A Lessor known, Palgasthanna Mountain

Year and Month	First View on December 2016, Hike on June 2017
Number of Days	One
Crew	Two
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Motor Bicycles
Activities	Hiking, Photography, Identifying mountains
Weather	Good
Route	Colombo -> Avissawella -> Hatton -> NanuOya -> Ambewela -> Rendapola -> Palgasthanna Mountain ->Nuwaraeliya
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Take enough water Ask directions from the villagers Beware of waving wind Leech protection needed in rainy days Do not pollute the environment Keep your footprints only
Author	Ranshan
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When I was at a family trip on December 2016 to Ambewela and Hakgala area we used Rendapola road to reach Hakgala easily. Then I saw this beautiful mountain which looks like had an easy hike from Rendapola road.

However I discussed this with my friend at Nuwaraeliya and we planned to visit this on June 2017. As he got information we used Hewenakumbura road near to Keppettipola junction at Badulla-Nuwaraeliya road. Then we came near to the mountain by asking the information from the villagers. Then at a point we met the useful person who has been there a month ago. He showed us the footpath where it started. Hence we parked our bicycles and started the hike.

Footpath is much clear as it was through a forest and we saw that most of people use this path to collect wood for their daily needs. Soon after one hour we were able to reach the peak where we identified a flag on the top of the peak. This is like the border mountain from Nuwaraeliya side to Welimada because there were no such big mountains through Welimada to badulla area. We could see a clear view for a long distance. And we identified Rahangala, Udamala, Nasdanda and Thotupola mountains as well as Hakgala from the back of us.

There is a small plain at the top of the mountain and easily people can have a camping night here. We saw some ruins of a camping fire and realized that some people came to this place earlier.

There is another way to come to this mountain and it is from Rendapola road. Once you came through Rendapola road you will see the turning point for Jetwing Warwick bungalow, and then use that junction to park your vehicles and enter to the nearby forest patch which is at the back of some village homes. That route will be much easier to walk than we had a climb here.

However we spend about one hour and got ready to get down from the same route. This forest patch is much similar to the Horton plains environment. This mountain is still like virgin, hence be responsible to protect the environment.