My First Pilgrimage to Sripada in 2011

Year and Month	14-April-2011
Number of Days	One
Crew	10
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Hired Vehicle
Activities	Hiking, Nature Exploring, Photography, Sightseeing, Pilgrimage
Weather	Perfect but rain in the evening
Route	Colombo -> Avissawella -> Karawanella -> Ginigathhena -> Diyagala Junction -> Norton Bridge -> Maussawa -> Nallathanniya -> Sripada
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Carry enough water Do not try in rainy days Do not throw plastic and polythene into the forest Do not litter Consider about the other people Leave only footprints
Related Resources	None
Author	Ranshan Fernando
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread My First Pilgrimage to Sripada in 2011

Sripada (Adam’s Peak) is currently my favorite destination in Sri Lanka. I still remember that I had 2-3 opportunities to go to Sripada in 2003 and 2006, but I was afraid to go there as I asked that there are about 10-15km to be walked. At that time as I am a school student I don’t have any interest to go there. But soon after my adventure life began in 2010, I was planning to go there with my parents and sisters as they also need to have that experience.

Hence we were planned our journey on Sinhala and Tamil new year and we hoped there might not be many people. However, as we thought there were not many people and just a few of only. We started our hike around 8am after having breakfast from Nallathanniya hotel. This is the first time that I have seen peak wilderness and holy peak. As we choose Nallathaniya road we were able to have a relaxed hike since there are no more people and the route is also clear and free.

Seven Virgins are seen on the way

Lakshapana Fall also seen

Dakinapura Mountain and the Ma-ussa Reservoir

The giant Dakinapura of Hamilton Estate

Birth of Maskeliya oya, Ma Ussa Reservoir

Known destinations

Seen it for the first time

Mohini Ella has seen

Seetha Gagula at Dell House Bridge

The journey began, the trailhead of Nallathanniya route in 2011

At the beginning

I was there

This was situated at the back of Nallathanniya Wildlife office. And from there we can go to that waterfall complex

Rajamale Fall at the front of Nallathanniya Wildlife office (Near Makara Thorana)

The Makara Thorana

We started our journey

Waterfall Complex

Red Bridge

There is a proper bathing area arranged now. Also there are two waterfalls under this bridge

The Complex

The ridge continues up to the Yaka Edu Fall

Zoomed view, they are dried now

This place is the most amazing place during the hike because there we can see more than 6 waterfalls on this mountain edge. All the water will meet Ma Ussawa at the end and these are generating from natural springs at the top of this mountain. This place can be seen easily before the Red Bridge.

Entrance to Japan Peace Pagoda

Holy Peak is seen

Yaka Endu Fall

Samanala Mountain

Near to Seetha Gagula Ambalama

Seetha Gagula, old footpath

Crystal Clear Water

Yaka Endu Gala

The below photo will show the springs of that Waterfall complex. This looks like plain but it was fully covered with large Maana bushes and its a muddy area. This place can be easily reached from the Hamilton Estate and it will take about 1-1.5 hr hike from there to there. Also, Yaka Endu Gala and Ballabedigala are situated above this place.

The springs of waterfall complex

Yaka Endu Fall and the summit of Yak Endu Gala also Ballabedigala can see so far

Beautiful destinations for me

Stairs

Seen again

Near the Ambalama

I’m capturing more photos as I was attracted to this destination

Yaka Endu Kanda is hiding

My uncle and aunty at their first visit

Yaka Endu Kanda is covering by mist

Valley

Framed

My father is got tired

He is resting, this is also his first pilgrimage

See, how the route was easy and beautiful. At that time, there were no concerted stairs and it is easy to hike. Now all the area was concerted. However, we were lucky at that time to feel this natural nature before getting commercialized.