| Year and Month | 31st of December 2017 |
| Number of Days | One |
| Crew | 3 ( My self, Chamara, & Sampath ) |
| Accommodation | N/A |
| Transport | Pajero |
| Activities | Scenery, Photography, Hiking |
| Weather | Sunny and clear |
| Route | Chilaw -> Kurunegala -> Ibbagamuwa -> Dambulla -> Kologahaela -> Galpoth yaya -> Returned back on the same route |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Related Resources | Trip reports on : Yakkuragala |
| Author | Ashan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
It was the last day of 2017 and we wanted to go somewhere. The dry zone mountains around Dambulla were in our priority list so we headed towards Dambulla and planned to hike Yakkuragala with the aid of maps. After reaching Dambulla we took the Bakamoona road and after 5-6Km’s we took the Kologahaela road which requires a 4WD.
 Green path is our path, (image taken from Niroshan) |
our path
 Yakkurugala from wehigala pathana |
 from dambulla rock |
We started climbing from a point southwest to the summit. The initial part was through shrub forest and there after it was a gradual ascend until we reached a view point just below the summit. We didnt come across a single water source during our ascend.
 dry zone forest |
 climbing uphill |
 . |
 Mushrooms |
After reaching the view point we had to tackle the western slope of the summit part and some rock crawling skills were needed for that. We reached the rock close to the summit where we had to descend few meters and climb up again to conquer the main summit. This is quiet an easy hike but we were lucky that day. There are only very few ways to get to the summit and if you loose your way you would be facing many rocky boulders or rocky cliffs.
 at a view point |
 obstacles |
 Dambulla |
 western slope |
 slope |
 more to crawl |
 . |
 main peak |
The Summit provides a 360 view. The prominent landmarks which we came across were Etipola, Wiltshire, Arangala, Menikdena, Karanampotha, Beliya kanda, Kahalla range, Ibbankatuwa reservoir, Dambulla rock and town, Kala wewa, Balalu wewa, Ritigala, Sigiriya, Pidurangala, Kandalama, Erawugala, Gal koth kanda, Wehigala pathana, Elahera side and many more.
 range |
 Etipola, Whiltshire and Arangala seen |
 Dambulla |
 Beliya kanda |
 . |
 . |
 summit |
 Dambulla |
 Ibbankatuwa lake with dambulla rock |
 Elahera side |
 . |
 summit selfie |
 pano |
 Wehigala pathana |
 Kandalama lake seen |
 Sigiriya and pidurangala |
 Erawugala |
 the drop |
 . |
 the view |
 Kandalama hotel |
 Ritigala |
 . |
 Ibbankatuwa |
While descending we tried two other routes and ended at cliffs. So we backtracked and came along the same route towards the village. after reaching the village we headed towards Dambulu oya to have a bath and refresh our selves before departing back to celebrate another new year on top of another hill.
 Baby python |
 getting down |
 summit seen from the base |