| Year and Month | 2019 December 29th |
| Number of Days | One day |
| Crew | 03-Anupama, Shashi and Myself |
| Accommodation | Not applicable |
| Transport | By bus, bike and hiking |
| Activities | Hiking, sightseeing and Photography |
| Weather | Excellent |
| Route | Colombo->Kurunegala->Ibbagamuwa->Kumbukgate->Welegala-> Banamaduwagala->Kalugalpaya->Kimbulwana reservoir-> Back to Kumbukgate->Colombo |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
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Kimbulwana reservoir / Kimbulwana Wewa (කිඹුල්වාන වැව) is situated at remote area called Kumbukgate (කුඹුක්ගැටේ) at Ibbagamuwa-Madagalla road. One of my frequent travel partners-Anupama lives at Kumbukgate area. I had an opportunity to visit at Kimbulwana reservoir when I visited at his place in 2018. There were two peaks which were overlooking at Kimbulwana Reservoir took my attention in first day. History of Kimbulwana Wewa goes back to King Mahasen period. It was renovated by King Parakramabahu Great during Polonnaruwa era. Anupama and myself decided to visit this overlooking peaks of Kimbulwana reservoir in one day.
 Mountains around Kimbulwana reservoir. Left-Kalugalpaya and right- unknown. |
 Kimbulwana Reservoir |
 Kimbulwana Reservoir |
 Sun rise over Kimbulwana Reservoir |
 Another mountain around Kimbulwana reservoir |
 Fishery at Kimbulwana reservoir |
 A cool morning at Kimbulwana Reservoir. |
It was the last journey of another fruitful year-2019. We decided to finish the travel calendar of the year by hiking Kalugalpaya. According to a sudden plan, Sashi also joined with us. Sashi and myself travelled to Kumbukgate from Colombo by bus and Anupama has warmly welcome us. A big thank goes to Anupama for arranging everything.
There is another attractive small rock called Banamaduwagala situated in front of Kalugalpaya. Our plan was to do a short hike to Banamaduwagala first and finish the day at Kalugalpaya. Thushara Ayya was our guide to Banamaduwagala.
Warm up hike to Banamaduwagala-බණමඩුවාගල
Banamaduwagala is a small globular shape rock situated closer to Kimbulwana reservoir. Folklore says it was the grain store of King Mahasen when he built Kimbulwana reservoir. This is a short hike of 30minutes along the rock which has 60-70 degree angle.
We have parked our bikes near the rock and started the hike early morning. We were lucky enough to have greenish paddy fields around Banamaduwagala (බණමඩුවාගල). It was the most common snaps in our picture collection. Surrounding structures were Kalugalpaya-our next target (just in front of Banamaduwagala), Etipola, Wilshire, Nikawewa Kanda, Galgiriya, Diyabettekanda, Degadathurawa, Yapahuwa, Waduwaketugala, Kuwenigala, Dolukanda, Pududkulama, Ibbagamuwa-Kotagala, Kimbulwana reservoir, Yakdessagala and Gonagama mountain etc. We spent about an hour on top of Banamaduwagala and reached to it’s base where Anupama rested till we come.
 Banamaduwagala from Nelliya road |
 Globular shape rock-Banamaduwagala |
 Early morning hike to Banamaduwagala |
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 Acute angle…. |
 On top of the rock |
 The path…. |
 The view |
 View of other side |
 Another view |
 Highest point of the rock |
 Nikawewa Kanda with Galgiriya (behind) |
 Diyabettekanda |
 Yapahuwa and Waduwaketugala |
 Degadathurawa-new destination |
 Pududukulama. Ibbagamuwa-Kotagala is seen right behind Pudukulama. |
 Kalugalpaya is at left side of the picture. Etipola and Wilshire is seen behind Kimbulwana reservoir. |
 Kimbulwana reservoir and Etipola+Brandyrock behind it. |
 Can’t remember the peak |
 Dolukanda. Front peak must be Arankale…. |
 Yakdessagala is popped up… |
 Gonagama Kanda |
 Kuwenigala |
 Getting snaps…. |
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 Paddies and coconut |
 Greenish… |
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 Houses at paddies |
 Shapes… |
 Centered…. |
 Close up… |
 Paddies in aerial view |
 Right on top….. |
 Aerial view… |
 Further up…. |
 The flag… |
 Busy with camera…. |
 With Thushara Ayya |
 We were on top of Banamaduwagala |
 Getting down |
We got refreshed from the tea boutique at junction of Banamaduwagala and said good bye to Thushara Ayya. Next was the main destination of the day-Kalugalpaya.
Kalugalpaya is situated in front of Banamaduwagala. There are few ranges surround Kimbulwana reservoir and Kalugalpaya is one of that. We drove along the road to Kimbulwana Oya and selected a starting point according to Google map.
 Kalugalpaya range is overlooking at Kimbulwana reservoir. |
 Kalugalpaya and Banamaduwagala in Google map |
 Kalugalpaya from Nelliya road |
There were two farmers at the starting point and they directed us to a small bushy area. Beyond that it was full of Teak forest and peaks of the range is well seen above the teak forest. It is not a hard trek through the Teak forest and we walked along the slope of the range. At the end with few rock climbing sessions we have reached the highest point of Kalugalpaya which has 360 view and ruins of a Pagoda. (I assumed it as a Pagoda). It took about one and half hours to reach the highest point from starting point.
There are nice slab rocks on top of Kalugalpaya. We enjoyed the same view as Banamaduwagala and in addition added some other places: Makulussa, Ambokka, Etipola, Wilshire, Karagahathenna, Gammaduwa, Kadigala, Manikdena, Arangala, Karanampotha and Deduru Oya reservoir.
 Get into the forest |
 Under Teak trees |
 Along the slope of the mountain |
 Sheltered…. |
 Out of way…. |
 Coming out of Teak forest |
 Banamaduwagala-Where we were in morning |
 Etipola, Wilshire and Makulussa |
 Ambokka and Selagama MWE |
 Peaks with towers at Knuckles range |
 Arangala |
 Manikdena and Kadigala |
 Karanampotha |
 Another separate rock….. |
 Scenery from top…. |
 Scenery from top…. |
 Yapahuwa, Waduwaketugala and Degadathurawa |
 Galgiriya (behind) and Nikawewa Kanda |
 Hakwatuna Oya reservoir and surrounding mountains |
 Kahala Pallekale range is far away |
 Ritigala (most far) |
 Deduru Oya reservoir |
 Kuwenigala |
 Bisogala-Highest of Kurunegala District |
 Nearby small lake-Siyambalngamuwa Lake |
 Swarnagiri Len Wiharaya |
 Towards Kimbulwana reservoir |
 Greenish Paddies… |
 Shapes… |
 On top of Kalugalpaya |
 Anupama and Shashi |
 Ruins of a Pagoda |
 Next set of boulders situated towards Kimbulwana reservoir |
There was another set of boulders situated towards Kimbulwana reservoir along the same range of Kalugalpaya. In 10-15 minutes time we were able to get on top of that boulders as well. After enjoying the view from there we turned back to follow the same route.
 There were some more peaks towards Kimbulwana reservoir. |
 The highest point we have stayed is seen far away… |
 Black and white |
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 Don’t forget we are in Coconut triangle |
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 Highest point with 360 view |
In return journey we followed the same route to reach the place we got into the forest. We met few villagers there and mentioned it’s name as Kalugalpaya. Last place of the day of visit was Kimbulwana reservoir.
 Fishing at overspill |
 Gates of Kimbulwana Wewa |
 Good bye Kimbulwana Wewa and Kalugalpaya. |
Thanks for reading