Randomz of Kegalle

Year and Month	2018 August 18th
Number of Days	One
Crew	2-Nuwan and My self
Accommodation	Not applicable
Transport	By bus and three wheeler
Activities	Archeology, waterfalls and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Mentioned under each place
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Better inform the priest at Alu Lena before you go to top of the cave. No charges to visit at Elephant museum at Millangoda. Leech protection methods to be followed. There are enough buses in Kegalle-Moronthota road, but very less in Moronthota-Arandara road. Better hire a three wheeler for this route. Better visit waterfalls just after the rain to enjoy the full view of them If you go by your own vehicle, these places can be covered easily in one day. You can drive up to Maligathenna RMW. It is difficult to approach Willara falls from Molagoda-Aththanagoda road. What I followed the easiest way.
Related Resources	Alu Lena Caves (Alu Galge) Prehistoric Archeological Site at Kegalle Amazing Lanka
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Randomz of Kegalle

This is a small collection of uncommon places in Kegalle. We were able to visit following places in one day:
1. Mathula Alu Lena
2. Statue of Millangoda tusker
3. Willara Falls / Nona Ella
4. Maligathenna RMW
5. Lahupana Falls
6. Galgediyana Ella

Mathula Alu Lena / Aloka Viharaya (7.246135, 80.386567) මාතුල අලු ලෙන / ආලෝක විහාරය

Route: Kegalle-Aththanagoda road-> Alu Lena / Aloka Viharaya

Alu Lena is situated just walking distance from Kegalle-Aththanagoda road. This pre historical cave has been converted into a cave temple with a drip ledge. Presence of ashes (alu) on the floor causes it’s name Alu Lena.

A number of faunal and human specimens have been found covered with a calcium encrustation. Dr. Shiran Deraniyagala visited the site in 1954 discovered lithic and skeletal materials in a single test pit. They have found snail and mollusk shells, bones of Deer, Monkey, Buffalo and stone tools as well.
(Summarized from Amazing Lanka site)

Locals believe this is the place where writing of Thripitaka (ත්‍රිපිටක) in Pali occurred in King Walagamaba period. Currently the temple occupies the whole premises of Alu Lena.

Alu Lena with drip ledge

It is such a long cave to shelter whole temple

Stupa

Brahmin letters under the drip ledge

Side of Alu Lena

We got permission from chief priest to get on the top of the rock. There was a foot pathway on left side of the cave and then through private premises. It is surprise to see private lands are situated very closer to the temple premises. We were able to see Nawugala (නැව්ගල) and Ura Kanda (ඌරා කන්ද) from top of Alu Lena.

To reach top of Alu Lena

Nawugala

Ura Kanda

Surrounding view

.	Another cave below the original cave

After spending time at Alu Lena, we returned back to Molagoda-Kegalle. Accidentally we have noticed the elephant museum situated at Molagoda.

Statue of Millangoda Tusker / Millangoda Raja / මිල්ලන්ගොඩ රාජා (7.253908, 80.384779)

Route: Kegalle->Molagoda

Millangoda Tusker was considered as the longest tusked Asian elephant, when he was living. He was captured at Nawagaththegama jungles in Anamaduwa, in 1945 by
Millangoda Appuhamy of Molagoda, Kegalle. Millangoda Raja participated in Kandy Esala Perahara for nearly 40 years and also carried the casket of tooth relic. This tusker died on July 30th 2011 at the age of 73.
His body was preserved and placed on public display in museum.

Millangoda Tusker

Some information

Our next target was Willara Falls /Nona Ella situated at Molagoda-Kegalle. We have walked towards Mawanella side from Molagoda then followed the road parallel to Anda Oya. There was a by road in right side towards the mini hydro power station. We have passed this power station and followed the foot path further to reach the waterfall. Molagoda-Aththanagoda road goes in other side of this water stream and this waterfall is faintly seen from there. (But difficult to reach from there)

Willara Falls / Nona Ella / විල්ලර ඇල්ල/ නෝනා ඇල්ල (17m)

Directions: Kegalle->Molagoda->Willara Falls / Nona Ella

Willara Ella is a cascade with three parts situated at Molagoda-Kegalle. It is formed by Anda Dola (ආදා දොළ).
We have reached the lowest part of the fall and walked upstream to view the entire fall. Willara Falls has three parts: Upper part is about 7m tall, middle part is 6m and lower part is 4m.
Earlier it was named as Nona Ella and later it is called Willara Falls to commemorate Mr. Jayantha Willara who was journalist of Kegalle district. One of estate superintendent has killed his wife and put into this fall during colonial era might be the reason for name-Nona Ella.

Lowest part of Willara Falls.

Lowest part of Willara Falls. Closer view.

Third part of Willara Falls.

Third part of Willara Falls. Different view.

Second part of Willara Falls.

Top part of Willara Falls.

Kurulu Kale (කුරුලු කැලේ) is a forest reserve situated at Kegalle town. Earlier it had a giant “Yodha Pus Wela”-යෝධ පුස් වැල. Our next target was to visit at Giant “Pus Wela” but got to know it was dead for a time ago when we visited there.

Kurulu Kele forest reserve.

Kurulu Kele Buddhist hermitage.

Then we have reached Moronthota (මොරොන්තොට) in Kegalle-Bulathkohupitya road (A21) and followed Arandara (අරන්දර) road. Arandara road goes parallel with Gurugoda Oya (ගුරුගොඩ ඔය). As public transport system is poor in Moronthota-Arandara road, we hired a 3w to Maligathenna RMW. A vehicle can be driven up to the temple.

Maligathenna RMW / මාළිගාතැන්න රජමහා විහාරය (7.176504, 80.336202)
Maligathenna RMW is situated at a peak of 239m height. It is one of the place where King Walagamaba has stayed when south Indian invaders ruled the country.
Though it is a RMW, we can see a modern day temple with Stupa, Bo tree and image house. As it is situated at an edge of a hill, provides nice surrounding view including Gurugoda Oya.

Maligathenna Temple

Stupa

Modern day temple at Maligathenna

Dewalaya

Small “Kuti” under the cave.

Nuwan with care taker of the temple.

Wild beauty

View of Gurugoda Oya

Arandara-Moronthota road and Gurugoda Oya. Galgediyana Falls is situated just after the dam.

Rest of the view

This dry waterfall can be seen from Maligathenna, called as Keenigama Fall (කීනිගම ඇල්ල) .

Nice way to spill water.

Then we have come back to Arandara road and walked further towards Arandara to reach Lahupana Falls.

Lahupana Falls / ලාහුපන ඇල්ල (7 1047.3N, 80 19 48.6E) 3m
It is a road side beauty of Moronthota-Arandara road before Iddamalpana RMW. Lahupana Falls has three parts but we didn’t try the upper part due to slippery rock. This is formed by a side stream of Gurugoda Oya and later it flows to Gurugoda Oya. Height of Lahupana Falls is mentioned as 3m, most probably the lower part.

Lahupana Falls is seen to Arandara-Moronthota road. This is the lowest part of Lahupana Falls. 3m might be the height of this part.

Lahupana Falls-lowest part.

Lahupana Falls is-lowest part

Middle art of the fall. Nuwan is trying to reach upper part of the fall.

Galgediyana Falls was the last visit of the day. We have walked towards Moronthota again and got down to Gurugoda Oya just after the dam to reach Galgediyana falls. (There is a foot path from main road to this place)

Galgediyana Falls / ගල්ගෙඩියාන ඇල්ල (7.175485, 80.344055) (5m)
Galgediyana Falls is situated in Gurugoda Oya after 3km from Moronthota town. It is a wide waterfall (? 50m) as situated along the river. A dam is built across Gurugoda Oya, just above Galgediyana Falls. This waterfall has two steps.
Gurugoda Oya gets birth from Dothaluwa Mountain, passes Kegalle and Galigamuwa areas to join with Seethawaka Oya Ruwanwella.