Kandasamigala (කන්දසාමිගල) (1540m) hike

Year and Month	2019 Octomber 19th
Number of Days	One
Crew	04-Keshan, Kasun Lakmal, Wikum and Myself
Accommodation	Katool Oya Holiday Bungalow This Bungalow is enough for 12 people, costs Rs 20000. Two separate rooms are suitable for couples. There is a cook to prepare meals if you provide raw food. T.P:0752403015
Transport	By bus and Hiking
Activities	Hiking and Photography
Weather	Bit misty. Ended up with rain.
Route	Colombo->Waththegama-> Gomare (ගෝමරය)->Katool Oya (කාටුල් ඔය)->Kandasamigala->Back to Katool Oya
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Start the journey early. Leech protection methods to be followed. Waththegama-Gomare bus is the ideal way to approach Katool Oya. Get down at Knuckles Five peaks road at Gomare and follow it. Gomare bus usually goes at 6.30-6.45am after Bambarella bus. As foot pathway to Kandasamigala Dewalaya is situated along the premises of Katool Oya Holiday Bungalow, better inform them when you hike there. There is another foot path to lower peak through Venture camp site. There is no foot path to other peak / highest peak of Kandasamigala. Use Google offline maps. Carry 500ml-1l water bottle. There are no water sources to lower peak after Katool Oya. We came across few water streams on our way to higher peak. But it may be dried up without rain. This is an easy hike. No need a guide. Kandasamigala highest peak has no view point. lease bring back what you carry. This area is still clean.
Related Resources	Trip report-Neighbor of Knuckles trail, Kandasamigala
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Kandasamigala (කන්දසාමිගල) (1540m) hike

Kandasamigala is another peak of Knuckles forest reserve situated at Gomare-Bambarella area. This mountain can be well seen when you are travelling from Huluganga to Bambarella. There are two peaks of Kandasamigala. The lower peak (=1380m) is called as Kandasamigala by locals as a Dewalaya of God Katharagama (Kandasami) is situated on top this peak. There is a clear foot path from Katool Oya to top of Kandasamigala due to this Dewalaya. Other peak has attitude (=1540m) and has no clear foot pathway to the top and nobody call it as Kandasamigala.

Two peaks of Kandasamigala in metric map. Red star shows the lower peak (what people called as Kandasamigala) and black star shows the highest peak. Click image to enlarge.

Two peaks of Kandasamigala. This is a common scene when you travel from Huluganga to Bambarella. Lower peak is globular in shape while upper one is pointed.

View of Kandasamigala when you hike along Knuckles foot pathway

This was part of two days trip to Knuckles area including Kandasamigala and Knuckles-Rilagala. We have started from Waththegama and got into Gomare bus. Our plan was to hike the mountain from Katool Oya side. Katool Oya is the area between Gomare and Bambarella. Katool Oya Holiday bungalow is situated at base of Kandasamigala (lower peak). We got down at Knuckles five peaks road and hired a three wheel to Katool Oya Holiday bungalow. It was the same road to Knuckles five peaks.
We have unloaded our stuff at this accommodation and started the journey from holiday bungalow. Kandasamigala-lower peak is so closer to the holiday bungalow. There is a clear foot path through holiday bungalow premises to Kandasamigala Dewalaya. This foot pathway was cleared recently after 10years and stone steps were also there along the path.

Kandasamigala is seen to Katool Oya Holiday Bungalow.

Along the foot path….

This foot path through the premises of Katool Oya Holiday Bungalow. There was another path coming from Venture camp site and joins with this

Stone steps

Foot path to Kandasamigala

View of Knuckles-Rilagala

Remains of entrance of old Kovil

The team: Wikum (left), Kehsan and Kasun Lakmal (right)

Shrine…

Steps to the peak

Different colours….

Clear path

Kandasamigala Kovil

At Kandasamigala Kovil

The view point is situated about 20-30m away from the Kovil. There was a clear foot path on the left side of the Kovil through bushes to the view point. Actually it was the edge of the mountain with sharp drop. We were able to view Gomare, Katool Oya side and Hunnasgiriya through mist.

View from the edge of Kandasamigala

View was not that much good due to mist

Towards Gomare side

Line houses at Gomarae

Winding estate roads

Hunnasgiriya peak and Campbell park forest reserve

At the edge of Kandasamigala lower peak

On top of Kandasamigala lower peak

Close up….

Aerial view…When we were at top of Kandasamigala lower peak

Katool Oya and Gomare areas

Lower peak of Kandasamigala…. Aerial view

We are on top of Kandasamigala

We followed the same path in return journey and on halfway we have noted other peak of Kandasamigala in right hand side. Our plan is to get on to the ridge of the mountain and hike along the ridge till reach the summit point. There was a fainted foot pathway at some places but the forest cover was not that much difficult to go through. We came across few open areas and crossed couple of water streams on our way up.

Highest peak of Kandasamigala….

The slope…..

Estate road at Katool Oya

Forest cover of Kandasamigala peak

Bowitiya….

Bamboo

Reaching open flat area

There were few view points on our way to the top…

The way along the ridge….

There was one side cover view point before the highest point of the mountain. Highest point of Kandasamigala is fully covered by forest and we tried to have surrounding view over trees. Rangala and Kota Ganga area were seen with Victoria reservoir over the hills. Kandasamigala lower peak, Knuckles five peaks and Hunnasgiriya were seen on the other side. It was not a good time to view second line structures as mist was around.

Highest point of Kandasamigala

Victoria reservoir

We have climbed on trees to get this view

Towards Rangala side…

Rangala town

Victoria reservoir

Hunnasgiriya peak and Kandasamigala lower peak

Kota Ganga Falls. Photo credit goes to Kasun Lakmal.

In return journey we followed the same way and got caught to a rain while getting down. At the end we have followed a different foot pathway and reached Venture camp site. This is another camp site situated at base of Kandasamigala lower peak. There is a foot path coming from this camp site to join with the path we followed. We were able to visit a small waterfall situated at Venture camp site.

Getting down….

Venture camp site

.	The waterfall

Base of the waterfall

Kandasamigala lower peak (bottom mark) and Kandasamigala upper peak (top mark). And our path is shown by pins.

Rest of our day was spent at Katool Oya Holiday Bungalow.

Katool Oya Holiday Bungalow (7.398104, 80.788265)
Katool Oya Holiday Bungalow is situated at Knuckles five peaks road, at Gomare. It is surrounded by lush green tea bushes and hills of Knuckles range is overlooking the place. Sacred Kandasamigala rises behind the bungalow. The view from bungalow extends to Kandy town, mighty Hunnasgiriya and famous Bathalegala.
This Bungalow can provide accommodation for twelve people easily with cooking facility. There are two separate bed rooms which are suitable for couples.
This place is ideal for relaxation and it is the closest accommodation option to Knuckles five peaks trail. The stream next to the holiday bungalow is good for a safe bath.

Enjoy the video of Katool Oya Holiday Bungalow