The giant standing next to Bathalegala-Urakanda (980m)

Bathalegala (බතලේගල) is a famous destination among travelers and hikers as it is easy to reach. When you climb Bathalegala, have you ever noticed the giant standing next to Bathalegala? It is called Urakanda. It has become famous 4-5years ago due to the areoplane crash which carried Minister Ashraff. Thereafter it is named as Ashraff Mountain as well.

Urakanda is well seen to nearby peaks. But it is not a popular hike among hikers. Don’t know what the exact reason is. Ashan has been at Urakanda few years ago and he mentioned it as not a strenuous hike. I wanted to do this hike for a long time but had to postpone due to various reasons.

Urakanda is seen to Wakirigala (වාකිරිගල)

Urakanda is seen to Wakirigala. Balumgala is situated at this side.

Urakanda is seen to Nawgala (නැව්ගල). Bathalegala can be seen behind

Urakanda is seen to Saradiyel village.

Urakanda is seen to Ambalakanda (අම්බලකන්ද)

Though Ashan got assistance of a guide, I wanted to do without a guide. There are different routes to reach the top of Urakanda. One is mentioned in Kumarapura (කුමාරපුර) side. Another foot pathway lies in Wakirigala side. Google map reading showed the by road starting from Ambawala junction, goes towards Urakanda. I guessed we can reach the peak following that road. At the end my guess was correct.
It was the post-election date we fixed to climb this mountain. Previous day night we have stayed at Saradiyel village resort at Mawanella. We were warmed up with early morning hike to Uthuwankanda.
We drove along the byroad till it end at Google map. Though it ends at the map road continues as a small road to reach Gewalipitiya-Hettimulla road. The area we have reached also called Urakanda village. The foot pathway starts from there and we clarified the way from villagers. Nobody discouraged us and everyone was helpful. At the end of the foot pathway (beyond last house) we entered to the forest. It was actually behind a water tank situated at small tea patch.
This might be Urakanda forest reserve and FD markings were there.

Click image to enlarge. Black line shows the road from Ambawala junction to Urakanda village. Red line is the approximate foot path we followed. Urakanda peak is marked on the map.

This is the foot pathway used by villagers. It is about 1km along this to reach the FD border.

Stone laid pathway….

Foot pathway….

Closer view of Urakanda

Reaching last few houses of Urakanda village

A friend we met….

Foot pathway still within the village

Different colors

Following that journey was a continuous ascend through Urakanda forest. Though it is a wet forest there was no much undergrowth to disturb our journey. We could find some traces of foot pathway but not exactly. After about one hour hike we reached the top of Urakanda.

It seems like a dry zone forest with less under growth.

There are water sources started from Urakanda.

If you get loose in the forest in coming back this might be a good way to find the path.

Lower part of the forest might be secondary growth.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms

Grabbed well

ගොඩපර

Close to the top of Urakanda

Top of Urakanda has thickly grown Mana bushes and thorny bushes. Though it is a flat area it is bit difficult to find a single view point to look surrounding. The main obstacle was thorny bushes and it was hard to walk over there. But we were able to locate Bathalegala-most neighboring peak, Alagalla, Mawanella town, Dewanagala, Nelligala, Uthuwankanda, Ambuluwawa, Nawgala etc. It was not a good day to identify second line peaks (Ashan did) due to haziness.

Reaching top of Urakanda

Main obstacle

Trying to find better view point

View towards Mawanella area. Alagalla is seen.

Closer view of Alagalla

Bathalegala-closest neighbour.

Zoomed view of Bathalegala. Ambuluwawa is seen behind.

Bathalegala-Punchi Seegiriya.

Mawanella town

Mawanella town

Dewanagala

Nelligala-stupa is seen at right hand side

Alagalla and Mawanella town in one picture.

Nawgala

Uthuwankanda and Saradiyel village.

Towards Kegalle….

Might be Hettimulla

Towards? Bulathkohupitiya…

Colombo-Kandy road passing between two hills. Right hand side peak might be Balumgala-Kadugannawa.

On top of Urakanda

On top of Urakanda

Might be our starting point and pathway.

After enjoying the surrounding view, we started the return journey. On our way back we found a water spring where we filled our empty bottles. There was a small water collection closer to foot pathway, used by villagers to bath. We had a bath there to wind up the day.

Coming back….

Return journey…

විසිරුණු මල්

Hardly formed…

Human activities…

Small water collection is used by villagers to bath.

At the end of the day.

Thank you for reading