Challenging hike to Beragala rock(1385m)

Year and Month	March, 2020
Number of Days	one
Crew	4 (Keshan, Prabath, Amal & my self)
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Jeep
Activities	Hiking / Scenery / Trekking / Photography
Weather	Clear and perfect
Route	Maharagama -> Kottawa -> Mathugama -> Kalawana -> Potupitiya -> Ilumbekanda -> Returned back on the same route
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Take a 2L’s of water Wear attire suitable for protection against thorns. Use Leech repellents Do not carry Plastic items (Minimize), Make sure you bring back everything you took. Don’t disturb wild life Main obstacle is BAMBOO & thorny bushes You need a good knife (Rambo) one or a Keththa to cut through the bushes (it’s a must) Better to have a local guide since there is only few routes to access the summit Keep an open eye on the weather (if it rains the hike is tough) February is the ideal period to climb it. Locals are friendly and helpful.
Author	Ashan
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The map

Beragala rock

Beragala covered with morning mist

In 2017 we hiked Handapan ella plains and we noted that there is a range of peaks on the other side of the plain. Later we got to know that this was called Beragala(the highest point of Handapan ella reserve) and locals from Ilumbekanda climbed it regularly. Beragala was always in my must do hiking list but unfortunately the weather patterns of Sinharaja area halted it. This march it was blazing hot and when i heard the news that temperature at Rathnapura was touching close to 37 Celsius

t triggered me to attempt it. We quickly formulated a gang and decided to depart early as possible from Maharagama. After having breakfast from Kalawana we took the Potupitiya route and headed towards Ilumbekanda. We halted our vehicle at a house at Ilumbekanda and took a foot path through low country tea fields from Ilumbekanda Vijayasinharamaya.

At the edge of the tea field we had to enter the forest and a local tea plucker was kind enough to show us the trail head, Few minutes along the said path we noted that it has vanished and we were pathless. If you are not a experienced hiker we recommend you to have a local guide. From here on wards it was a steep climb and we also had to form a route with less undergrowth. After a tiresome struggle we reached a view point through Dothalu trees which gave us the true feeling of a rain forest. After another rock crawling thorny climb we finally reached the ridge of the mountain and we were thankful because the leech density was low due to the prevailing dry weather.

.	the stream we returned on

many streams

“Wetakeiya” problem

climbing up

many rest points

rest at a view point

dothalu causing further problems

After having a break at the ridge we headed towards the first summit which had a splendid view towards Rakwana -Potupitiya road and at one point we did see Handapan ella plains too. From the first peak we had to get down to access the main peak and the fainted foot path was an aid to our tired souls. The last climb bought us towards a rocky plains which was the main view point with a sheer drop of 400m+. We had a long rest here before the cameras were put in to action. The home made sandwiches was a blessing to us and having some “Jeewani” was also helpful. The true summit was few minutes away and beyond it provided some good views towards Sooriyakanda towers, Handapan ella forest reserve, Morning side, Deniyaya Viharahena telecom transmission towers, Kurulugala & Gongala. The main rock provided a good view towards Ilumbekanda and Delgoda valley, Hinipitigala, Sinhagala, Sinharaja forest reserve, Kohilarambe, Kiribathgala, Pettigala, Kabaragala pathana, Panilkanda, Walankanda and even Sri padaya on a clear day.

finally reached the ridge, one of the peaks seen

plenty of view points

hadapan thenna side

main peak with the rocky ridge

marching

reaching Beragala

Ilumbekanda

finally a rest for the feet

Sinhagala seen

long awaited rest

unknown cascade arising from Sinharaja forest

Kiribathgala seen

plenty of room to camp

the drop

pano

peak

.	kabaragala pathana and panilkanda

Pettigala and Balangoda seen

isolated community at Delgoda valley

otherside of the peak

Gongala

Deniyaya telecom tower

vandalized morning side road

Suriyakanda towers

Handapan thenna reserve

Kurulugala side

flag point

back to the rock

the climb we had

After a long break we decided to try another route to descend back. there was a clear foot path noted in between the two peaks which someone had used lately and we followed it to a considerable distance until we met a sheer drop with no clear cut marks. It was challenging and risky but we manged to slide down one by one while holding on to trees. There were lot of rocks tumbling down but since only one of us descended at once we did manage to avoid major injuries. At the end of the steep descend we noted that we had reached a base of a dried waterfall and from here on wards we descended along the stream until we reached the point where the local tea plucker left us. It was close to 4pm when we reached the tea estate where we headed towards the house where we halted our vehicle to have a bath and depart with some fascinating and unique memories.