| Year and Month | March, 2018 |
| Number of Days | One |
| Crew | Chamara, Sampath & My self |
| Accommodation | N/A |
| Transport | Pajero |
| Activities | Archaeology, Photography |
| Weather | Sunny |
| Route | Chilaw -> Wariyapola -> Padeniya -> Daladagama -> Saliyagama -> Ulpotha -> Returned via the same route. |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Related Resources | Trip report : Galgiriya |
| Author | Ashan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
NWP has been giving us ample opportunities to experience the beauty of the dry zone and few giants were providing the foundation for our dreams. Galgiriya had been in our priority list for a while just like Menikdena and we decided to go ahead with the hike because of that reason. There were no previous records of summiting it so as usual the maps were our guide. The range of Galgiriya is about 7Km’s long and to get to the summit directly you need to ascend 500M uphill on an acute slope. We decided to take the relaxing path which was to get on to the ridge from one end and hike along the range.
 The map |
 Galgiriya as seen from Maho side |
 base of the giant – only 50% seen |
 another view |
 Galketi tammennawa wewa |
We reached Ulpotha at around 8am and inquired about the safest place to reach the mountain. Though most of the villagers discouraged us because of the recent elephant attack on a village lady some were supportive . We were guided to climb up along Galketi thammennawa lake bund road and we adhered to those instructions. Passing the lake the foot path goes uphill until a caved temple is found and from there onwards one has to climb up until the ridge of the mountain is found.
After reaching the ridge it was a long long walk until the summit could be reached. On the way we had many many view points so the walk was a very slow one. The risk of encountering an elephant on the mountain ridge is very low and we didn’t come across any elephant dung which justified our assumptions.
 Galketi tammennawa wewa |
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 caves |
 more |
 Andiyagala |
 Madagalla |
 on the way we came across a natural cave |
 Galketi tammennawa lake |
 Ihala Embogama lake seen |
 yapahuwa rock seen on the right |
 on the ridge |
 long walk to the summit |
On various view points we saw landmarks like Andiyagala, Peaks around Madagalla, Galketi thammennawa lake, Ihala embogama lake, Yapahuwa rock, Nika wewa mountain, Kahalla range, Beliyakanda, Menikdena, Kadigala, Arangala, Attaragalla and Palukadawela lakes, Rajanganaya and Siyambalangamuwa tanks, Galgamuwa wewa, Yakkurugala, Kala wewa & Balalu wewa and also Ritigala. The hike took 5 hours for us to reach the summit and 2 hours to descend.
 kahalla range seen |
 obstacles |
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 a view point |
 Pahala embogama lake |
 Attaragalla and Palukadawela lakes |
 looking back |
 the drop |
 more to walk |
 natural chair |
 another view point |
 posing |
 more to go |
 “Gal” |
 unique |
 Rajanganaya and Siyambalangamuwa tanks |
 Galgamuwa wewa |
 looking back |
 along the ridge |
 another part of the mountain |
 Kahalla range |
 pano |
 Menikdena – Kadigala – Maruthulawa – Arangala seen |
 Madagalla |
 Nika wewa |
 Kala wewa balalu wewa |
 resting points |
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 . |
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 Ritigala seen |
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 northern part of the range |
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 summit |
 few feet away from the summit |
After reaching back along the same route in an express speed we had ample time to refresh our selves at Galketi thammennawa lake before departing back after a lovely hike.
 getting back |
 wow |
 yapahuwa |
 while having a dip |