Pathangala /පතන්ගල (1515m)-The bamboo forest

Year and Month	2019 March 23rd
Number of Days	One
Crew	06-Ashan, Anupama, Chamara, Eshan, Sampath and Myself
Accommodation	Not applicable
Transport	By jeep and hiking
Activities	Hiking and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo->Matale->Raththota->Polwattakanada (පොල්වත්තාකන්ද) ->Kattarathenna (කට්ටාරතැන්න)->Pathangala->Back in same route->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Start the journey early. Leech protection methods to be followed. It is a leech paradise. Stick on Google map. Better wear an attire and gloves. There were water sources on our way to top of Pathangala. Better carry at least 500ml per person. It is a strenuous hike as we have to fight with Bamboos. We got almost 6 hours to reach the highest point. But return journey was made in two and half hours. It needs permission as it is situated in Knuckles Forest Reserve. Though you are using Google map to find the direction better clarify with locals. They are friendly and no objections for the hike. There are buses from Matale to Polwattakanada.
Related Resources	Enjoy Ashan’s face book album on Pathangala
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Pathangala /පතන්ගල (1515m)-The bamboo forest

Pathangala is another prominent peak situated in Knuckles forest reserve. It is the giant standing just in front of popularly visiting Riverstone peak. Riverstone peak might be the most visited mountain in Knuckles Forest reserve. Therefore most of the people who visit Riverstone must have noted this peak. Though it is called as Riverstone by majority, old term is Kirimetiya Kanda (It is mentioned in metric map). Bata Anduwa Gap (බට අඩුව කපොල්ල) is situated in between Pathangala and Riverstone Mountain (Kirimetiya Kanda) /කිරිමැටිය කන්ද.

Pathangala, Riverstone and Bata Anduwa gap in metric map. Click image to enlarge.

How it is shown in Google map.

Pathangala was in my to-do list for a long time. Surprisingly I have first noted this mountain when I visited at Karagahathenna MWE, not at Riverstone. Later when I discussed with Harinda, got to know the name called Kawudamana (කවුඩාමාන) also for Pathangala. Luckily I knew Ashan and Chamara also had same intention to hike this mountain.

My first experience of Pathangala, when I was at Karagahathenna MWE.

View of Pathangala when we were at Karagahathenna abounded line houses.

View of Pathangala from Thunhisgala. Photo credit goes to Ashan.

View of Pathangala from Knuckles-Kirigalpoththa

What I mentioned earlier it as a typical mountain because Pathangala slopes to almost each directions. After analyzing Google map we decided to get the path from Dankanda (දන්කන්ද) village. There was a by road to Dankanda just after passing Raththota town. We have passed Dankanda, Polwatta Kanda and end at the last line houses situated closer to Pathangala. It is called Kattarathenna. Our vehicle was parked closer to Dankanda Tamil School. Pathangala was standing behind Katarathenna line houses. Though we have analyzed the Google map well it is better get directions from locals as well. According to one estate workers there is a path to the top of the mountain (But we didn’t come across). After passing last line houses we have reached the Kovil called Siva Sumbramaniyam Kovil. The kovil is situated at fairly higher place to have a nice surrounding view. Pathangala is situated in between Maussakanda (මාඋස්සාකන්ද) and Riverstone. Etipola and Wilshire appeared above the edge of Maussakanda. We were lucky enough to have a clear weather to see Kirigalpoththa, Gombaniya and Yakunge Hela.

Early morning view of Pathangala from Dankanda. But actual peak is not this. Far beyond this.

Team is ready for the hike. After a long time I have joined with Ashan and Chamara.

Flowering…

මිනීමල්

Wilshier is above the clouds

Greenish tea estates extending….

පුළුන්

Starting the journey

The estate worker is showing the direction

Next landmark-Siva Subramanian Kovil

The kovil is awaiting for Sunday school

Maussakanda was the neighbor mountain. Wilshier and Etipola were appeared at the edge.

Riverstone and Bata Anduwa Gap

Kirigalpoththa (most right), Gombaniya and Yakunge Hela

Blessed with clear weather

After passing the Kovil we have crossed a water stream and entered an area with abounded tea bushes. There was a clear foot path through this bushy area but it ended at the same water stream at higher position. Here onwards we followed the water stream for certain distance. It was bit difficult to follow the stream with it’s slope and we have entered the forest in left side of the stream. Real challenge of this hike started then onwards. Either side of the stream was covered with thickly grown Bamboo. Therefore someone has to make a path through Bamboo by knife (Sampath did a great job here). It was a time consuming and a hard work to hike though this Bamboo area. We have experienced Bamboo till we reached the peak in this hike. Therefore I would like to mention it as a Bamboo forest. Thickly grown Bamboo make damp environment which is suitable for leeches. We have noted high leech density of leech in the forest. All these factors made the journey hard and time consuming.

After the Kovil

Clear foot path through bushy area.

Coming out of the forest…

Note it’s full of Bamboo.

Thickly grown Bamboo

Chamara in action

Fairly good area with less bushes

Having a break. It was hard to find a place to have a rest due to leeches.

Something to bite at rest

There was small slab rock in half way of the journey to give a relief from tiresome journey. We had enjoyed the surrounding view from there. When you study the Google map you may notice a flat area just before the peak. The density of Bamboo has gone down when we reached this flat area. There was a water stream to fill our thirsty and plan the rest of the hike.

Dankanda area with Kirigalpoththa and rest.

I have been at none of these

Dankanda Lake

Pointed peak situated far away is Hunnasgiriya

Wilshire and Etipola. One peak of Makulussa is seen in right side.

Rest of Makulussa

Tea factory and line houses

Dankanda Tamil School and Ahsan’s jeep

After finishing thick Bamboo area

Reaching fairly flat area

Though Bamboo was there it’s walkable through it.

Bamboo has grown as high as possible

The stream…

Brings back to childhood

Google map revealed this stream origins from the peak and we followed the stream till we reached an open area where all the peaks of Pathangala were seen. Walking along the stream is an easy task compared to our first experience of the hike. This open area was a marshy land and we found the direction of the highest peak with aid of the Google map. The final ascent was happened through short bushes and we have reached a small rock situated between two peaks of Pathangala. The peak in right side is closer to Riverstone, but we didn’t attempt to reach it. This small rock likes a flat form with 360 degree view. We have enjoyed the view of Riverstone, Kirigalpoththa-Knuckles, Gombaniya, Yakunge Hela, Sudu Gala, Knuckles Five Peaks, Alugal Lena Kanda, Thunhisgala, Kalu Ganga Reservoir, Pitawala Pathana etc.

Walking upstream

ගෝනුස්සා

Walking along the stream

It is a birth of another river

Reaching the opening area

Sampath and Chamara

This open area was surrounded by peaks of Pathangala

Reaching the place with small rock situated between two peaks of Pathangala. It was a nice view point. Please note the other peak of Pathangala in right side and Riverstone with towers in left side.

Unlimited clicks….

The peak of Pathangala, closer to Riverstone Mountain.

Hunnasgiriya is seen in third line

Riverstone peak with towers. Sudu Gala is just visible between Riverstone and Yakunge Hela. Gombaniya and Kirigalpoththa are also in the scene.

Riverstone / Kirimatiya Kanda

The road through Pitawala Pathana

Maningala and Pitawala Pathana

Giants of Knuckles massif

Duwili Eli. Dumbanagala and Gerandigala is seen behind.

Lakegala

Wamarapugala at center of the picture.

Maningala and Etanwala paddies at base of Maningala

Pitawala Pathana and Pathana MWE

Kalu Ganga reservoir

Beyond Kalu Ganga reservoir

The final peak / highest point is situated about 500-750m away from this rocky surface. We have walked along the ridge of the mountain and entered the bamboo area again. It was happy to come across some mountainous forest here in addition to Bamboo. The highest point has a concreted base, most probably a tower has been there a time ago. We were able to watch the unseen part of Knuckles range and Dambulla-Matale area: Gammaduwa, Karagahathenna, Maussakanda, Yakkuragala, Gedaragala Pathana, Lenadora, Kadigala, Manikdena, Beliyaknada, Ambokka, Karagahathenna MWE etc. After getting enough pictures from top of Pathangala we have rushed to reach the starting point. It took around two and half hours to reach the starting point.