Rajjurugala /රජ්ජුරුගල (616m)

Rajjurugala / රජ්ජුරුගල (616m) is a mountain situated at Kuruwita-Batathota area exactly at Imbulawitiya (ඉඹුල්විටිය). There is a historical background and some ruins situated around the mountain. According to folklore, Prince Wathhimi (වත්හිමි කුමාරයා) has stayed at Rajjurugala and his treasurer hide at this mountain. Later he has been a regional ruler at Pelmadulla. One of my face book friends called Malitha Balangoda drew my attention to this mountain and it made this quick hike to Rajjurugala. Malitha has given me all the directions to hike Rajjurugala but he couldn’t come on that day.

Rajjurugala-Kuruwita in Metric map

Rajjurugala in metric map. Click image to enlarge.

Rajjurugala…..Drone view.

It was another Sunday we started the journey from Colombo and drove along A4 road. At Kuruwita town we have turned to Batathota Lena road and looking for Imbulawitiya temple. I have been at this road few years ago to visit Batathota Lena and Batadomba Lena. Road condition was fairly satisfactory but Imbulawitiya road is extremely steep after one point. We have parked our vehicle at Imbulawitiya temple (6050’59.3473, 80021’ 58.3366) where trail head starts. It is advisable to fill your water bottles from Imbulawitiya temple as no water source found along the route. There was a gravel road starts from the temple and soon we entered the tea estate situated at base of Rajjurugala. Lower part of the mountain is occupied by the tea estate. There was nobody to ask directions as it was Sunday. We followed the steps at tea estate and entered the forest through forest-tea border (6051’10.1124, 80021’ 59.3359). It was another 45 minutes hike along the clear foot path with gradual ascend to the flat rock on top of Rajjurugala.

Imbulawitiya Hermitage….Where the trail head starts

Imbulawitiya Hermitage….Where the trail head starts

Get into the tea estate

Tea estate at base of Rajjurugala

Two man journey. Snapped at tea estate

View from tea estate

.	The peak of Rajjurugala is seen to tea estate

Directions marked

Clear foot path

.	Tropical Forest

Gradual ascend

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Small rock climbing part

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Top of Rajjurugala is occupied by a large slab rock with 270 view. One side it continues with the forest but we didn’t attempt to move beyond this. Elladuragala (ඇල්ලදූරගල) and Asamanakanda (අසමාන කන්ද) are situated in front of Rajjurugala. We couldn’t view distance mountains on that day as haziness was there. According to Malitha you can view mountains of Sri Pada arrange and structures at Colombo in a clear day from Rajjurugala. This is a good camping place to view sun set / rise. Another two groups have visited the place following us on that day. We were able to return to the trail head by about 30 minutes. It was the end of short hike to Rajjurugala.

Reaching the top….

The slab rock on top. Mountain continues as a range but we didn’t attempt beyond this.

?? A sacred place on top

There were few water collections on top. But not good for drinking.

Walking on top

Evidence of camping

Evidence of camping

Posing….

Posing….

Posing….

Evidence of camping

Asamanakanda (left) and Elladuragala (right)

The drop

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When were on top of Rajjurugala

Aerial pictures taken from Rajjurugala

Rajjurugala

Rajjurugala….view from other side

Top part of Rajjurugala

The slab rock on top of Rajjurugala

Asamanakanda (left) and Elladuragala (right)

Close up…..

.	Here we are…..

Coming back…

Coming back…

Sudagala Falls is situated at Kuruwita-Batathota road. On our way back to Kuruwita we have visited this famous bathing place in view to have a bath. It is a water stream with multiple bathing places and few minor cascades. We had a bath at lower most waterfall with a pool.

Sudagala Falls /සුදාගල ඇල්ල (6.807039, 80.381757)

Sudagala falls with pool

Sudagala Falls

.	The stream after forming the fall

Clear water

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A bridge over the stream

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