Kobonilagala Hike/ Aliya Kanda -1556m (කොබෝනීලගල)

Year and Month	20-January-2018
Number of Days	One
Crew	05 (Sobasiri Team)+
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Hired Vehicle
Activities	Hiking, Nature Exploring, Photography, Mountaineering, Waterfall Hunting
Weather	Good
Route	Colombo -> Kandy -> Theldeniya -> Rangala -> Thangappuwa -> Kobonilagala
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Carry enough water Do not try in rainy days Use GPS for a adventure hike Easiest hike from Silent Bungalow side Start your journey earlier Beware of Sambar, Deer Beware of leeches Ask the directions from local Do not disturb to the villagers Do not litter 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 Kobonilagala Hike (කොබෝනීලගල )/ Aliya Kanda – 1556m

Kobonilagala is a 1556m height mountain situated near Thangappuwa village. This mountain is known as Aliya Kanda by the villagers as per the exact shape of the elephant. There are 2 routes to reach the mountain such as from two opposite side of the mountain. We followed the hardest one getting upward from the Thangappuwa to Corbet gap footpath side. But the easiest path is fallen from the Silent Bungalow side located near Liyanagahapala Estate.

This bungalow maintained a proper footpath to this mountain as one of their main attraction to the hotel. They do hike for their guests also. However we climbed Kobonilagala from Corbet gap road side and got down to the Silent Bungalow. We were guided by Raja as per our GPS cordinates. There is a beautiful Pardale Fall located near Thangappuwa village. I have seen this beautiful mountain at the top of Ketaptatagala No.2 Mountain, Dunbanagala, Aliyawetunuela too.

Important GPS Locations

Entered to the forest from the Corbet Gap road – 7.359606, 80.834393
Mountain Hike started from here – 7.358063, 80.834637
Kobonilagala Summit – 7.353906, 80.835293
Got down to Silent Bungalow – 7.346360, 80.829022
Liyanagahapala Estate – 7.353573, 80.826295

Kobonilagala Shown in Google map

White Star- Kobonilagala Summit, Red Star- Silent Bungalow, Yellow Star – Liyanagahapala Estate

Our hike/ path shown in Red line. Yellow star is the turning point to the forest from Corbet gap road, White star is the Kobonilagala summit, Blue star is the silent bungalow.

Kobonilagala seen to Deanstone Mini World’s End

Seen to Dumbanagala

Seen on the way to Aliyawetunuela. This plain is the base of Aliyawetunuela hike. (7.361561, 80.830256)

Seen to the top of Aliyawetunuela Mountain

Kobonilagala seen to the boutique at Thangappuwa before sun rise

Village own to Pardale GN

Hike started

Scenic path

The 4WD path to Corbet’s Gap

More to go

Ruins of the road

Lovely road

View of the road

Turning point. Just passing this small Kovil, we entered to the right side forest patch and headed to the base of Kobonilagala

Nature

Plants

Here is it

We climbed the mountain directly this way

Sun rising

Hiking upward

Sphnix seen

Some bones

Evidence of hunting

Looks like a Sambar

Hike started

Colorful Nature

Aliyawetunuela Mountain

Seen again

Colors

Nature

Aliyawetunuela other end and Sphnix II

Dumbanagala and behind is Gerandigala

View of the range

Nature

Difficult forest

Be careful

Flowers

Nature

Reached to a open sky

Nature

Raja guided us

The valley

The plain, we took a photo of Kobonilagala from that plain. That photo is at the start of this report.

Thangappuwa Mountain

Sphnix II full view

Sphnix II

Forest

Nature Photography

Sky	Enjoying the view at the top

Here, we came to the top but the summit was fully covered my Pigmi forest. But we were able to see the surrounding. We identified the summit by GPS and there were few evidences that some people were there before. Hence we spent few minutes and got down to the Silent Bungalow.

Mushrooms

Nature Photography

Flowers

Nature Photography

Udawadiya

Nature Photography

More plains seen at the top of the peak

Seen at the getting down journey

Another view

Getting down to the Silent Bungalow

Mushrooms

Nature Photography

The Bungalow

Udawadiya

Towards Liyanagahapala Estate

Tasty

The Bungalow entrance

Aliyawetunuela Kanda

Small rocks

Surrounding

Celebrating the hike

There is huge plain at this area and belongs to private estate. But we thought that someday will come here again for a camping night. Because there are more space and freedom and good surrounding too. This is at the Liyanagahapala Estate on the road of Silent Bungalow.