| Year and Month | 2018 March 25th |
| Number of Days | One day |
| Crew | 4-Keshan, Kasun, Nuwan and Myself |
| Accommodation | Previous day night at Hatton Inn |
| Transport | By bus, three wheel and hike |
| Activities | Hiking, sightseeing and Photography |
| Weather | Excellent |
| Route | Hatton->Teinsin in Hatton-Bogawanthalawa road->Rogbill estate->Elbedda /Elbeddakele |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread. |
Elbedda/Elbeddakele (එල්බැද්දකැලේ) is the highest point of a mountain range situated between Agarapathana and Bogawanthalawa. It is the 16th highest mountain in Sri Lanka (This list to be updated). It is mentioned as Elbeddakele in 1:50000 map but nobody at Teinsin or Bogawanthalawa called it as Elbedda/Elbeddakele. Elbedda has a significant drop at Agarapathana side but less in Bogawanthalawa side. Map reading tells greater part of Elbedda in Bogawanthalawa side covered with tea estates and only the top of the peak has forest coverage.
 Click image to enlarge. Green star shows highest point of Elbedda range. It’s height is mentioned as 2016.56m. Black line shows our approximate pathway to Elbedda peak. |
 This shows the highest point of Elbedda range in Google map. According to Google map it’s height is about 2050m. |
 Elbedda range is seen from Great Western Mountain. |
 Elbedda is seen from Single tree Hill |
It was the second day of two days trip and we have spent the night at Hatton. We got the first bus from Hatton at 6.30am to Bogawanthalawa and Elbedda range was seen from Nordwood town. My plan was to get down at Teinsin junction and walked up along estate roads. We didn’t know any information about this mountain before. When we inquired from people at Teinsin junction, they don’t have any particular name for this range and nobody call it as Elbedda range.
We hired a three-wheeler for initial 2km of the journey and got down due to bad condition of the road. It gave extra benefits to enjoy the surrounding view and identify mountains. Weather was perfect.
Rogbill tea estate belongs to Kelani-Valley plantation occupies the lower part of Elbedda. Winding estate road goes up to the forest cap. Driving/ walking along this estate road provides beautiful sceneries of surrounding. Rogbill is a beautiful tea estate in well maintained state. There is a Hindu shrine on top of Elbedda Mountain. Therefore a foot pathway is maintained through the forest cap. If you can drive up to the highest section of Rogbill estate, then actual distance is about 500m to walk along tea estate and forest cover.
We were able to capture sacred peak-Sri Pada, Ballanbendihela (next to Sri Pada), Meeriyakote, Rawanakanda, Nordwood town, Bogawanthalawa town etc.
As it was a Sunday most of estate workers were at home. We have met estate watcher who was walking up to Elbedda for his duties. He voluntarily came to show the path to the peak. The summit has a slab rock where Hindu shrine was situated. It is a place of 270 degree view. Apart from the mountains and towns we have seen before, we were able to identify Piduruthalagala with its towers, Dell mountain, Peacock hills, Hakgala, Ambewela wind farm, Conical Hills, Waterfall point and Kukulagala etc.
There was a second view point towards Horton plains and it’s peaks-Kirigalpoththa, Thotupala and Agrabopath, Bopaththalawa.
Altogether Elbedda peak provides 360 degree view includes top ten peaks of Sri Lanka. After enjoying the view at Elbedda, we started to descend and had a bath at natural pond situated at lower part of Rogbill estate.
 How Elbedda range is seen to Hatton-Bogawanthalawa range. |
 Starting the journey. As usual except me. |
 It’s Rogbill estate. |
 Starting the journey |
 Weather was perfect and I could get my favorite color combination. |
 Feeding stream of Keselgamu Oya (කෙසෙල්ගමු ඔය) starts from Elbedda range. |
 It might form a beautiful waterfall in a rainy day. |
 There were enough short cuts to follow. |
 Sacred peak over tea estate. |
 This giant was always standing behind us. Meeriyakote / Mariya Kota (1836m) and Rawanakanda |
 Beautiful Rogbill estate. |
 This is also part of Elbedda range. |
 Beautiful Rogbill estate |
 Beautiful Rogbill estate |
 Wild strawberries. We had enough of them on our way up… |
 Beautiful Rogbill estate |
 Time for a break. |
 View of sacred peak (2243m) from Rogbill estate. The prominent peak on right hand side might be Ballanbendihela (1892m). |
 Beautiful surrounding view. |
 Elbedda peak was not visible to lower part of Rogbill estate. It was covered by surrounding tea estates. |
 Nice tea den where we had snacks. |
 The watcher is showing some landmarks. |
 Nordwood town |
 Bogawanthalawa town |
 Bogawanthalawa town and some gem pits are seen. |
 Close up… |
 Numbering of bends. This reminds me Non perial estate. |
 He is awaiting at the bend. |
 Crossing tea patches. |
 Elbedda peak is seen for first time. |
 Hard life |
 Upper division of Rogbill estate |
 According to the watcher there was a summer hut on top of this peak. And still there is the first tea plant of Rogbill estate. |
 View towards Horton plains. |
 If there is a four wheel you can drive up to there. |
 Reached the forest cap of Elbedda range |
 Mountainous forest |
 Looked back… |
 Venture tea processing center |
 Walking through the forest patch to reach the summit of Elbedda |
 Summit of Elbedda where Hindu shrine is situated. |
 Summit of Elbedda |
 Kukulagala-pointed |
 Great Western Mountain |
 Great western and Pundalu Oya |
 Conical Hills and Waterfall point |
 Might be towers of Uda Radella |
 Piduruthalagala with towers |
 Mount Dell with it’s towers |
 Peacock Hills |
 Hakgala and Ambewela wind farm |
 Ambewela wind farm zoomed….. |
 Giants of central hills and Agarapathana side |
 Second view point |
 Dethanagala is popped up |
 Agrabopath Mountain |
 Kirigalpoththa Mountain |
 Thotupala Kanda |
 We are on top of Elbedda |
 We are on top of Elbedda |
 There are some English letters engraved on stone pillar at Hindu shrine. Photo credit goes to Nuwan. |
 In return journey |
 Line houses of upper division of Rogbill estate. They are closer to the peak. |
 Elbedda peak with it’s forest cap and tea estates |
 Flowers |
 Refreshed at the end of the day. |
Thanks for reading