Theripaha to Mahaweli Raja Mawatha via Hegasulla and Padupola

Year and Month	2018 September 02nd
Number of Days	One
Crew	05-Keshan, Nuwan, Nalinda, Prabath and Myself
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	By bus and hiking
Activities	Hiking, trekking and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo ->Neeldandahinna (නීල්දන්ඩාහින්න)->Theripaha->Hegasulla (තෙරිපැහැ)->Padupola plain (පදුපොල තැන්න)-> ( රජ මාවත)Raja Mawatha->Kandy
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Start the journey early morning. It gives more benefits: Can enjoy the early morning view from top of Hegasulla, less time to expose to direct sun etc. We spent about 10 hours to reach Raja Mawatha The only water source we found in this journey was the water spring at Padupola. It is a small water collection but clean. Therefore carry at least 2-3l per person as you are directly expose to the sun here. Be aware of wild elephants. They hide at isolated forest patches. Fortunately I didn’t come across Elephants in this journey except Elephant dung. It is a journey of ascend and descends. It needs permission as you are entering VRR reserve. At the end of Padupola to base of Randenigala has significant drop. Get assistance of goggle map. Better wear an attire and hand gloves. The majestic rock situated next to Padupola and facing Randenigala reservoir is named as Kanamee Gala / Randenigala. Villagers in both side of the road use two different name for this.
Related Resources	Hike to Hegasulla (1205m) and Exploring Mala Oya Beyond Hegasulla-Searching for Padupola plain (900m)
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Theripaha to Mahaweli Raja Mawatha via Hegasulla and Padupola

This was the journey to Mahaweli Raja Mawatha from Theripaha via spiky Hegasulla and beautiful Padupola. Once we have reached Mahaweli Raja Mawatha from Theripaha along Mala Oya. In old days there was a road along this route to reach Mahiyanganaya. Accelerated Mahaweli project has absorbed all these old villages and foot pathways to VRR reserve and Randenigala reservoir.
We had two main targets of the journey: Visit at Padupola plain and hike to Kanamee Gala / Randenigala (කනමී ගල / රන්දෙනිගල).
I was counting days to visit at one of the beautiful plains I have seen-Padupola. As weather was perfect I have planned the journey to visit Padupola.
Nalinda and Prabath joined as new members for the journey. It’s my third visit to Hegasulla while Keshan and Nuwan recorded as their second visit to this triangular shaped mountain.
I followed the same routine as usual in previous journeys. Same bus, travelled by three-wheeler, waiting at tea shop till morning comes, fresh patty and tea, friendly uncle at tea shop were repeats of the journey.
We planned to start the journey by 6 am. Unfortunately someone has made a fire at Mana (මානා) and Iluk (ඉලුක්) around top of Hegasulla one day ago. Therefore we were advised to not to step into the area as it is bit dangerous. After discussing with others I decided to continue the journey as planned as before.
I followed my own steps in first journey and passed elephant fence. Middle part of Hegasulla was in burn. But it didn’t interfere with our journey except blackish appearance of the mountain in snaps. We have reached Hegasulla in two and half hours’ time. While in hiking I was able to identify Mahacoodugala, Ragala rock and Piduruthalagala in addition to previous mountains I identified. After enjoying the morning view from top of Hegasulla we descend in our left side on Hegasulla into the forest patch. Then we descend under cover of forest patch.

Let’s go through the picture journey.

Good morning Theripaha

Towards Uva…

Sun rise…

Early morning view….

Morning view while on hiking….

Kukulagala

Mahacoodugala

Piduruthalagala with towers

Paddies at Theripaha

Burning Hegasulla

Still burning….

Middle of the journey

Ash….

How it appearance has changed….

Burnt….

It’s almost BLACK

The path we followed…

Hiking on ash…..

Official beverage of the journey…

Reached top of Hegasulla

Randenigala reservoir….

Getting down….

Coming out of forest…

After coming out of the forest we followed the open area connecting Hegasulla with rest of the range. Following that, journey was happened along the same pathway till we reach the slab rock overlooking Padupola plain. On our way we were able to view Uma Oya, Narangala, Namunukula, Madolsima range, Lunubissa, Dambarawa, Mapakada, Sorabora Wewa, Mahaweli river etc.
Let’s go through Landscape pictures I got…

පේර	Beautiful landscape…

The area ahead of us…

Mountains at Korahana (කොරහන) area

Walking along the edge…

The area we have to pass…

Walking along the edge…

Having snaps in different position

Crossing the area with Mana

We were careful in passing this area as it might be a good place for wild elephants

Randenigala reservoir

Hiking…

It is a combination of ascends and descends

Getting down

Rest under a tree

Rock…

Following fainted foot pathway

Randenigala forest

Towards Raja Mawatha

Along the edge…

The place where Madathenna (මඩතැන්න) is started

Group picture

Beautiful landscape…

Reached the slab rock situated above Padupola plain

Enjoying the view of Padupola

The slab rock above Padupola

Roaming….

Padupola and Randenigala

Padupola plain

Time for a jump….

Padupola plain
This beautiful plain is situated at Victoria-Randenigala-Rantambe reserve closer to Randenigala / Kanamee Gala rock. It ranges from 900-1100m and sloped down to north. Before start Mahaweli project, Padupola was civilized and even a school was there. Currently it is covered by Mana and Iluk to give a beautiful appearance with bluish background of Randenigala reservoir.
A water spring originates from this plain drains to Uma Oya later. As it has a water source, Padupola plain might be a popular place among wild elephants and animals.
I have many experience with Velangolla Pathana at knuckles forest reserve. Compared to Velangolla Pathana, Padupola is bit smaller but rich in beauty. As all these places (Hegasulla and Randenigala range) are beautiful, Padupola can be mentioned as a heaven in paradise.

Getting down to Padupola

Padupola Plain

Padupola Plain with water source

Padupola Plain

After spend a time at Padupola plain we moved to the edge of the plain where Randenigala reservoir is seen. Fortunately we didn’t come across elephants here.

Move to the edge of the plain

Further pictures of Padupola plain

Walking in the plain

Edge of Padupola plain where Randenigala reservoir is seen nicely

Closer view of Randenigala reservoir

Kanameegala / Randenigala is standing next to the plain. It makes one end of the dam.

Our next target was to get on to Randenigala / Kanameegala and reach Raja Mawatha. There was a significant drop between Padupola plain and base of Kanameegala / Randenigala. We spent couple of hours to reach the base of Randenigala as we have to overcome this drop. After coming out of forest cover we had to face Mana area with bushes where no foot path was traced to move forward. At the end we reached the base of Randenigala / Kanamee Gala around 2.30pm. It was not a good decision to climb the rock at that time. Therefore we kept it as next plan and descend to Raja Mawatha under the guide of map.
After enter to the forest cover we could find a dry stream which descend to Raja Mawatha. We came across some water pockets in this dry stream on our way down. We were able to reach Raja Mawatha by 4pm. It was the end of trekking from Theripaha to Raja Mawatha, crossing spiky Hegasulla and beautiful Padupola.

This is our way to descend. It seems as a short distance, but difficult task due to the drop. As we planned to climb Randenigala, we decided to move on this way, rather than getting down straight from Padupola. I didn’t pay attention to get pictures till we reach the base of Randenigala.