Hike to Yabuluwa / Hetakatuwegala (යබුලුව/හැටකටුවේගල) (1100m)

Yabuluwa peak is mentioned as Hetakatuwegala in metric map. Click image to enlarge. Please note 18 hair pins bend as well.

Yabuluwa in Google map. It is height is just above 1000m and Ashan mentioned as approximately 1100m.

Yabuluwa is seen to Galpadihela Mountain

Yabuluwa / Hetakatuwegala is seen to Ambagolla mountain

I was looking for a good hike for certain months and this came to my mind suddenly. Ruwan has joined with me from Mawanella and we got Indranatha from Katugasthota. We have reached Thammitiyana by 7.30am and followed the winding narrow road to Mahawela and then Idamegedara. Weather was clear and we were searching for Piyasoma Mama’s house at Idamegedara to park the vehicle and get directions. Piyasoma Mama was the person who has met Eshan when he visited this mountain.
We were able to drive up to a boutique situated at Idamegedara and inquired about the mountain. After got directions from boutique owner we prepared our stuff for the hike and one younger voluntarily joined with us as he has not been there for a time. His name was Warnitha and he was the son of Piyasoma Mama. As Warnitha led us our journey was easy.

After having a tea from Warnitha’s place we crossed the stream behind their house. According to Warnitha there are two routes: one along the water stream and other through the forest. We selected the one along the stream called Galbokke Ela (ගල්බොක්කේ ඇල). Hike along Galbokke Ela was easier than going through the forest. After a certain distance along the stream Warnitha directed us to the forest. The forest walk was short and we have noticed old elephant dung to remind this as the area of Elephants. We came to a slab rock with open area following this forest walk.

Journey started.

“Galbokke Ela” – ගල්බොක්කේ ඇල

Along Galbokke Ela

Along Galbokke Ela

Break

A jump…

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ද o

Elephant dung

ගස් දෙබර

Coming out of forest

It was about another 45min hike from this slab rock to the peak of Yabuluwa. There was a large grassy plain at base of Yabuluwa. We have noted a pond like structure at this plain and it might be a water reserve at rainy days.

The slab rock where surrounding view was clear

Nearby mountain….this is also a part of VRR

Back to the journey…..

This is the plain I have described. The peak of Yabuluwa is seen

The grassy plain

The grassy plain

Team at grassy plain

He is showing something

.	So called pond or mini lake

The pond or mini lake

Final ascend to Yabuluwa peak occurred through burned Mana patch. It evidenced the area is used by villagers for cattle. After creeping through another Mana patch we have reached the peak of Yabuluwa. Yabuluwa peak is covered by short Mana / grass and it had 360 view. We have spent about two and half hours to reach Yabuluwa peak from Idamegedara village.

The burned Mana patch

Burned Mana patch

Drop of the final peak

View of Randenigala range….We have been there

Towards Galpadihela / Kosgolla

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.	Towards Mahiyanganaya

Final ascend

A fresh Mana patch

Here we came to top of Yabuluwa

On top of Yabuluwa Peak

With Warnitha

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Towards Hasalaka and Girandurukotte

Posing on the peak

Posing on the peak

We were able to view Kosgolla / Galpadihela, Ambagolla / Belumgala, Randenigala hills, Hunnasgiriya peak, Aliya Kotagala, Gerandigala, Kehelpothdoruwegala, Yahangala, Velangolla Pathana, 18 hair pins bend, Hasalaka, Girandurukotte, Mahiyanganaya Stupa, Sorabara Lake, Madolsima range and Loggal Oya reservior.

Galpadihela / Kosgolla from Yabuluwa

Zoomed view of Galpadihela

Hunnasgiriya in black arrow and Aliya Kotagala (red arrow)

A nearby peak. It is unnamed.

Gerandigala, Kehelpothdoruwegala, Yahangala, Velangolla plain and 18 hair pins bend

Close up view of Yahangala and Velangolla plain

Towards Hasalaka and Girandurukotte

Hasalaka Lake…close up view

Mahiyanganaya Stupa and Sorabara Lake

Randenigala Hills. We have been at these peaks before.

Madolsima range and Loggal Oya reservior

Yabuluwa is a good peak to fly the drone and to look around if wind permits. I have descended a little distance from the peak and fly the drone to get different view of Yabuluwa.

Over Yabuluwa peak

Front view of Yabuluwa.

Another view of Yabuluwa

Towards nearby peak

18 hair pins bend and Hasalaka

Mahiyanganaya area

Ambagolla and Kosgolla

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Lower peak of Yabuluwa

Team at Yabuluwa

Our approximate route to Yabuluwa Mountain

Warnitha has accompanied us through the forest patch in return journey. He has showed a place of water spring somewhere down the peak. We came across a man-made fire at closer to the village when we came back. It took about one hour to reach Idamegedara village from Yabuluwa peak.

Coming down

පේර

Man-made wild fire closer to the village

Man-made wild fire closer to the village

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Shined by Elk

Back to the place where we began

We said good bye to Warnitha and left Idamegedara village. It was nice to have a bath from Peela near Mahawela Ambalama.

Thanks for reading.