Mount Kotagala /කොටගල කන්ද (1754m)

Year and Month	2018 March 30^th
Number of Days	One
Crew	02-Keshan and Myself
Accommodation	Not applicable
Transport	By bus and hiking
Activities	Hiking and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo->Hatton-> Kotagala Mountain->Back to same route->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Wearing an attire is a must. Must have gloves and a Manna knife. It’s better to follow leech protection methods. But I found only a single leech for whole journey might be due to Alum. Basically it is a hard trek due to giant Mana bushes and bamboo bushes. It is essential to cross this Mana patch in the middle part of the mountain. Always keep in touch with Google map. Kotagala Mountain seems a water absorbent area to Darawella Lake. Therefore don’t pollute the area. The peak is within the forest reservoir. Avoid in misty days. We started at around 1300m. Attitude gain is around 450m. Thanks Ashan and Chamara for your instructions based on failed hike.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Mount Kotagala /කොටගල කන්ද (1754m)

Kotagala kanda (1754m) is an awkward shape mountain situated in between Hatton and Kotagala. In Google map it is named as Singimale Mountain (සිoගිමලේ කන්ද) might be due to it’s close proximity to the longest railway tunnel in Sri Lanka-Singimale. It’s pointed peak is well seen when you walk along the railway line from Hatton to Kotagala. (Unfortunately I don’t have a picture). I have noted this mountain in different occasions when I was coming from Nuweraeliya. Once Ashan and Chamara have attempted to climb Kotagala kanda but gave up due to Bamboo bushes and thorny bushes. Before I plan this hike, I got some information from Ashan and Chamara. Their advices were useful in succeed this journey.

We (Keshan and Myself) wanted to start early as possible. We have reached Hatton town around 4.30am and slept at Hatton railway station till dawn. Around 6am we started to walk towards Kotagala and our target was appeared in right hand side but not with it’s familiar appearance. It was seen as an easy task. We searched for a trail head using Google map. As it was early morning nobody was around to ask the trail. Luckily we met a man with a dog and he assured mountain can be climbed from this side but less number of people go there.

We started the hike from tea den till a catholic shrine. This was the first time I came across a catholic shrine at base of a mountain. (Usually we find Buddhist and Hindu shrines related to mountains).

It was too early to do a hike as ground was still wet due to dew. We have reached the catholic shrine and looked surrounding. Hatton town was seen clearly and Sri Pada has risen beyond Hatton town. There was a small Mana patch to be crossed first and following that a continuous ascend under Eucalyptus trees. There was a clear foot pathway up to the forest border where first view point was situated.

Click image to enlarge. Star shows the Kotagala peak. This is our approximate route closer to edge of the mountain. Arrow shows Darawella Lake.

Kotagala is well seen behind Hatton town. Picture was taken near Hatton station.

Kotagala Mountain-view from Watawala Kanda

Early morning view of Kotagala. This appearance tells us an easy task, but it wasn’t.

We started at this tea den.

Crossing the water stream

Dew	Bathing in morning sun rise

Dew…	There were steps to up….

This is the shrine I described. We went up along the Mana patch in left hand side.

Alum applied as precaution.

බෝවිටියා

Early morning view of Hatton town and Sri Pada in back ground.

Mana patch we crossed.

Good morning Hatton town.

Sri Pada and Ballanbendihela in it’s side.

View of sacred peak.

Closer view of Hatton town

Hatton town.

Under the shades of Eucalyptus trees

Clear foot path through bushes.

නෙලු	Eucalyptus patch and under growth

Perfect weather

Still morning sun rays coming…

Reaching the first view point

Nearby small peak with towers

Towards Thalawakele and Kotagala

Forest department border started.

Tea estates with roads

Thought this as the final peak, but it wasn’t.

Real challenge was started after this. There was a vanishing foot pathway ended up at Mana forest. It was giant Mana and no traces of foot pathway there. No option remained other than hiking through giant Mana forest. The forest bordering the Mana patch was full of Bamboo. Keshan has led the journey through Mana forest as he is taller than me. It was a risky journey at the end because these Mana is a good place for snakes. (I didn’t get my camera out to take snaps.) At the end of 45mintes-hour hard walk we came out of Mana and reached the second view point.

Mana patch we have crossed. It was a nightmare. Actually you can’t see Mana here.

Coming out of Mana and reached second view point.

Reaching second view point.

View from Kotagala Mountain.

Some more to the actual peak. Awkward appearance of the peak is seen now.

Towards Rawanakanda

Probably Great Western mountain. We didn’t have a clear view towards Great Western Mountain due to mist.

Highest point of Kotagala Mountain.

Tea estate and line houses.

Reappearance of railway line after Singimale tunnel.

Close up…

What we crossed

Another 20-30minutes hike brought us to the Peak of Kotagala Mountain. It was a nice summit with slab rock. There was another peak towards Great western with forest cap, probably with same height. But we didn’t try to go there. We have spent almost 3hours to reach the top from tea den.

I was able to identify Uda Radella with it’s towers, Waterfall point and Conical Hills, Yakahaluwela, The Dell, Watawala Kanda, Seven Virgins, Castlereigh reservoir, Hatton town, Peacock hills etc. Udarata Menike train has gone through Singimale tunnel and passed Kotagala Bridge while we were on top of Kotagala.

We followed the same path for return journey but lost our way twice after Mana patch. Our end point was Darawella Lake where we had a bath. Darawella Lake is situated at the base of Kotagala Mountain. It supplies water for Hatton town.