Hike to Thelambugala (1331m)/ තෙලඹුගල

Thelambugala is a lesser known peak of Knuckles range situated between giant Kehelpothdoruwegala and Galamuduna isolated village. When you are at Kehelpothdoruwegala it is situated along the opposite ridge of Yahangala side. Thelambugala first came to my notice when we camped at Kehelpothdoruwegala about 7 years ago. While we were approaching the peak of Kehlpothdoruwegala, Thelambugala with it’s awkward shaped parts were seen. In my revisit to Dumbanagala few months ago, again Thelambugala appeared through mist to remind me it’s a pending hike.

Back to commonly used sketch of Knuckles massif

My first capture of Thelambugala. It is marked by arrow. The awkward shape peaks also seen here.

Recent capture of Thelambugala when we were at Dumbanagala.

It was a blank Sunday we were thinking about a hike and Eshan strongly suggested to do Thelambugala hike. We started the journey from Colombo and it was kind of a round trip through Pothuhera and Rambukkana to pick up Eshan and Nuwan.
We have enjoyed the colors of morning sky while descend along eighteen hair pins bends. All the shops of Hasalaka town were closed at the time of our arrival except one night shop. It was the place for our breakfast. Then we followed the Hettipola road which was parallel to Hasalaka Lake and Minipe Canal most of the time. Yahangala was seen above greenish paddy fields and it reminded me the same appearance of Yahangala when we first visited.

Arrival to 18 hair pin bends at correct time.

Enjoying the sun rise from 18 hair pin bend

Enjoying the sun rise from 18 hair pin bend

It was a beautiful morning. Yahangala appeared above greenish paddies.

We have turned to Narrow Udawela road and followed the road to Udagaldebokka. Udagaldebokka is still an isolated village with no mortable road. Last place of the car can reach is Rankirimada. We have parked the car at Kapila Banda Mama’s place. The mortable road ended in about 100m from this place and foot pathway to Udagaldebokka started.
My last visit to Udagaldebokka was in 2013 when we descend from Kehelpothdoruwegala. Number of families live in the village is about 28 now. Though it has a small school only six students study there. Seems this village is at the vanishing process due to no mortable road and wild elephants. We have met few villagers going to buy their daily needs in the morning and returning back in the evening.
The foot path to Udagaldebokka is a beautiful shaded one and we have crossed couple of streams. It was a gradual ascend to Udagaldebokka and we spent about 1 hour to reach the village. Roaming wild elephants are the main threat and we have noticed some elephant dung on our way to the village.

Follow the path to Udagaldebokka.

It was a beautiful shaded path most of the time.

Elephant dung

The foot path crosses the open area. Main threat of wild elephants is here.

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Time for a break

We had a beautiful view towards Mahiyanganaya here

We had a beautiful view towards Mahiyanganaya here

Reaching Udagaldebokka

A house at Udagaldebokka

Solar powered lights are new additions

Here we got directions to Thelambugala from villagers. With the help of Google map and villagers’ directions we came to one Chena (70 25’29.4’’N 80o53’34.6’’E) where we got exact path to Thelambugala side. This Chena was full of Kurakkan, Thana Wee and Mustard. It was the harvesting time. I would like to appreciate the direction given by the man was at Chena. He described the path to the ridge of Thelambugala.

A man at Chena

Mustard

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We left Chena and entered the forest patch at the boundary. There was a foot path to be followed and crossed a wide stream. Then it was a gradual ascend through the forest along the foot path and we came to the ridge of Thelambugala in 1 hour time. (70 25’48.981’’N 80o53’11.32’’E) Once we reached this ridge we knew the direction to be followed. (Left side)

Crossing the stream

The forest was greenish due to recent rain

As there was a clear foot path we have enjoyed the journey well

Came to the ridge of Thelambugala

The journey along the ridge to the peak of Thelambugala took another one and half hours. Because there was no foot path in first few hundred meters and we had to go through thickly grown Mana and thorny bushes. Once we came out of the Mana patch we were rewarded with beautiful view. Then it was a gradual ascend along the ridge and there were intermittent open and forest patches. Here we came to a peak where the Thelambugala and those awkward rocky parts were appearing in front of us. Then it was a small descend from this mountain before the actual peak of Thelambugala. Final ascend was along the edge of actual peak of Thelambugala (70 25’17.63’’N 80o52’54.87’’E).
As the highest point of Thelambugala is covered with some thorny bushes we couldn’t move to the side of Kehelpothdoruwegala.
Thelambugala is a good view point with 360 degree view. Lakegala, Wamarapugala, Rehana Ketu Pathana, Thunhisgala, Alugal Lena Mountain, Gerandigala and Dumbanagala were seen in one side. Kehelpothdoruwegala, Yahangala and Velangolla Pathana were seen in other side and the plain beyond Mahiyanganaya appeared in other side. We were able to view most of the mountains at Knuckles as latter part of the day was clear.

View towards Lakegala

Gradual ascend along the edge

.	Here we came to a peak. Actual peak of Thelambugala and awkward rocky parts appearing in front of us.

There is a descend from this Mountain to start the actual hike of Thelambugala.

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There were some view points on our way up

The line of mountains: Thunhisgala, Wamarapugala, Lakegala. Meemure village is situated at the valley between this line and Thelambugala.

Final ascend to actual peak of Thelambugala

Towards Kalu Ganga reservior and Dambulla side.

Yahangala and Kehelpothdoruwegala

At the highest point of Thelambugala. It is covered with thorny bushes. Therefore we didn’t move to the side of Kehelpothdoruwegala.

Looked back to the path we came

Velangolla Pathana, Nawenagala, Gerandigala and Dumbanagala

The team on top

On top of Thelambugala

On top of Thelambugala

We are on top of Thelambugala

The black arrow shows the ridge we approached to Thelambugala

Close up photos of nearby mountains from Thelambugala (all photos belong to Shashi Gayashan)

A fall at Kalugala

Lakegala with two peaks

Kaikawala

View of Yahangala

Kalu Ganga Reservior

Wamarapugala

Alugal Lena Kanda

Paddies at Meemure

Karagahathenna and Gammaduwa (right)

Sudugala

Towards Mahiyanganaya

Udagaldebokka village

Some aerial photos taken from Thelambugala

Thelambugala with background of Yahangala and Kehelpothdoruwegala.

Thunhisgala, Wamarapugala and Lakegala. Meemure village and paddy fields.

Towards Yakunge Hela and Gombaniya

Gerandigala side

Kehelpothdoruwegala

Kehelpothdoruwegala, Velangolla Pathana and Yahangala

The ridge of Thelambugala to it’s peak

The front view….This is the view you get from Meemure side

.	Other side of Thelambugala

The peak

The rocky parts situated in front of Thelambugala are interesting

We followed the same path in return journey and got caught to evening shattering rain for half an hour. But we were able to reach the place we parked the vehicle by 4.30pm. It was another successful day.

Started to descend

On our way down

Get caught to the rain

Thanks for reading