Padiyapelella Min worlds end and Eastland plains

First of all let me go to the past. It was in 2009 when Mithila suggested that lets start a trip report section on Lakdasun which was more of a Forum based web site and I was lucky enough to contribute the 2nd report to this archive which was my virgin hike to Sripada { Sri pada Off season and Mapalana (Mapanana) Falls(141m) }. Since then it has been 9 years and hell of a lot of traveling and many many write ups. This is my 200th report and it has been a long journey which I hope to continue in future too. My only wish is to see people adopting the strategy called responsible traveling rather than just hiking for selfies.

Many years back I came across some pictures about Padiyapelella mini WE but couldn’t find any online resources. When Anura posted details of the place I found some new hope and was ready to explore the hidden beauty of Hewaheta. Actually this was a 3 day trip and on the first day we planned to tackle the difficult roads around Rockwood estate. We left Chilaw at around 2A.m and reached Hanguranketha early morning. From Hewaheta we went 1Km along Delthota road to reach Mool oya junction where the winding roads to Mool oya begins. Following this road for 3Km’s we reach a reservoir where Mool oya is dammed. Just before the reservoir we took a left turn along an estate road. It is very difficult to explain the route but its advisable to get direction from locals to reach Eastland division. After tackling 7Km’s of estate roads we reached Assistant superintendent Madurangas bungalow where he provided us a guide to show us the way. It was a 2Km ride from Madurangas bungalow towards Eastland plain and it was around 300m from Eastland plain to mini WE where some line houses intersect in between.

Eastland plains( 7° 5’51.85″N 80°47’0.67″E) was a white quarts land where very few trees could be found despite the efforts of forest department reforestation programs. This extensive land area provides some stunning scenery towards Kukulagala, Victoria reservoir, Southern region of Knuckles range, VRR reserve, Hunnasgiriya, Hanthana, Piduruthalagala, Ragala, Padiyapelella, Mandaram nuwara and many more.

estate road

view from the estate road

Piduruthalagala and mandaram nuwara

Randenigala reservoir

towards eastland

at eastland plains

single tree at the plains

Kondagala seen

Kukulagala

Agassula range

pano at eastland plains

hunnasgiriya

knuckles seen from rockwood

Gombaniya and knuckles range seen

hanthana range

Piduruthalagala

Mahakudugala

eastland

rikillagaskada at the base of kukulagala

randenigala seen

nawanagala , yahangala seen

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my ride

From Eastland plains we drove 200m towards the line houses where we halted our vehicle close to the kovil and started marching towards the mini WE which was 200m away. Though Padiyapellella mini WE (a.k.a. Rockwood mini WE, 7° 5’38.04″N 80°47’1.10″E) provides a stunning view it wasn’t a 360 view. One could easily appreciate Padiyapelella, Mandaram nuwara, Mathurata, Piduruthalagala, Maha kudugala from this location. From here we returned back to Madurangas bungalow and took another estate road to reach Gal lella ella( 7° 5’2.42″N 80°46’8.56″E) and after enjoying the beauty of it we decided to head back towards Mool oya reservoir.

at mini WE

Rockwood mini WE

drop towards Padiyapelella

towards elamulla

pano

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the drop

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.	Piduruthalagala

Kodigala kanda seen

Galllella ella

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From Mool oya reservoir we took the road towards HOPE factory and headed along the upper division to reach HOPE(Pattaramale) natural pool. To reach this place one needs to tackle a 8Km estate road and getting assistance from a local is mandatory. The winding roads will lead one towards this artificially built natural bathing place which provides icy cold water if you are willing to have a bath there. After enjoying our short stay at nature pool we headed back to Hewaheta and ended our journey at Mathurata at a known place.

Mool oya dammed

on the way to Hope natural pool

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entrance

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.	feeling icy cold natural water for the first time

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.	Mool oya falls seen from mool oya road