Hadurukkanda (794 m) and Thempana reservoir

Hadurukkanda (හදුරුක්කන්ද)-794 m
Hadurukkanda is another mountain situated at Kurunegala area with height of 794 m and it is considered as the second highest mountain of Kurunegala district. (Highest of Kurunegala district is Bisogala-823 m). The lower part of Hadurukkanda is occupied by a tea estate and top is covered by the forest patch called Hadurukkanda forest reserve of 77 Ha. Hadurukkanda range extends towards Rambukkana side with Belgoda Kanda and Parape Hills. This is considered as an easy hike but I couldn’t do it though I have been at many peaks of Kurunegala District. There are two paths to climb Hadurukkanda: One from Indulgodakanda side and other one is from Udagammana side.

Hadurukkanda in metric map

Part of Hadurukkanda is in next page of metric map.

Hadurukkanda in Google map

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View of Hadurukkanda from different mountains.

From Bisogala.

From Andagala

From Ibbagamuwa-Kotagala

From Dolukanda

Hike to Hadurukkanda
Medhaka and myself started the journey from Colombo and planned to join with Anupama at Kurunegala. Medhaka was a new face for my travelling. Though Anupama has planned to join with us for the hike he couldn’t come due to unavoidable reason. We turned to Kandy road from Kurunegala and passed Mallawapitiya junction. Next turn was to Indulgodakanda road after Mallawapitiya junction (7.462657, 80.405455).
Here the winding Indulgodakanda road starts and we have passed Thempana reservoir as well. Indulgodakanda is the name of the village and Hadurukkanda is the name of the mountain. Just opposite to Indulgodakanda post office Hadurukkanda road begins (7.424645, 80.401175). It is a narrow winding road with bad condition. Here I don’t recommend a low ground vehicle for this road though real distance is about 2.3 km but we spent about 30 minutes. The trekking starts from the church called Our Lady of Lourdes’ church, Hadurukkanda (7.427987, 80.406532).

Our Lady Lourdes’ Church, Hadurukkanda.

Hadurukkanda estate begins just in front of the church. As there was nobody to get permission, we followed the estate road according to Google map. After passing the estate Bungalow we came across few estate workers and they mentioned about another group who are heading of us. At the end of the estate there was a “Budumadura” (බුදුමැදුර) where real hike started. There was a clear foot path through the forest patch with continuous ascend till we get on to the peak of Hadurukkanda. It was about 30 minutes hike from Budumadura to Hadurukkanda top.

View of Hadurukkanda from it’s base.

View of Belgoda Kanda and Parape Hills, Neighbors of Hadurukkanda.

The estate road we followed.

“Budu Madura” / Shrine house was the land mark to enter the forest.

Medhaka (behind) and Charith

Continuous ascend

Shaded foot pathway

The foot path

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The summit of Hadurukkanda is covered with trees and there was a small open area towards Mawathagama side. The summit was marked by keeping a small Buddha statue. We have walked beyond the summit and found ruins of an old Stupa digged by treasure hunters. The foot path continued beyond the summit towards the other side of the mountain. As there was nothing to do on top of this mountain we started to get down. Though it is dry zone we have noted leeches on top of Hadurukkanda.

View towards Mawathagama side. The mountain is seen far away is Etipola (left) and right hand side peak is Wilshire.

Zoomed view of Mawathagama town

The summit of Hadurukkanda

The other group with children

Digged Stupa…

Getting down….

Note the forest boundary

Coming out of the forest

We have decided to follow the foot path in other side of the estate to reach the gate in getting down. On this way we came across small “Peela” (පීල්ල) and statue of god Hirugala Bandara. There were much open areas in this side to identify few land marks around Kurunegala town: Ethugala, Kiribathgala, Ibbagala, Wedaruwa Lake, Nathagane and Yakdessagala etc.

The view

The view towards Pothuhera side

Kurunegala Town and Kurunegala Lake are seen at center of the picture. A small piece of Ethugala Buddha statue is also seen. Nathagane and Yakdessagala were clearly identified. The other lake is Wedaruwa Lake.

Known peaks around Kurunegala Town

Hadurukkanda Forest Conservation

Statue of God Hirugal Bandara

පීල්ල

Wild beauties

Wild beauties

Couple of Mango trees.

Thempana Reservoir and “Ringana Gala” (තැම්පාන ජලාශය හා රිoගන ගල)
Thempana reservoir (7.447419, 80.405363) is situated at Indulgodakanda road. It is the source of drinking water to Kurunegala town since colonial era. This reservoir was built in 1830 for the purpose of supplying drinking water to an army camp.
Nowadays this reservoir is opened for public only on Poya days. “Ringana Gala” (7.2657 N, 80.2425 E) with Mota Kanda (මොට කන්ද) is situated on side of Thampana Reservoir. As we were not allowed to visit the reservoir on that day I flied the drone to get some aerial pictures of the reservoir.

Entrance to Thampana Reservoir from road. Mota Kanda with Ringana gala is seen behind.

Ringana Gala.

Thampana reservoir and Indulgodakanda road.

Mota Kanda with Ringana Gala

Mota Kanda and Thampana Reservoir.

Paddies at Mawathagama. Kurunegala area is also seen.

Our next target was to reach Ringana Gala which is situated at side of Thampana reservoir. Ringana Gala is a rocky opening made by two angulated rock. About 50 m below this opening you will come across a nice opening towards Thampana reservoir.

We came back to A10 road back and drove along Hotel Mandir Kanda road. This road is also not in good condition and few stone quarries are situated there. At the end, road branches to Hotel Mandir Kanda and to the quarry. First we went to the hotel (7.455368, 80.408592) and got to know about the foot path to Ringana Gala. Then we followed the road to Quarry and came across small shrine house under a Bo tree. (If you continued along right hand road will end up at an abounded Quarry). We have turned to left from there and found the vanished foot pathway to Ringana Gala. Actually there was a clear estate road at some point but Mana has grown to hide the road. Next the road branches to Ringana Gala and to top of Mota Kanda. First we went to top of Mota Kanda. Actually it has no view point but we have reached a slab rock on our way to the top, where you can see the surrounding.

Road branches: One to Mandir Kanda Hotel (left) other to quarry (right)

The road branches here again and we followed left side turn here.

Clear estate road

Stone cut pond

Upward road to top of Mota Kanda. Downward road to Ringana Gala.

The slab rock where you can enjoy the view.

On top of Mota Kanda. Actually it is just below Mota Kanda. Real summit has forest cover.

Towards Ringana Gala

Ringana Gala is opening of an angulated two rocks

Drip ledge

Side view of Ringana Gala

They are at Ringana Gala.

Ringana Gala

When we were there

Ringana Gala is considered as one of the places where King Walagamba hides. About 50 m below Ringana Gala there is a nice view point towards Thampana reservoir and surrounding. It was like a mini world’s end and we enjoyed a lot by posing here. This was the last task of the day.

Thampana Reservoir from view point.

Thampana Reservoir from view point.

When I was there.

The road and reservoir

Mountain just in front of Mota Kanda.

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