Viyanhela / වියන්හෙල (720m)…..One of the Bibile hills

Viyanhela / Viyanahela (වියන්හෙල / වියානහෙල) is one of the mountains in Bibile Hills situated closer to Bibile-Inginiyagala road. We have noted set of spiky mountains at Bibile side when we were on top of Seethawanniya-Nuwaragala. Viyanhela / Viyanahela is one of them and I got to know the name by metric map. Luckily it was the same name use by locals as well.

Viyanhela in metric map. Circled. Click image to enlarge.

Viyanhela is seen to Bibile-Inginiyagala road.

This was a one day hike and Ashan, Chamara and Eshan also joined with us (Kasun Lakmal and Myself). We both met at Bibile at Saturday night after done separate hikes in Maha Oya.
Though I noted and knew Viyanhela since few weeks time it was a target of Ashan for years and years. It was a pleasure to him when I invited for this hike. Ashan has done a lot of work on mapping and decided to hike the mountain from less steep side where a village is situated. (Later we got to know this village as Karandugala- කරඪුගල)
We had our breakfast from Bibile town and drove along Bibile-Inginiyagala road. Then we have turned to a by road (7.263300, 81.360327) where Karandugala archeology site is situated. We assumed we can reach the village situated at base of the mountain from this gravel road. This village is also called Karandugala and we drove about 2-2.5 km along this road to find a clue about Viyanhela. It was great to know this mountain is routinely climbed by villagers. This gravel road is not suitable for low ground vehicles and I had to drive carefully.
We have parked our vehicles at a private premise and got direction from them towards the mountain.
First step of the hike was to reach Chena area situated much closer to the mountain. There was a clear foot pathway (7.174528, 81.219612) with an ascend to Chena area.

Team except Eshan at the beginning

Clear foot pathway to Chena from village

Crossing the stream

Reaching Chena situated much closer to the mountain.

The scenery around Chena

Once we reached there we have inquired about the route to Viyanhela by farmers. It was a nice plain with back drop of rest of the hills of Bibile. Most attractive two mountains were Akunuhela (අකුණුහෙල). (In metric map it mentioned as Amunehela and Avalahela අමුනුහෙල / අවාලහෙල). These two peaks were continued to appear throughout the journey. Next we have followed a foot pathway behind one of Chena (7.171764, 81.213509) and entered dry zone forest patch. Continuation of this foot path brought us to a slab rock which was a good rest point.

Two peaks of Akunuhela

A peak of Akunuhela

A peak of Akunuhela

Searching for the foot pathway behind Chena

Follow the foot pathway at dry zone forest.

The slab rock

Viewing of Akunuhela from the slab rock

According to map there was a mana patch and (7.171197, 81.215320) our next target was that. We planned to get on to the ridge of the mountain by crossing this Mana patch. A wild elephant has come across at Mana patch and it ran into the forest by seeing us. From here onwards it was an ascend along the ridge of the mountain under dry zone forest cover. Ashan and Eshan have guided us with help of Google map. There was a clear foot path up to some extent and later we followed our own path in the forest. Next important landmark was another long slab rock along which we had to hike. This place was a good view point towards Gal Oya side. We could view Dhanigala-the highest of Gal Oya range, peak of Wadinagala, hills around Gal Oya Makare and Maragala range in far

Get into the Mana patch

මඩු

එක යායට

Crossing the Mana patch

Our target is seen

Second phase of forest patch is starting

The ascend

A difficult place

A cave like structure

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Beginning of long slab rock

Climb along the slab rock

Wadinagala has popped up behind Dhanigala range

Dhanigala range…known as the highest of Gal Oya hills

Hills around Gal Oya Makare

Maragala

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At the end of this long slab rock we have passed another small forest patch with an ascend to reach top of Viyanhela (7.17245, 81.22190). The top of Viyanhela has two/ three slab rocks with good surrounding view. When we reached top of Viyanhela, it was seen it has some other peaks as well. But we didn’t want to go from peak to peak. You can view Nuwaragala Hills (including Nuwaragala, Ethbedda and Seetha Wanniya) + Rambakan Oya reservoir, Namal Oya hills (Walimbe / Friar’s Hood, Dora Ira, Gerandiyagala and Balla Ulla), Dhanigala with Gal Oya range, mountains around Gal Oya Makare, Wadinagala, Maragala range, Akunuhela, Inginiyagala-Bibile road, Kamburagala, Maduru Oya reservoir, Omanugala, Kokagala, Unukirigala, Rathkinda Ulhitiya reservoir and Madipola from top of Viyanhela. It was a clear day to identify most of the land marks around the hill.

Moving from one slab rock to another

Two peaks of Akunuhela: Amunehela and Avalahela

Another peak of Viyanhela. We didn’t try for it. Kokagala is seen behind it. Fainted view of Unukirigala and Rathkinda Ulhitiya reservoir are also there.

Winding Inginiyagala-Bibile road. First we thought of getting on top from the road.

Towards Gal Oya Hills and Gal Oya Makare Hills

Second line of mountains: Kamburagala (left) and Omanugala (right). The reservoir next to Kamburagala is Maduru Oya. Fainted view of Dimbulagala as well.

Omanugala

Namal Oya hills

Rambakan Oya reservoir and Seetha Wanniya. Ethbedda is seen just right to Seetha Wanniya.

Bibile-Inginiyagala road with less bends

Gal Oya lodge

All in one: Nuwaragala Hills with Rambakan Oya reservoir (right) and Namal Oya Hills (left). Pointed peak at center of the mountains is Walimbe / Friar’s Hood.

All in one: Nuwaragala Hills with Rambakan Oya reservoir (right) and Namal Oya Hills (left). Pointed peak at center of the mountains is Walimbe / Friar’s Hood.

Dhanigala range.

Rest of Gal Oya Hills. Pointed peak of Wadinagala is at the center of the picture.

Towards peaks of Akunuhela

Advising

Chena area

Randomz….

A jump on top…..

Ready to fly

On top of Viyanhela

Photos shoot….

Towards two peaks of Akunuhela

It was the same path we followed in return journey till previously mentioned long slab rock. But this time we continued along the slab rock on the other side and got into the forest patch at the end. After few hundred meters we were able to find the same foot path we followed. It took about two hours for the return journey to reach Chena area. There was no proper water source at Karanduhela area to have a bath.

Getting down along the slab rock

The long slab rock

Capturing a different mushroom

A cave like a crocodile

Passing the Mana patch

We followed a different route to reach Chena

Back to Chena

Kasun and Myself said good bye to Ashan and team from Bibile-Inginiyagala road and drove along this scenic winding road. Here I wanted to snap Viyanhela from Inginiyagala road. This road lies on the dam of Namal Oya reservoir. We had a bath at Namal Oya reservoir to end another fruitful day.

View of Viyanhela range.

Continuation of Viyanhela range. This was taken from Bibile-Inginiyagala road.

Some aerial photos taken from top of Viyanhela

The team on top of Viyanhela

Top of Viyanhela

Viyanhela with background of Akunuhela

Rest of Viyanhela

Surrounding view

Surrounding view

Dhanigala range and Bibile-Inginiyagala road

Close up….

View from Akunuhela side

Gal Oya hills, Senanayaka Samudraya and Wadinagala as well

Namal Oya reservoir (7.285491, 81.521745)
Namal Oya reservoir is margined by Namal Oya hills in one side and Gal Oya hills in other side. Inginiyagala-Bibile road runs over the dam of Namal Oya reservoir. Here are some pictures of Namal Oya reservoir

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Might be Dora Ira Mountain (center)

View of Namal Oya reservoir

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