Bopaththalawa Mountain (=1900m) / බෝපත්තලාව කන්ද

Year and Month	2018 April 07^th
Number of Days	One
Crew	04-Kasun Shanaka, Eranga, Nuwan and Myself
Accommodation	Not Applicable
Transport	By bus, three wheeler and hiking
Activities	Hiking, Trekking and Photography
Weather	Excellent. It started to rain when we reached the summit.
Route	Colombo->Hatton->Bogawanthalawa-> Bogawana Division-> Lynsted Division->Bopaththalawa Mountain-> Manikpalama farm-> Bopaththalawa farm->Agarapathana->Hatton (kind of a circular route)
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Start the journey as early as possible as weather of the area is unpredictable. Mist can cover the surrounding in late afternoon. No need a guide. Follow Google maps or get directions from estate workers. There are workers go to Manikpalama farm in morning from Bogawanthalawa. If you go early morning, can get directions from them. First bus from Hatton to Bogawanthalawa is at 6 am. It reaches Bogawanthalawa by 7.10 am. It is a common finding of snakes on your way to the peak and at Bopaththalawa plains. Be cautious about it. But we didn’t come across any. Carry 1 l per person. No water source found in the track on your way to the peak from plain. As this is an open area water requirement is more with dry weather. This area was still clean when we visited there. Please maintain it. One can come from Agarapathana side after passing Bopaththalawa farm. But much closest town is Bogawanthalawa. This is kind of an easy hike which takes about 2-2.5 hours from the tea estate.
Related Resources	Lakdasun trip report on Into unknown Bopaththalawa by Ashan. This was the first reveal of Bopaththalawa peak. Lakdasun trip report on Consecutive hikes off to off season Sri Pada and Bopaththalawa by Harinda. This report is good to find the direction.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Bopaththalawa Mountain (=1900m) / බෝපත්තලාව කන්ද

Bopaththalawa (බෝපත්තලාව තැන්න) is a small grassy plain situated closer to Bogawanthalawa town. The mountain raises above the plain (Bopaththalawa Mountain) measures the height about 1900m and creates beautiful landscapes with greenish surrounding. Bopaththalawa plain has close connection with Hortain Plains which is the largest plain of Sri Lanka.

Ashan has been at Bopaththalawa Mountain in 2016 and it was the first reveal of this beautiful place in Lakdasun. Since then a lot of travelers have been there and we also hiked this mountain in 2018. Though it is fairly an old story, it would be worth to share for future travelers

Bogawanthalawa Town, Bopaththalawa Peak and Manikpalama Farm in Google map. The area between farm and the peak is Bopaththalawa plain.

Bopaththalawa Farm and Bopaththalawa plain in metric map. Note it has close proximity to Hortain Plains.

Bopaththalawa plain mainly has two government farms, named as Manikpalama farm (මැණික්පාලම ගොවිපොල) and Bopaththalawa farm (බෝපත්තලාව ගොවිපොල). Bogawanthalawa (බොගවන්තලාව) and Agarapathana (ආගරපතන) are two closer towns but this mountain is much closer to Bogawanthalawa town.

We started the journey from Colombo by late night Hatton bus. After reached Hatton, we got Hatton-Bogawanthalawa bus and came to Hatton town by 7.10 am. Though the time was 7 am passed, town was not opened to get the breakfast. You can’t see Bopaththalawa Mountain from Bogawanthalawa town. Then we hired a three wheeler to a junction at Bogawana estate which costs Rs 200. As usual tea estates cover the lower part of the area. We had to cross Bogawana division first and Lynsted division second to reach the plain. Jacob’s ladder is steps of the estate at steep to get on to the plain. Once we reached the top of the estate we could see the sacred peak and seven virgin hills.

The junction at estate where we started the walk.

You can save the time by following short cuts at tea estate rather than walking along estate road.

The tea estate

Mountain tops….

First time Bopaththalawa Mountain came to our vicinity.

Sri Pada and Saptha Kanya ranges

Sacred peak

Descend to the estate road

Here you can see the gap between mountain (Left) and plain (right)

The stream origins from Bopaththalawa plain.

Now we came to Lynsted Division of Bogawana estate.

Road side flowers

The map of Bogawana estate

Bogawana tea estate

Estate road we followed

Nice place for a snap

The foot path through the estate to be followed.

Bogawanthalawa tea….

Met a worker at Manikpalama farm. He was kind enough to show the path.

It is worth to have early morning hike

At the end of the estate we had to follow a rocky area of the plain

We spent much time to click….

Top part of the estate

Back ground view with Bogawanthalawa town

So called Jacob’s ladder. A steep section to reach Bopaththalawa plain

At Jacob’s ladder

How Bopaththalawa peak is seen to Jacob’s ladder

At the end of Jacob’s ladder we have reached beautiful greenish Bopaththalawa plain where Bopaththalawa peak is rising. The road goes through the plain to Manikpalama farm and it continues till Agarapathana. It was so beautiful at the base of the mountain as it was greenish with grasses of the plain. A large part of this rocky mountain is covered with grasses and this might be the reason some called it as “Haritha Kanda” (හරිත කන්ද). Bopaththalawa Mountain continues with Elbedda range in other side.

Gap between the plain and Mountain

Beautiful Bopaththalawa plain. Covered with grasses.

Bopaththalawa peak is rising from Bopaththalawa plain

The road continues to Manikpalama farm. They use this to drive tractors.

Bopaththalawa Mountain

What a place to have snaps….

From here on wards we have noted straight forward foot pathway to Bopaththalawa peak. It was a continuous ascend through the grass area to the peak. Bopaththalawa Mountain has two false peaks and third peak is considered as the highest of the range. But this range continues with Elbedda range in other side. The part continues with Elbadda has more forest cover than rest of the range.

One end of the mountain

You can note the foot path to the mountain.

Foot path to Bopaththalawa peak.

On the way to peak

How nicely it is seen

This globular mountain is another peak situated at Bopaththalawa plain. The road to Manikpalama farm lies closer to this mountain. Peaks of HP are seen behind this mountain. Some called it as “Paththara Gala” (පාත්තරා ගල)

The ascend

Champions

Road to Manikpalama farm.

Forest and estate boundary. If you find this mark on your way, that mean you are at correct path.

There were these kinds of plants with grassy background

Towards sacred peak and Saptha Kanya range

Another false peak

Furthermore to the peak

Manikpalama Farm. Some will incorrectly identify this as Bopaththalawa farm.

Tea pluckers

Another group is coming

Heading to the peak….

No further false peaks. This is the true peak of Bopaththalawa.

Final ascend

On top of Bopaththalawa peak

Bopaththalawa peak

You can have almost 360 degree view from top of Bopaththalawa peak. We were able to view Sri Pada, Seven Virgins Range, Yakahaluwela range, Castelreigh reservoir, Hortain plains, Kirigalpoththa, Agrabopath, Hakgala, Conical Hill, Bogawanthalawa town, Norwood town and Manikpalama farm etc. We spent about 1-1.5 hours to reach the peak from Bopaththalawa plain. We were lucky to reach the peak at last hour as rain started when we were at peak. It made us to get down quickly over slippery wet grasses.

Towards Hortain plains: Kirigalpoththa

Towards Hortain Plains: Agra Bopath

Towards Hortain plains: Thotupola

Conical hill

Misty Hakgala

Sri Pada and Seven Virgins range. The mountain in front of Sri Pada with tower must be Yakahluwela.

Castlereigh reservoir and Yakahluwela range

Norwood town

Bogawanthalawa town

Towards central hills.

???	Line houses at plain

“Paththaragala”

Full view of Manikpalama farm

Cattles at Manikpalama farm

Towards Bogawana estate

Rest of the range continues with Elbedda range

Rain comes….

Here we got down to the area between the mountain and line houses. Rain didn’t last for a long time but misty cap wrapped the top of the mountain to give rise mysterious appearance. We gradually moved to Manikpalama area.

Bopaththalawa Mountain with mist

The area between the mountain and line houses.

Bopaththalawa Mountain after the rain.

Towards the road between Manikpalama farm and Bogawanthalawa town.

Beautiful landscapes.

It was like New Zealand. This climate is much suitable for poultry.

Bopaththalawa Mountain. Note half of it covered with grass and rest has forest cover. You don’t have this appearance from other side.

“Paththaragala” and turn to Manikpalama farm.

Visit to Manikpalama farm and scenic drive to Bopaththalawa farm

Manikpalama farm (6.813782, 80.708381) is the closest farm to Bopaththalawa peak. This is also a part of Bopaththalawa plains. There were no authorized person to get permission to visit the farm at that moment and we have just hanged around the farm.

Map of Manikpalama Farm.

Manikpalama Farm.

How Bopaththalawa peak and Elbedda range seen to Manikpalama area

Cattles at Manikpalama Farm

Then we wanted to visit Bopaththalawa farm (6.843419, 80.717772) and exit from Agarapathana side. But it was not a walking distance and we waited for a vehicle. Luckily a three wheel came after an hour time it was the transportation mode for rest of the trip. The road condition from Manikpalama to Bopaththalawa was good in condition. On our way to Bopaththalawa we have noted vegetable plots and line houses. Later we have passed the junction where road gets divide to NLDB bungalow (6.832838, 80.723187) at Bopaththalawa.

Road from Manikpalama to Bopaththalawa.

Roses

Cabbage

The junction. Here you have to get turn to NLDB circuit bungalow.

The area around Bopaththalawa farm is also greenish and seems this is much larger than Manikpalama farm. We didn’t try to visit there as we had to go to Agarapathana town. Holmwood estate was our last junction reach Agarapathana town. This journey was like a circular trail as we ended at Hatton town.