Loitering around Opalgala-Hinguruwatta Mountain-හිගුරුවත්ත කන්ද (1050m)

Year and Month	2018 June 15th
Number of Days	One
Crew	04- Ashan, Eshan, Prabath and Myself
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	By bus, Jeep and Hiking
Activities	Hiking, Photography and sight seeing
Weather	Gloomy and sunny
Route	Colombo ->Matale->Naula->Opalgala (ඕපල්ගල)->Kotagala කොටගල (by foot)->Atawattha (අටවත්ත)->Hinguruwatta->Back to same route
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Leech protection methods to be followed. Start your journey as early as possible. Be aware of snakes. No water source found after entering to Pinus patch. There is a bus to Opalgala at 7 am from Naula. Avoid in rainy days due to slippery pinus leaves. No need a guide. Clear foot path from Kotagala to Gammaduwa. No foot path since Pinus patch. If you need can go to Gammaduwa side as well. Be cautious about windy weather on top of peaks.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Loitering around Opalgala-Hinguruwatta Mountain-හිගුරුවත්ත කන්ද (1050m)

Opalgala is situated closer to Upper border of Knuckles massif. Sandamadala (සදමඩල) seems the north most peak of Knuckles massif. Visit to Sandamadala gave me the opportunity to identify nearby peaks: Hinguruwatta Kanda, Hawarimana, Karagahathenna, Gammaduwa etc.
The foot pathway starts from Opalgala to Kotagala Tamil village continues till Gammaduwa and passes another vanishing village called Atawattha. This foot pathway is well marked in 1:50000 map though it is narrow nowadays. Hinguruwatta Kanda is a prominent peak observed in walking along this foot pathway. It is seen to Opalgala village as well.
1:50000 map has marked the peak Gammaduwa as Opalgala (1325m). First we confused this Hinguruwatta peak as Opalgala Kanda but close observation of the map revealed it is not Opalgala Kanda at 1:50000 map.
Villagers at Kotagala called it as Punchi Hinguruwatta / Hinguruwatta-පුoචි හිගුරුවත්ත/හිගුරුවත්ත. This area seems as a flourished tea estate in good olden days.

Hinguruwatta Kanda is seen to Opalgala

Hinguruwatta Kanda is seen when we were at Hawarimana

Drop of Hinguruwatta Kanda

Hinguruwatta Kanda in Google map

Click image to enlarge: Black circle shows Opalgala peak (1325m) eka Gammaduwa peak with towers. Red circle shows Karagahathenna peak. Red arrow indicates the foot pathway from Opalgala to Gammaduwa via Kotagala village. Red start is on Hinguruwatta peak.

Let’s move to the journey.
Prabath and Myself came from Colombo by bus and joined with Eshan at Naula. Ashan also awaited at Naula till we come. We drove till Ambana junction and got turn to right towards Opalgala. It is a scenic drive till trail head starts at Opalgala. We were able to see a cross section of Knuckles upper border.

Cross section of Knuckles upper border: From right to left: Hinguruwatta Kanda, Gammaduwa, Karagasthenna, Hawarimana and Sandamadala

Scenic drive to Opalgala

We have parked our vehicles at the beginning of foot pathway to Kotagala. This is the third time I am following this foot pathway. Early part of the path lies parallel to the water stream and it is an ascend most of the time. We passed Kotagala village and continued till Atawattha. Sandamadala and Hawarimana peaks were seen in our left hand side. After passing Kotagala this foot path was less clear and had more frequent open areas. Google map revealed we were walking along the edge of Hinguruwatta Kanda. Damp soil following rain was a favorite place for blood suckers. With last ascend of the foot path we reached the area called Atawattha.

Starting the journey.

Scenic foot pathway to Kotagala village

Close up…

Ashan and Prabath

Some part of the path is covered with bushes

Rest time

Ascends most of the time

Crossing the area with short Mana

Sandamadala and it’s junior peak

Sandamadala

Looked back… Isolated mountains at Dambulla and Bakamuna are seen

Following the narrow path

Break…

Under the shade

Slow movement

අදුරෙන් එලියට

Applying Alum

Now we were entering to Pinus area and right hand side move towards Hinguruwatta Kanda and left hand side move towards Hawarimana. Again it was a climb along the Pinus estate and ended up at short Mana area. There were two peaks we had to climb. This short Mana patch covering the first peak of Hinguruwatta Kanda. It is a place you can have 360 degree view and wind was blowing over the place. We were able to see Sandamadala, Hawarimana, Karagasthenna (covered with mist), Gammaduwa (covered with mist), Etipola, Wilshire, Makulussa, Ambokka (covered with mist), Nalanda reservoir, Bowathenna reservoir, Arangala, Kadigala, Beliya Kanda, Manikdena, Lenadora, Gedaragala Pathana, Moragahakanda reservoir, Sudu Kanda, Bakamuna town and Dimbulagala etc.

Entering to Pinus area

Uphill journey along Pinus patch

Another break

Along the edge

Slippery Pinus leaves need extra energy

Delicate

Exhausted

Mana patch

View from Hinguruwatta peak-1. Sandamadala and Moragahakanda reservoir

Moragahakanda reservoir

Bakamuna town and Sudu Kanda-Minneriya. Dimbulagala is also seen when you look carefully.

Hawarimana and Karagahathenna over Pinus patch

Manikdena (giant) and Lenadora (pointed peak).

Gedaragalapathana and Yakkuragala. Amban Ganga is also seen.

On top of first peak

Facing windy weather

Wind is blowing over Mana

Heading to second peak of Hinguruwatta Kanda

Few known peaks around Bowathenna reservoir.

Etipola, Wilshire and Makulussa are seen beyond Gammaduwa side

Gedaragala Pathana zoomed

Etipola zoomed

Makulussa zoomed

After enjoying the view at first peak we moved to second peak. There was a descend followed by an acute ascend. As there was no proper foot path we kept our path always at the edge of the mountain through the forest patch.
It is an unforgettable incidence to meet a green pit viper who was winding around a branch of a tree. We skipped it’s path and climbed up through the forest patch. It took another 30-45 minutes to reach the second peak of Hinguruwatta Kanda. This peak has 270 degree view obstructing with forest patch towards Opalgala and Andawala side. This time Karagasthenna and Gammaduwa peaks were cleared and towers were seen. We have enjoyed the view and wind on top of peak-2 as well. Return journey made in an hour time.