Randomz of Puwakpitiya and Padukka

Year and Month	Seethawaka Botanical Garden- 2018 August 26^th Other places-2019 April 28^th
Number of Days	Two separate days
Crew	Seethawaka Botanical Garden-Solo Other places- Harinda, Sri, Harinda’s brother and Myself
Accommodation	Not Applicable
Transport	By bus, car and walking
Activities	Just visit, Sightseeing and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo->Puwakpitiya->Padukka->Back to Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Start the journey early morning. Not like other waterfalls in the area, these falls are not getting crowded as visitors don’t know the places much. Leech protection methods to be followed. Better go soon after the rain to enjoy the real beauty of the waterfalls. It is bit difficult to find the access to Asmadalagala pre historical cave. It needs permission from chief priest to climb Kurugala. Coming through the temple is the easiest way to climb the rock. Seethawaka Botanical Garden gets crowded in public holidays. Wedding and pre shoot couples come in early morning. It takes a half day to cover whole botanical garden. Seethawaka Botanical Garden opens in all seven days from 7.30 am to 6 pm. A ticket is charged for entrance. (Rs 60 for an adult and Rs 10 for a child).For a boat ride Rs 200 is charged per person. If you wish you can hire an electric golf cart from the entrance. (Rs 1000) There is a cafeteria at the entrance of the garden but you can bring outside food as well. Please maintain the cleanliness of the Botanical Garden. The staff does a great job in maintaining it.
Related Resources	“Shri Lankawe Len” by Kusumsiri Jayawardene. Travel with Chathura @ Kurugala Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanical Gardenes, Ilukowita, Awissawella-You tube video by Sri Abeywickrama. Amazing Lanka-Seethawaka Botanical Garden.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Randomz of Puwakpitiya and Padukka

This is about few places at Colombo district, mainly at Puwakpitiya and Padukka areas. The main objective of this trip was to visit at newly mentioned two waterfalls in Colombo District. Harinda got some information about these waterfalls situated at Colombo District surprisingly at Puwakpitiya area. They were named as

Lansiya Wala Ella
Dehigaha Dola Falls.

On our way back to Colombo we have visited at Asmadalagala pre historical cave and Kurugala observation point. Seethawaka Botanical Garden is also situated at Puwakpitiya area and I visited there in my solo waterfall journey.

1. Lansiya Wala Ella / ලoසියාවල ඇල්ල

Lansiya Wala Ella is situated at Puwakpitiya-Thummodara road in between Hewahinna Road and Baduwatta Road. Base pool of the waterfall is called “Lansiya Wala”/ ලoසියාවල. It is situated closer to main road but only known to locals. We crossed the bridge over the stream and go down along other side of the stream. Here we came across two waterfalls. Upper fall is about 5-6 m in height but more in beauty. Lower falls is the proper Lansiya Wala Ella which is about 6-7 m tall. There was a foot path from the base of Lower falls to the main road.

Upper falls of Lansiya Wala Ella

Side view

These flowers were so common around the stream

Lower Falls-Proper Lansiya Wala Ella. The base pool of this waterfall is called Lansiya Wala.

Lansiya Wala Ella.

Lansiya Wala Ella and Lansiya Wala

.	The team with Lansiya Wala Ella

Dehigaha Dola Ella /දෙහිගහ දොල ඇල්ල

This is another hidden waterfall situated above famous Ranmudu Ella. It is situated bit far from the main road and has to walk about 500-750 m to reach the waterfall. Dehigaha Dola Falls is about 5-6 m in height.

Dehigaha Dola

On top of the water fall. Note the water tank.

Dehigaha Dola Ella

Let me update the new list of waterfalls in Colombo District

So waterfall list of Colombo district is updated:

Kumari Ella
Hewahinna Ella
Ella Uda Ella
Thummodara Ranmudu Ella
Dambora Ella /Demala Ella
Udagama Falls
Diwiya Mala Ella
Lansiya Wala Ella
Dehigaha Dola Ella

Seethawaka Botanical Garden (6.53, 80.10)

This is the most popular tourist attraction at Puwakpitiya-Thummodara road exactly located at Illukowita area (6 km from Puwakpitiya junction).This wet zone Botanical Garden was opened in 2014 covering 106 acres. It’s primary purpose for serving as a research area and a conservation area for threatened and vulnerable endemic plant species in wet zone. It’s height ranges from 90 m to 180 m.

The lower part of the garden is maintained similar to a botanical garden with beautifully arranged flower patches, perfectly cut grass, and well maintained lake.

Highest point of the garden is called “Mudun Uyana” -මුදුන් උයන. In addition there are different sections of the garden and they have started the second step of the garden as well.

Information and lay out of Seethawaka Botanical Garden.

Entrance of the garden.

The lake. Note wedding photographers are busy at this area.

Cafeteria and ticket counter.

Paved pathways.

Swan Boats.

.	Note the mountain in front of the garden.

Fernery.

Towards upper section of the garden.

Electric Golf Cart. You can hire it.

Beyond this area second step of the garden is operating.

Heading to Mudun Uyana.

View of the garden from Mudun Uyana.

Mudun Uyana-Observation point of the garden.

How Mudun Uyana is seen….

Next two places are situated out of Puwakpitiya area: Asmadalagala pre historical cave and Kurugala.

We turned at Kaluaglla to Kaluaggala-Kahatapitiya road and followed the road to Pugoda Thotupola (පූගොඩ තොටුපොල). We had utter difficulties in find the exact location of the cave as villagers don’t give correct information. (Mr. Kusumsiri Wijewardana also faced similar experience.). CHE Adventure Park is situated closer to Asmadala Rock. At the end we were directed there and with their support we have reached the cave. Actually the cave is situated behind their ground but there is a separate foot path from main road to the cave (Archaeologically approved). Seems villagers are reluctant to show this path to the cave.

Asmadalagala Pre Historical Cave /අස්මඩලාගල ගුහාව (6.5754392, 80.697441)

Asmadalagala is a rock situated in Colombo district and pre historical cave situated at base of the rock. In 1997 Dr. Raj Bandara and team has done excavation at this cave and found stone utensils and clay pots as evidences of pre historical human existence. Dimensions of the cave are 27 m is long, 4 m in deep and opening is 6 m in height. Later the cave has been used by sermons for meditation in Seethawaka or Kandyan era. Micro utensils found in Asmadalagala cave is similar to those found in Kuruwita Batadomba Lena, Pahiyangala Lena and Kithulgala Beli Lena. Pre historical humans have bought “Thiriwana” (තිරුවානා) /quartz from outside into the cave, most probably from the bank of Kelani River. The age of the cave is not decided yet.

Asmadalagala Rock is situated behind the ground of CHE Adventure Park.

Asmadalagala pre historical cave. The drip ledge was done at later stage.

In front of the cave.

The drip ledge. This is the evidence this cave has been used by Sermons for meditation.

This cave is about 27 m long.

තිරුවානා / Quartz

Kurugala / කුරුගල (=100m) (6.826515, 80.075779)
This small rock with religious back ground is situated at Padukka area. We have visited there on our way to Colombo from Puwakpitiya. I got to know about Kurugala from Travel with Chathura programme.

Directions
Colombo->Padukka-> turn to Halkadawala Road (6.854568, 80.077883) ->Liyanwala Junction -> Turn to Kurugala Road (6.839960, 80.080108) ->Kurugala

Shri Shalianthalaramaya is situated at base of Kurugala. After getting permission from chief priest we followed the steps to top of Kurugala. We were able to reach the top in 20-30 minutes time. The cave temple is situated at base of the rock (It was not opened at that time). Top of the rock is occupied by a Buddha statue, sacred foot prints and stupa. The rock extends beyond the temple premises. Highest point of the range is occupied by an estate of pine apple and a transmission tower. It is called Kodigala (කොඩිගල). Kurugala is a nice view point with 270 degree view. In a clear day even Sri Pada can be seen from Kurugala.