Samasara Kanda / සාමසර කන්ද (1117m)

Samasara Kanda is which situated at Mawanella area has two historical values. It is said Prince Rama has flown his arrow to King Rawana from top of this mountain in historical war. Therefore it is called Rama Sara (රාම සර), now became Samasara (සාම සර).
Recently this mountain came for discussion due to fatal mud slides happened in 2016-May.
My first exposure to Samasara Kanda was hike to Kodigala (කොඩිගල) which is an accessory peak of Samasara range has 1040m height. After that I was thinking to climb proper peak of Samasara kanda the opportunity came after one year of Kodigala hike.
We planned to get on to the top of the range from previous Samasara village side (This village is called Siripura-සිරි පුර). This village was covered with soil after the mud slides happened in 2016.

As usual we have arrived to Hulang Kapolla early morning and parked our car there. We got necessary information from villagers at Hulang Kapolla (හුලo කපොල්ල). It was the same gravel road we followed to Kodigala but passed it to reach old Samasara village. This road goes at the edge of Belumgala (බැලුම්ගල) which is a nice view point with a significant drop. On our way to old Samasara village, we saw Ambuluwawa with towers, Dippitiya area, Ambalakanda area, Kabaragala, Asupini Ella, Rahala Gala, and Mahathala Gala etc.
The drop of Belumgala is about 140m and it is like a mini world’s end. Ambalakanda area is situated at the drop of Belumgala. Seems they plan to build a temple at the edge of Belumgala to be visible to surrounding areas.

Samasara Kanda in metric map. It is mentioned as Ramasarakale in metric map. Click image to enlarge.

Peak of Samasara Kanda (1117m) and Kodigala (1040m) in Google map.

Journey started from Hulang Kapolla. This gravel road goes to Old Samasara village-Siripura via Belumgala. We followed the same road in our journey to Kodigala as well.

View of Kodigala

View of Ambalakanda, situated in front of Samasara Kanda

ගම්මිරිස්

View towards Ambuluwawa

Zoomed view of Ambuluwawa

It’s Raxawagala / Kinihirigala

Reaching Belumgala

Belumgala

View from Belumgala towards Ambuluwawa and Gampola side

View from Belumgala

View from Belumgala

View from Belumgala-Ambalakanda in right side of the picture

Ambuluwawa in different colours

It is like an observation flat form

The drop from Belumgala

Nearby mountain….? Narangala

Road from Aranayake, at Ambalakanda area

Ambalakanda area

Paddies

Rocket

Asupini Ella. Rahala Gala in left side of the fall and Mahathala Gala in right side of the fall

Back to the journey

Then we followed the road to old Samasara village. It lies at the base of Samasara Kanda and we had front view of Bathalegala and Ura kanda. For the first time I could capture Bathalegala with Ura Kanda in single snap. Gradually we have reached old Samasara village. The area of mud slide was there and part of the village was under it. But rest of the houses of the village were intact and it was like a ghost village as nobody was there. There were some tea patches just above the village and foot path was not clear. We were able to reach the highest point of tea patch and the real hike to Samasara Kanda started from there.

Had to get turn from here to reach Samasara village. Other road continues to Dippitiya.

Road to Samasara village

Surrounding view from base of Samasara Kanda

At base of Samasara Kanda… It was a nice view point

A village built for refugees of Samasara incident

Bathalegala with it’s base

Another view of Bathalegala

Zoomed view of Bathalegala

Alagalla

Zoomed view of Alagalla

Ura kanda

Bathalegala and Ura Kanda

Landscape

Nawugala

Place of landslides over Samasara village

Ura Kanda and Bathalegala from there

According to villagers who told us the pathway, we can get on to the top from this tea patch. But there was no foot pathway from tea patch and we had to hike through dense forest. After climb few boulders we end up at an area of Bamboo bushes where move up is impossible. It was like a trap this thick Bamboo area somehow we were able to escape. It was a great relief to come out of Bamboo and we were able to reach the edge of Samasara range. We were so exhausted with short hike through Bamboo and dense forest but after seeing surrounding view we forgot everything. Here onwards it was like a hike along the ridge of the range.

Rock climbing….Photo credit-Sanjeewa

Last bit of hike along the rock to reach the edge of the range. I didn’t take my camera out of the bag in this section. Photo credit-Sanjeewa

This is the place of we got on to the ridge

The view from here were filled with Ura Kanda, Bathalegala, Dippitiya area, Ambuluwawa, Dewanagala etc. Kukulpitiya Gala, Balalgala, Lepalawa Kanda and? Wawulagala were seen in other side. Someone has set a fire at Kalugala area and smoke was rising from that side. After having enough rest we started to walk along the ridge of Samasara to reach the highest point of the range. We had to pass an area with short bushes and then entered the forest cap with Nelu bushes. It was bit surprise for me to see Nelu as I had experienced it on higher peaks.

Now we are at the edge of Samasara range. Ura Kanda is in front of us.

It’s Bathalegala and Dippitiya area. Alagalla is seen behind Bathalegala.

Bathalegala and Alagalla

Zoomed view of Bathalegala

Bathalegala and Alagalla

Dippitiya area is zoomed

Dewanagala

Surrounding view

Towards Ambuluwawa and Gampola

Morathiha estate Falls

Kukulpitiya Gala, Lepalawa Kanda and Wewalthalawa with towers (most far)

? Wawulagala

Travel buddies

Fire was set at Kalugala area

Smoke….

After walking some distance on the ridge of Samasara

Having a break

Along the ridge…

Along the ridge…

Bird’s eye view of a refugee camp

මේ මොනවද?

Looking at the top

Highest peak of Samasara Kanda has a rocky surface which provides 270 degree view. Other than above mentioned mountains and places, we were able to see Lepalawa Kanda, Kukulpitiya Gala, Ganthuna side, Dedugala side clearly. At this time Bathalegala and Ura Kanda were covered with smoke. Kodigala side is covered with forest. I have a doubt is there a foot path continuing from top of Samasara Kanda to Kodigala, because we have noticed a fainted foot path on top of Samasara Kanda.

On top of Samasara Kanda

View from top of Samasara Kanda- Ganthuna, Lepalawa Kanda and Dedugala side

Nuwan is on top of Samasara Kanda

Trio on peak…At the end we have reached our target

Bird’s eye view of tea estate situated at side of the mountain.

Bird’s eye view of tea estate situated at side of the mountain.

Zoomed view

Kukulpitiya Gala-another destination

Kukulpitiya Gala-another destination

We planned our return journey along the other side of the mountain. After descend through the forest (there was a fainted foot path) we have entered the tea estate situated at middle of Samasara Kanda. Half of this side of the mountain is covered with tea estate and Pinus. But the distance is more in this side through tea estates. We were able to reach Hulang Kapolla in 2 hours’ time through tea estate and on our way Kukulpitiya Gala was noted. It was a day and completed a long awaited task.

Descend through tea estate.

Descend through tea estate.

Pinus seed

At the end we reached the road heading to Hulang Kapolla

Thanks for reading