View point of Ududumbara-Aliyakotagala /අලියාකොටගල (1126m)

Year and Month	2017 August 27th
Number of Days	Half a day
Crew	09- Indranatha, Nuwan, Chamara, Chanuka, Eshan, Sampath, Rasika, Nileeka and my self
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Bus and Climbing
Activities	Mountain climbing, sightseeing and photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo->Ududumbara (උඩුදුම්බර)-> Aliyakotagala->Ududumbara->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Start the journey in early morning. No water sources found. Carry a bottle of water for drink. This is an easy climb. We spent only 45minutes to one hour to reach the peak. Therefore better couple with some other activity around. We have noticed a foot pathway to the peak. No risk of trap guns in the forest. Still clean environment. Please maintain it. If you also start from Nisala meditation center, please be silent there. Your noises may disturb the people who are meditating there. I think it is out of VRR reservior. Therefore no need permission. But not suer. I had to reduce the brightness of some photos to identify peaks. Please bear it.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread View point of Ududumbara-Aliyakotagala /අලියාකොටගල (1126m)

Aliyakotagala is a mountain situated closer to Ududumbara town. It is a prominent peak of the range of Hetakatuwegala and Galpadihela. Once I was searching around Galpadihela in 1:50000 map this peak was noticed. Then I eagerly noted this peak while passing Ududumbara along Kandy-Mahiyangana road.

Aliyakotagala at 1:50000 map. Click image to enlarge.

How it is seen to Kandy-Mahiyangana road at Hunnasgiriya

Aliyakotagala (1126m)

That Sunday was an ideal for this half a day climbing as I had to attend to a night function. The crew was nine including me and gathered to Ududumbara. Map reading says the peak can be easily approached from a mediation center called Nisala. My wild guess was confirmed by the hotel owner of Ududumbara where we had breakfast.
We have marched to Nisala mediation center from Ududumbara town (was about 2km).This was a developing mediation center and we have noticed few people were meditating there. Mana bushes were there just beyond the boundary of the mediation center. We hiked along the mana patch first and then reached a small Pinus patch. It took about one hour to reach the peak. There were enough view points before the highest point.

Journey begins

Paddies

Meditation Center

Entering through Mana bushes

Nice flat area before the peak

Showing different peaks of Knuckles massif.

Front line of the team

Pinus patch at the top of the mountain

Eshan and Rasika

Nileeka in action

Crossing the second Mana patch

Superb view of the peak under superb weather

Eshan gets a rest

Across the Pinus patch

Reaching the top

On top of highest point

The peak provides only 180 degree view towards Hetakatuwegala, Galpadihela and Uva plains. Somewhere down the peak, you can notice the full blown cross section of eastern slope of Knuckles range. Velangolla Pathana, Yahangala, Kehelpothdoruwegala, Garandigala, Koboneelagala, Dothalugala, Nawenagala and Balalgira represented the Knuckles massif. Mahaweli River, Rathkinda-Ulhitiya reservoir, Ulhitiya Mountain and Kokagala were seen in one side. We had a faint view of Namunukula, Narangala, Madolsima range, Piduruthalagala and Hunnasgiriya mountains.
We spent the time to enjoy the surrounding beauty and got down from other side to A26 road.