Gloomy day on Koboneelagala (1555m)

“We have climbed a mountain assuming it’s as Dumbanagala but we have been at Koboneelagala.”
The story begins like this. I was searching a peak to climb on that weekend and remembered the face book album of Malith about Dumbana kanda (දුම්බානාකන්ද). He delivered me necessary information in a short notice.
Dumbana Kanda (දුම්බානාකන්ද) / Dumbanagala (දුම්බානාගල) (1644m) is a well known peak at knuckles massif. When you travel to Meemure along Ududumbara-Loolwaththa road, you may come across a hotel called Dumbanagala Chalet. It is at the base of this mountain. According to my previous observation this peak has forest coverage and wouldn’t provide a view point at all. But Malith’s snaps showed some observation points and I wanted to do this as I haven’t been at a peak at Knuckles massif for a long time.
His route description was nice and I didn’t want to check in the map where we are going to ended up. The trail head starts from the Knuckles Silent in Bungalow at Thangappuwa (තoගප්පුව).
We have reached Rangala around 8 am and had to wait for Eshan who was on his way by the bike. The pouring rain happened early morning made him delay to join with us. Our first place of the visit was Rangala pool which has taken four lives for this year. The threewheel driver who bought us there repeatedly mentioned not to bath there and we wanted to get few snaps only.

Rangala Natural Pool / රoගල වල
Kotaganga (කොට ගග) forms this natural pool under the bridge at Galabadawatta (ගලබඩවත්ත) and was famous during last few years. It became more famous as it costs for four lives this year. This pool is more beautiful with less water and it has a deep end about 40feet where Kota Ganga joins. As it was a rainy day pool was full of water and Kota Ganga flew as a cascade into it.

The bridge at Rangala-Galabadawatta road. Kota Ganga flows under it and forms Rangala Pool beyond the bridge.

Rangala Pool

Kota Ganga

Kota Ganga

Next area is Goomera

Minor cascade formed by Kota Ganga just above Rangala Pool

After visiting at Rangala Pool we came back to Rangala town and got the bus to Thangappuwa. Rangala-Thangappuwa road is scenic as I expected and on our way we have noticed the small rock causing the name “Rangala”.
During the British era one colonial estate ruler has found couple of golden boxes near this rock while he was hunting monkeys. It caused the name Ran-රන් (Gold) + Gala-ගල (Rock). This small rock with the water filled top can be seen on right hand side after 1km towards Thangappuwa. Unfortunately I couldn’t get a clear picture during bus ride.

Scenic Rangala-Thangappuwa road

Seasonal cascade pouring after last night rain.

Scenic Rangala-Thangappuwa road. Hunnasgiriya Mountain is seen on right.

Victoria Reservoir

Sri Muththumari Amman Kovil at Thangappuwa

Thangappuwa had dual weather pattern when we reached. Hills at Knuckles mountain range was brighten with blue sky. Corbet’s gap and Dumbana kanda were gloomy in nature. I wanted to clarify the mountain we are going to hike. Villagers said they call it Dumbana Kanda and it covers with mist most of the time. And one mentioned the term Aliya Kanda (අලියා කන්ද) as well. None of them know it is the same mountain called Dumbanagala at Corbet’s gap. I will describe the route we followed first and easiest way we got on our way back.
After packing some “Pol Rotti”-පොල් රොටි from the boutique where bus is parked we walked along Rangala road. Our destination was Knuckles Silent In holiday bungalow. Just after Thangappuwa Bridge there was a gravel road to left hand side towards Liyanagahapala estate (ලියනගහපල වත්ත). The trail was rich in beauty and we noted a minor cascade on our way (This is the lower part of Thangappuwa falls). I have been at Thangappuwa twice from Corbett’s gap on my way to Alugal Lena and Kota Ganga Falls but never exposed to this area down to Thangappuwa. We were able to notice some camp site on our way. We crossed Liyanagahapala line houses and one old man talked with us to clarify the way to the hotel. He mentioned this as Dumbana Kanda eka Koboneelagala. We were much confused.

Team except me

Dumbana Kanda with misty cap.

Gravel road to Liyanagahapala estate

Newly formed bridge

Gal Pandi (ගල් පාඩි)

We are closer to the base of the mountain.

It’s like a gap…

Bowitiya -බෝවිටියා

A couple

Scenic road

We are at the entrance of Silent Holiday in Bungalow

The bungalow keeper at Silent Holiday in was there fortunately and he gave us directions to climb the mountain. The gravel road continued from the entrance of the Bungalow and it followed boundary of forest reserve. Our plan was to reach the base of the mountain and do a direct climb to the peak. According to him this gravel road connects with Corbet gap-Thangappuwa road. The steepness was high on that side of the mountain and we didn’t try a direct climb. We have crossed couple of water streams. As usual this road became a foot pathway and vanished. This area was a good view point towards Thangappuwa. After walking about one hundred meters on fainted foot pathway we decided to get the wild track towards the peak.
There were few obstacles we have faced. Leech density was very high following the rain and we wanted apply Alum repeatedly on shoes. Sometimes they overcame Alum. There were thorny bushes at initial section made us to bypass the way. After crossing the area with bushes we got into the mountainous forest patch. It was a slippery climb due to rain fallen on last night. There were significant amount of Bamboo bushes as well. As surrounding humidity was high I put my camera into the bag and it was easy for the hike. At the end of the mountainous forest patch, short bushes area starts and it indicated we are at top of the mountain. Nothing was seen beyond bushes due to misty weather. According to Malith’s description there is a view point towards Thangappuwa about 20m below the peak. There was a stone placed few meters below the top of the mountain. I assume one can get a clear view over bushes in a bright sunny day. We have spent about 1hour to reach the top of the mountain from base. I didn’t forget to get the location of the peak where we ended up. It showed we are not at the correct Dumbanagala peak, probably the highest point of that range. Resolving of this confusion kept later as we wanted to get the last bus from Thangappuwa.

The road continues towards the base of the mountain and it follows the boundary of forest reserve.

Area we passed

Road becomes a foot pathway later

Water streams were active following rain

Wild berries

It was a nice view point towards Thangappuwa.

Our target

Making our track through bushes

Get into wild

Wet mush rooms

Sri Lankan Petite shrub-frog

Pseudophilatus tanu

Misty view..Photo credit goes to Keshan Jayalath

Few meters down to the top of the mountain.

Misty peak

These short bushes reminds me the way to Thunhisgala

This stone was placed few meters below the highest point. It indicates we are at top of the mountain.

Reached the destination at the end of the day

Having some food on top of the mountain

The team on top of the mountain.

Return journey was made in less than one hour and we were able to reach the gravel road I mentioned earlier with bypassing the thorny bushes area. Thangappuwa area was covering with rainy clouds and Dumbanagala was entirely covered with mist when we reached the base of the mountain. The end of the estate road from Liyanagahapala line houses was noted about one hundred meters down to us. We got a direct connection with it and it shortened the journey in 1-1.5km. Though we had to catch the last bus we didn’t forget the cool dip at water stream down to the bridge we crossed. There was a short cut from Liyanagahapala line houses to Thangappuwa bus halt and Thangappuwa falls was came across next to this road.

Return journey

Back to a place where surrounding view is clear

Liyanagahapala Line houses

Dumbana kanda is almost covered with the mist

Following a short cut to reach the estate road

At the end of the journey.

The way we followed to reach Silent Holiday in Bungalow

It is a newly built road from Liyanagahapala estate.

This is the place we had a bath

Thangappuwa Falls
This 10m tall (approximate) waterfall is situated at closer to Thangappuwa-Liyanagahapala road. It flows in two sections. This fall is not listed in LCWF.

Side view of Thangappuwa Falls

Side view of Thangappuwa Falls .

Post climb notes
After the hike I had extensive map reading for come to a conclusion about the peak we have been. It is not the actual Dumbanagala (1644m) shown in the map. The peak we have reached with the height of about 1500m (approximate) is Koboneelagala. Koboneelagala is another well known peak at Knuckles massif. There is a village situated at Deenstone-Meemure road named Koboneela. Steepness of Koboneelagala is well seen from Deenstone-Meemure road. But this mountain has less steepness from Thangappuwa side. (Actual height gain from the base to the top is about 250m). People at Thangappuwa called it as Dumbana kanda because it is covered with mist most of the time. Aliya kanda is another name for this mountain used by Thangappuwa people. I have clearly seen Aliya Kanda during Kota Ganga Falls expedition.
This is not the most convenient way to climb Koboneelagala. It is much easier to reach the base of the mountain by following the short cut we came in return journey. You have to get the concrete road on right hand side of Thangappuwa bus stand. It will direct you to Liyanagahapala line houses. Then go through line houses and follow the newly cut estate road. This road ends (or they have still built up to) at few hundred meters away from the base of the mountain. This is much easier than going through Silent Holiday in bungalow. (Malith has been at this bungalow and therefore he started the trail from there).
The point we started from base of the mountain is much closer to Thangappuwa-Corbet’s gap road. Therefore it is much easier to approach from there. Problem is that road is forested now. (One I described from bungalow).
Deenstone-Meemure road, houses at Kandegama and Koboneelagala should be viewed from the top, but was not able due to misty cover. I should try on Koboneelagala in a clear day to get better pictures.

Route description from Thangappuwa bus halt.

GPS location was taken when we are at top of Koboneelagala.

GPS location of the peak. It is similar to the one I have taken on the top.

This our workout

Click image to enlarge. Liyanagahapala Estate is shown by red star. Koboneelagala is circled in black and Dumbanagala is circled in red.

View towards Thangappuwa. Photo was taken by Malith on his way up.

View towards Thangappuwa. Photo was taken by Malith on his way up.

View from the top of the mountain. Photo credit goes to Malith Kumarasingha.

View from the top of the mountain. Photo credit goes to Malith Kumarasingha.

Let’s go through some pictures of Dumbanagala and Koboneelagala were taken during my last two visits to Thangappuwa and Corbett’s gap.

Koboneelagala is seen from Corbet’s gap

Actual Dumbanagala-View from Corbett’s gap

Actual Dumbanagala-View from the path between Thangappuwa and Corbet’s gap

Koboneelagala. Photo was taken on my way to Thangappuwa from Corbet’s gap

Koboneelagala. Photo was taken on my way to Thangappuwa from Corbet’s gap

Koboneelagala. Photo was taken on my way to Thangappuwa from Corbet’s gap

Black arrow shows Koboneelagala or Dumbana kanda. This was taken during Kota Ganga fall hike.

Koboneelagala. This is named as Aliya Kanda by Thangappuwa villagers.

Koboneelagala

Koboneelagala in red and Dumbanagala in black. This was taken in 2013.

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