| Year and Month | January 1st 2018 |
| Number of Days | One Day Trip |
| Crew | 3 (Chamara, Sampath & Myself) |
| Accommodation | N/A |
| Transport | Pajero |
| Activities | Hiking / Scenery / Trekking / Photography |
| Weather | Extremely hot and clear sky |
| Route | Chilaw -> Kurunegala -> Ibbagamuwa -> Yayawaththa -> Selagama -> Rusigama -> Maningamuwa -> Ambokka -> Returned back on the same route |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Related Resources |
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| Author | Ashan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
Map (taken from Niroshans report)
 Ambokka as seen from Nelligala |
 Yatawaththa Biso ella lower part seen from the Ambokka rd |
Ambokka is not a known hiking destination but its one of the most prominent wet forest mountains boardering Kurunegala and Mathale districts. Its location makes it one of the most prominent peaks in and around Kurunegala. Though we planned to hike it on many occasions the misty veil covering it hindered our thoughts. It was a perfectly dry period and cloudless too so this was the best way we could open our year 2018 with a superb hike. We followed Niroshan’s foot steps and according to his report we had plenty of time to climb and descend.
We reached Yatawaththa in the morning and took the Rusigama road to reach Maningamuwa junction. From the junction we took the Ambokka road and at one point close to a rock quarry we took the left uphill road towards Kent estate. We halted our vehicle at the end of the road and started to follow a foot path through the forest patch until we came across a mana patch. After the first mana patch we took the forest route since it was easier than traversing the 2nd mana patch. We reached the base of the mountain with a huge cliff and we had no other option other than climbing it with the aid of small bushes. The vertical climb was close to 70 degrees on this stretch but somehow we tackled it to reach the finger like peak of Ambokka.
 here we go |
 an open patch |
 on the way scenery |
 Wanaraja |
 Vertical climb |
 the view from the view point |
 Bowatenna reservoir seen |
 Karagahatenna |
 lush green |
 view from the shade |
 Menikdena the giant and Arangala the small giant. also Nalanda reservoir could be seen |
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 Wehigala pathana seen behind arangala |
 towards Galewela |
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 in front is Kibulwana oya reservoir |
 paddy |
The view from this point was superb and we spent some time in shade enjoying the clear scenery. We then started to walk towards 2nd and 3rd peaks which we thought was the summit according to Niroshan’s report and to our surprise the 3rd one wasn’t the summit. The hike we did in a leisurely manner turned in to a tough hike at this point when we noted the 4th peak which was about 1.5hours away. It was already 2pm but we didnt want to stop at this point so we took up the challenge. The path was not clear at all and at many instances we were pushed back by bamboo bushes and tall Nelu bushes. The Nelu section was one huge area where you become visually handicapped but after a difficult hike through the Nelu we reached the summit around 3.45pm.
 finger like peak |
 for the first time we saw the main peak behind the 3rd |
 2nd peak |
 towards the Nelu bushes |
 Nelu (image by Chamara) |
 more Nelu (image by Chamara) |
 Summit view |
The summit provides a Panoramic view as expected. We appreciated Bisogala range, Bathalegoda lake, Yakdessagala, Dolukanda, Deduru oya reservoir, Kimbulwana oya reservoir, Selagama min WE and Newgala, Meemitiya range, Karanampotha mountain, Beliya kanda, Menikdena, Arangala, Nalanda reservoir, Bowatenna reservoir, Wehigala pathana, Moragahakanda reservoir, Karagahatenna, Reverston, Wiltshire, Etipola & Makulussa mountain from the summit. The summit had a rock with few engravings of Surveyors of the English ruling period who used this vantage point for mapping purposes.
 the gap |
 Dolukanda |
 Beliya kanda |
 Bathalegoda lake |
 Newgala and selagama mini WE |
 Wiltshire and Etipola peaks |
 Reverston peaks |
 Bowatenna |
 summit |
 surveyors point |
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 note the clouds |
 the rock with the surveyors names |
 Rio pose |
 the team |
 Wehigala pathana seen behind arangala |
 Nalanda oya |
We didnt waste time since it was getting dark so we rushed back and took a less complicated route but unfortunately we couldn’t overcome the dark. It was getting late but with the aid of the mobile torches we descended to an estate where we refreshed our selves. The estate workers couldn’t believe how we managed to return safely at this time of the night and they didnt know that we were blessed with google maps. 1st of January was one happening day for us and until now it has been a happening year for us too.
 getting back |
 first 3 peaks |
 path to follow |
 saying good bye |
 we ran out of time |