Short hike to Kukulpitiya Gala / කුකුල්පිටිය ගල (=900m)

Year and Month	2018 December 09th
Number of Days	One
Crew	03-Nuwan, Kavinda and Myself
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	By bus and hiking
Activities	Hiking and Photography
Weather	Bit gloomy
Route	Colombo->Mawanella->Hulang Kapolla (හුලo කපොල්ල) ->Kukulpitiya Gala->Back to same route to Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	First bus to Hulang Kapolla from Mawanella is at 7.10am. Leech protection methods to be followed. It takes only about 1-1.5hours from Hulang Kapolla to top of Kukulpitiya Gala. Therefore you can couple it with another half a day hike to this area. Just inform the villagers (I think only one house) at base of the rock that you are going to the rock. They are helpful. There is no foot pathway after the tea patch. Be aware when you are at the edge of the rock, especially in windy condition. If need you can get down to Debathgama area instead of Hulang Kapolla. Better carry a water bottle to drink. Attitude gain from Hulang Kapolla is 200m.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Short hike to Kukulpitiya Gala / කුකුල්පිටිය ගල (=900m)

Kukulpitiya Gala is a rock with sharpen face situated at Hulang Kapolla-Mawanella area closer to giant Samasara Kanda (සාමසර කන්ද) Nuwan and myself first noticed it in our journey to Sandaraja Wana Arana. In our repeated visits to the area to hike Kodigala, Ambalakanda and Samsara Kanda we have observed it nicely. Initially thought it would be difficult to get on to the top of Kukulpitiya Gala, but villagers said there was a pirith ceremony on top of the rock sometimes ago.

Kukulpitiya Gala-This photo was taken on our way to Sandaraja Wana Arana

How it stands with Kodigala and Samasara Kanda

Kukulpitiya Gala, Samasara Kanda and Kodigala in Google map

How it was seen to Kodigala

This is the appearance of Kukulpitiya Gala when we are coming down from Samasara Kanda. Note it has sharpen appearance in both side.

Kavinda also joined to this journey, first time for a hike with me. As usual we got the earliest bus to Hulang Kapolla from Mawanella following breakfast. We have noticed the path to Kukulpitiya Gala when we got down from Samasara Kanda. Therefore without any hesitance we followed the gravel road from Hulang Kapolla towards Kukulpitiya Kanda.

Kukulpitiya Gala-Little Lakegala

Kukulpitiya Gala and Balalgira

Balalgira (බළල්ගිර)

We have passed the area of landslides at Hulang Kapolla (this is not famous landslides at Samasara Kanda) and passed tea estates. This gravel road ends as a foot pathway which crossed a water stream. After cross this stream foot pathway divides to upward one towards Samasara and downward one to Kukulpitiya Gala. Luckily we met a person who was carrying a heavy on this road. His house is situated at the base of this rock and this was his weekly visit to “Maha Gedara” (මහ ගෙදර) with child and wife.
After ascending path through tea estate we have reached his place where parents live. They have showed the path to Kukulpitiya Gala and we were treated with a tea.

Then we continued through the tea estate and entered the forest as there is no foot pathway to reach the rock. On our way up we have noticed debris of a house situated there. Seems tea estate was there up to the peak of Kukulpitiya Gala. It was not a difficult climb except minor rock climbing section and we were able to get on to the top within half an hour time.

Observing target of the day

Foot path at tea estate

Kavinda and Nuwan

Minor rock climbing part

Peak of Kukulpitiya Gala has a narrow summit with front and rear view points. There is a sloping slab rock at front view point where we had a superb view. Though it was bit gloomy day we were able to identify Kodigala, Samasara kanda, Mahathala Gala, ? Rakshawa Gala, Kabaragala, Ambalakanda, Lepalawa Kanda, Sandaraja Wana Arana, Morathiya estate falls, Dothal Oya tea factory, Balalgira etc.
This is a nice place to observe the cross section of Samasara Kanda and it is easy to identify Kodigala as one end of Samasara range.

Other end of Samasara range, Bathalegala, Ura Kanda, Debathgama area were noted from rear view point of Kukulpitiya Gala.

On top of Kukulpitiya Gala. The area at immediate drop is Ganthuna

On top of Kukulpitiya Gala

First time with Kavinda

On top of Kukulpitiya Gala

View from Kukulpitiya Gala-Ambalakanda

View from Kukulpitiya Gala-Ambala Kanda and Mahathala Gala

Mahathala Gala. Asupini Ella and Rahala Gala are covered by Kodigala

Ambala Kanda-zoomed view

Ambala Kanda with different colors

Towards Sandaraja Wana Arana and Lepalawa Kanda-Highest of Kegalle district

This might be Wawulagala plateau and the mountain. I have observed this mountain at Sandaraja Wana Arana as well.

Gloomy view of Dothal Oya tea factory

Morathiya estate waterfall

Samasara Kanda and Kodigala

Kodigala

Kodigala with different colours

The flag at Kodigala

The tea estate we have passed

Children and house owner are waving to us

Tea estate covering one side of Samasara Kanda. We passed this area in getting down of Samasara Kanda.

Winding road to Ganthuna

Towards Balalgala

Samasara Kanda-Other end

After enjoying the view we followed the same path to get down. But if someone need, can get down to Debathgama area as well. On our way to Hulang Kapolla we came across a Peela to refresh.
We had to wind up the day by afternoon as I have to be at Colombo at evening.