Kunudiya Parwathaya (1580m)/ කුණුදිය පව්ව තරණය

Kunudiya Parwathaya is a unique shape mountain situated at Peak Wilderness closer to Kuruwita-Erathna Sri Pada route. It is bordered by Thalagahalanda, Watarawanguwa, Adawikanda, Diyagula, Balawana, Palabathgala and Gatunila areas. A part of Kunudiya Parwathaya belongs to Kuruwita divisional secretary and a large part belongs to Rathnapura divisional secretary. Kuru Ganga is situated in it’s north west, North and north east directions.
It is actually a rock (පර්වතය-rock) by it’s name and having sharpen faces in three sides. Therefore it’s majestic appearance indicates difficult approach but can be conquered.
History of Kunu Diya Parwathaya goes to Lord Buddha’s visit to Sri Lanka. It is said Lord Buddha has planned to keep sacred foot print on top of Kunu Diya Parwathaya but he changed the decision as a dead body of Rat Snake was found there. It might be the reason for name Kunudiya Parwathaya. During the period of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, a giant has made a fire on top of Kunudiya Parwathaya to be visible to Sri Pada Maluwa. This might be true as we had an awesome view of Sri Pada from Kunu Diya Parwathaya.
Idea of hiking Kunudiya Parwathaya was in my mind for a long time. I have seen it was standing through the mist when we got down in Rathnapura route during Bana Samonala Hike. So it made me to hike Kunudiya Parwathaya within next few weeks.

Deep studying of Google map told starting point should be at Warnagala at Erathna-Sripada route.

Ultimately seven people joined for Kunu Diya Parwathaya hike including me. We reached Kuruwita town at 4.30am and hired two couple of wheelers to reach Warnagala. Our main strategy was to start the hike early as possible. Warnagala is an important place of Erathna-Sri Pada route. Spacious Warnagala Ambalama, Warnagala temple and Warnagala Falls are situated here. There is a separate mortable road till Warnagala from Adawikanda (starting point of Erathna trail) apart from routine foot pathway. Though it was concreted, after certain distance it became a gravel road where we had to end three wheel journey. It was an early start according to our plan and we could begin the actual hike from Warnagala after the breakfast around 7.15 am.

Kunudiya Parwathaya in metric map. Click image to enlarge.

Majestic appearance of Kunu Diya Parwathaya in Rathnapura-Sri Pada route.

Tempted view Kunu Diya Parwathaya

While we were walking, Kunu Diya Parwathaya was seen in right side and Heen Piduruthalawa was standing in left side. The foot pathway to Warnagala falls (වර්ණගල ඇල්ල) lies behind Warnagala Ambalama. Warnagala falls is a creation of Kuru Ganga. It’s height is mentioned as 40m and the name Warnagala is probably due to colored bed rock with certain mineral deposits. Currently this fall has low water level as water is diverted above the fall for electricity generation. Kuru Ganga starts from Bana Samonala meadow and flows parallel to Erathna trail.

Early morning view of Kunudiya Parwathaya at beginning of journey.

Trying to capture silhouette view of Kunudiya Parwathaya

Kunu Diya Parwathaya (most behind) and Kuru Ganga. Note it has a different view here.

Heen Piduruthalawa was always standing in front of us.

Warnagala Falls-40m

Warnagala Falls-40m

Warnagala Falls

Warnagala Falls with it’s base pool

Surrounding view from Warnagala

Real hike to Kunudiya Parwathaya started from here. Our tentative plan was to follow the feeding stream of Kuru Ganga from Warnagala towards Kunu Diya Parwathaya. This feeding stream creates 5-6 beautiful cascades, some of them are tall about 10-15m. It was not that much difficult to hike along the stream as it was fairly dry. After certain distance we entered to the forest and hiked parallel to the stream. Elephant dung were noticed since beginning of the journey, might be one or two weeks old. As this forest has enough bamboo bushes this might be a paradise of Elephants especially in rainy season. It was almost continuous hike till the edge of Kunudiya Parwathaya after we left the stream. This hike was difficult sometimes as we had to walk over boulders and through bamboo bushes. Elephant pathways were really helpful in hiking. Always we kept our track according to Google map. We were able to get on to the edge of Kunudiya Parwathaya after climbing few hard sections.

Hike along the water stream

Waterfall we came across

Waterfall we came across

Team: Keshan (left), Ridma, Dilshan, Shashi, Ganidu, Kavinda (right) and Photographer.

Waterfall we came across along the stream

Waterfall we came across along the stream

Waterfall we came across

Waterfall we came across

Along the stream

Another one

Another one

Along the stream

Ali Dung

We followed the stream up to this point and entered the forest

Entered the forest

Journey through the forest was not easy sometimes. Weaved Bamboo bushes was the main obstacle. It was a good exercise to separate them and create the path.

There were easy sections as well.

Now we are at the base of main rock. Next challenge was how to get on this.

We are closer to the main rocky part of Kunudiya Parwathaya.

Various activities at the base of main rock

මේක නගින්නේ කොතනින්ද?

Break after a strenuous hike

Get on to the rock at it’s edge. These bushes were really helpful.

At level of Heen Piduruthalawa

Somewhere at Kuruwita trail

Rocky part of Heen Piduruthalawa

Piduruthalawa is next to Heen Piduruthalawa

It was not a difficult hike after reaching the edge of Kunu Diya Parwathaya. It sloped towards the peak and there were some foot pathways (may be due to humans / Elephants) on top of rock. Nelu and Bamboo bushes were there under large trees. We have passed fairly flat slab rock with a view, this is good for camping as it is surrounded by forest. At the end we have reached the highest point of the rock which is situated at the edge with beautiful view towards sacred peak. We have spent about five hours to reach this place from Warnagala.

Happy face after passing hard trek

Wild beauty

It was a gradual ascend towards the peak

Slab rock with surrounding forest and view

Slab rock with beautiful surrounding view. This place is good for camping.

Forest on top of Kunudiya Parwathaya

Orchid

Posing with elephant dung

Wild beauty

Fairly easy track on top of Kunudiya Parwathaya

“Katu Pol”-කටු පොල් were fairly abundant along the trek and on top of Kunudiya Parwathaya

The peak of Kunudiya Parwathaya has multiple view points with 270 degree view. We enjoyed the nice view of Sri Pada and Bana Samonala. Sri Pada peak was covered with mist time to time but we were able to capture Uda Maluwa with Kuruwita and Rathnapura trails. Unseen side of Bana Samonala Gala (බෑණ සමනල ගල) and Darmarajagala (ධර්ම රාජ ගල) were seen. Ballanbendigala (බල්ලන් බැදි ගල) and Maha Piduruthalawa (මහ පිදුරුතලාව) were situated at left side of sacred peak. This is the place for single capture of Sri Pada, Bana Samonala Gala, Ballanbendigala, Maha Piduruthalawa and Darmarajagala. Gawarawila area and Dethanagala were seen behind Bana Samonala Gala. Most right side view were occupied with Rathnapura Sripada trail, Palabathgala area and Pelmadulla area etc.

Highest point of Kunudiya Parwathaya with superb view.

I am on top of Kunudiya Parwathaya

Everyone wants to get pictures at this view point. This is Kavinda’s turn

Keshan is there

View of Sri Pada from Kunudiya Parwathaya.

Kuruwita trail and where it joins with Rathnapura trail

Sri Pada (left), Darmarajagala (middle) and Bana Samonala Gala (right)

Another view of Sri Pada

Closer view of Sri Pada

Darmarajagala and Bana Samonala. Peaks next to Bana Samonala Gala is not mentioned by a name in metric map. Gawarawila and Dethanagala are situated beyond that area.

Same area with different colours

Zoomed view of Darmarajagala and Bena Samonala Gala. Other peak is more than 1800m in height not mentioned at metric map.

Closer view of Bana Samonala Gala

Ballanbendigala-most left

Rathnapura-Sri Pada trail is rising through the forest. Gatunila Kanda (ගැටුනිල කන්ද) is situated in between Kunudiya Parwathaya and Bana Samonala.

Bushes on top of Kunu Diya Parwathaya

What a place to have a rest

Trying to get his best captures

Tiny flowers

Rocky appearance of Kunu Diya Parwathaya

Team on top of Kunu Diya Parwathaya

Team on top of Kunu Diya Parwathaya

Having lunch

Other view point of Kunudiya Parwathaya. We walked from 1st view point to here to get view more towards Rathnapura

Palabathgala area

Palabathgala area

Palabathgala area

Towards Rathnapura area

This might be kiribathgala

Thick small leaves indicate adaptation for wind and cold

It is the place to capture Sri Pada, Bana Samonala Gala, and Darmarajagala in a single shot

Ballanbendigala (left), Sri Pada, Darmarajagala and Bana Samonala Gala

Found a cap of someone of previous visit

We are on top of Kunu Diya Parwathaya

We started the return journey around 2pm and came back to Warnagala at 6pm. We didn’t find any steep sections on our way down as we changed the trek. Finally we could join with the same stream followed morning, but somewhere high in the trek. As the stream was almost dry it was easy to get down. It was a great achievement in completion of this hard trek within eleven hours and my thanks go to other members of the team.

Return journey started after enjoying the view.

This is the place for camping.

Posing at dry stream.

A Cave

Sharing apples

We had a relax time in getting down to get more pictures

“Manual stabilization”

If the stream is wet passing of these sections would be utterly difficult

Another waterfalls captured….

Last picture of the day.

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