Scenic hike to Uda Radella Mountain

Year and Month	March 2018
Number of Days	01
Crew	5 (Sobasiri Team)
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Motor Bicycles
Activities	Hiking, Photography, nature Exploring
Weather	Perfect
Route	Colombo -> Avissawella -> Hatton -> Blackpool Junction -> Nuwaraeliya -> Shanthipura -> Uda Radalla State Farm
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Take enough water 2Lx2 Take prior permission from the relevant authorities Be careful about the electric fence at the border of the land Be careful from Leopards when loitering at western border where Great Western side Respect the workers and the staff Please do not pollute the environment, bring your own garbage with you
Author	Ranshan Fernando
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Scenic hike to Uda Radella Mountain

Uda Radella is a mountain situated at the west border of Nuwaraeliya. It’s located near Shanthipura and reaching to it was very easy. We noticed this mountain on our first visit to Great Western long time ago and then we saw the edge of this mountain near Nanuoya and Radalla. Uda Radella Mountain is the 11^th highest mountain in Sri Lanka which is about 2143m. But it is not looks like a mountain.

Because there is a state potato farm at the top area of the mountain and entering to the farm was prohibited. We had a verbal permission which was obtained through some contact and we planned to visit this by motor cycles. First we came to Shanthipura which was remind our sweet memories ad Kikiliyamana and Single tree mountains and proceed further until we meet Uda Radella farm main gate.

Before enter to the farm we just walked further on the gravel road and came to a magnificent place where we could see the 10 highest mountains in sri lanka at a one place. That place is about 2070m above the sea level and we could see all the 10 mountains at a 240 degree view. Further we saw the whol range of Piduruthalagala too.

After that we enter to the farm and parked our bikes near the office and start to walk along the 4×4 path. There were some communication towers at the summit of the mountain and when I checked the elevation over there and it shows 2143m.

Further we walked to the western end of the estate where they don’t cultivate potato now. That was a huge plain and it look so beautiful. Ideally it is the best place to camp in Nuwaraeliya as we could feel the real forestry feeling over the mountains such as Great Western too. Further we could identify Knuckles peaks, Kobonilagala, Chariot Path, Gap of Piduruthalagala northern end and Chariot path side too.

There was an electric fence over the whole area and that because of leopards. When we further queried it from a worker he said that there are Sambars coming in the night to eat grass and Leopards are also coming to hunt them in the night. There was a small pond and we saw some Leopard foot prints over there also. We spent about 3 hours around the farm area and observed more nature creations and planned a hike from Uda Radella to Great Western also.

Thanks for reading!