks |
 Posing…. |
 Moving to other peaks |
 Namunukula |
 View of an estate |
 Appearing of B 413 road again |
 Nicely cleared…. |
 Misty mountains |
 Zoomed road again… |
 Ragala town is zoomed |
 Team on top of 2nd view point-This might be the highest point |
 Nearby Vegetable farms |
 Mahakudugala is popped up… |
 Different landscapes |
 Different landscapes |
 Towards Rathnayaka Pathana |
 Towards Alakolawewa and Rikillagaskada. Kukulagala is in back drop |
 Mahakudugala |
 Mahakudugala forest reserve |
 At third view point. This place is so windy… |
 Kehelpothdoruwegala with a part of Knuckles range is seen at back drop |
 Towards Nuweraeliya |
We have spent 2-3 hours to walk over the range. There was a clear foot pathway towards Rathnayaka Pathana area from last view point and we have reached the village in 30minutes time.
There were some fresh ripped Pears on our way down.
Our return journey was made via Walapane as this route has less traffic and distance compared to Peradeniya road.
 Getting down…. |
 Clear foot pathway |
 Sun set over Ragala rock |
 Good bye-Ragala Rock |
Thanks for reading