First hike after the CORONA break – Talpattekanda 375M

The map

Google map

Talapattekanda is another monadnock situated close to Madagalla of Kurunegala. Since it had been few months from our last hike we decided to give this 300m mountain a go. We left early as possible and started climbing the mountain from Hathpokuna temple. It was a gradual climb all the way until the summit. It might have taken about 45mins to climb it as I remember. From the summit one could easily appreciate Yapahuwa, Diyabete, Galagiriya, Nikawewa kanda, Degadaturawa, Yakdessagala, Nathagane, Dolukanda, Deduru oya reservoir, Hakwetuna oya reservoir, Dolukanda, Pudukulama, Kotagala and many more.

View from Madagalla – Hiripitiya rd

on the way up

ගල් සියඹලා

Diyabete

Yapahuwa

.

degadaturawa and galagiriya

.

summit

Atlas at the summit

the other peak

.

paddy

hakwetuna oya

.

.

clicking

Deduru oya reservoir

.	dolukanda, pudukulama and kotagala

.

.

We decided to attempt the second peak too since it had a sthupa built on its summit. We descended in to the valley in between the two mountains and to our surprise there was a cave monastery in that valley which we late got to know as Talapattekanda cave complex. Following a clear foot path from the western bank of the second mountain we reached its summit with many drip ledge caves. The second summit also provided some stunning views.

ruins at Thalapaththekanda sri sudarshana aranya

caves

with time

.

the path…

inscriptions

.

.

.	at the 2nd summit

nathagane and yakdessagala range

වෙහෙසකර අභියෝගයක් සාර්ථකව ජය ගත් පසු එහි අග්‍ර ඵලය ලබන්නට නිහඬව ටික කලක් බලා සිටිය යුතුයි

.

.

veheragala

.

summit cave

summit of 2nd peak

We later descended back to the cave monastery where we were offered “Dhane”. From here we hired a trishaw and went back to Hathpokuna to get our vehicle and return back home.

returning back

.

.

.