View point of Kandalama-Erawulagala ඈරවුලගල (695m)

Year and Month	August, 2014 (3rd)
Number of Days	One Day Trip
Crew	02 – Anupama and My self
Accommodation	NA
Transport	Motor bike and walking
Activities	Mountain climbing, Archeology and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Dambulla- > Kandalama (කණ්ඩලම) -> Erawula (ඈරවුල) -> Kaludiya Pokuna (කලුදිය පොකුණ) -> Erawulagala -> Returned in same route.
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Start the journey in early morning. First go to Kaludiya Pokuna archeology site and then start the hike from there. Discuss with the care taker of archeology site. Carry at least 1-2liter of water for one person. We didn’t see any water sources in the mountain. This climbing takes about 2.5-3 hours to reach the peak. Therefore better have something to eat. This is a moderate strenuous climb. Most of the time it is a continuous ascend up to the peak. But it is not that much difficult as we had to walk under dry forest. We could notice a foot pathway from archeology but less clear in some areas. No need a guide if you have a clear idea where you have to end up. No risk of trap guns. No wild elephants. Don’t pollute the area with plastic items.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread View point of Kandalama-Erawulagala ඈරවුලගල (695m)

This mighty rock was noticed when I was at Menikdena. It was situated closer to Kandalama Lake. I definitely knew it can be a good view point of Kandalama lake and surrounding area. Later I came across the archeology site called Kaludiya Pokuna (This is not the famous Kaludiya Pokuna at Mihinthale) also situated at base of the Erawulagala Mountain.

So our plan was to first visit at Kaludiya Pokuna archeology site and then to find a path to climb the mountain.
Early morning I joined with Anupama at Dambulla. After having the breakfast we drove along Kandalama road and came to Kandalama lake bunt. Kandalama lake bunt was a good place to view all surrounding isolated mountains.

Kandalama Lake. Erawulagala (695m) –Left peak and Gal Koth Kanda Right peak (631m)

Peak of Erawulagala is shown by black arrow and Gal Koth Kanda is shown by red arrow

Dambulla Peak, Punchi Dambulu Kanda (329m) and Menikdena (865m)

Beliya Kanda (බෙලිය කන්ද) (613m)

Ritigala

Yakkurugala (යක්කුරුගල) is seen in right hand side. Gedaragalapathana (ගෙදරගලපතන) is seen in left hand side

Pidurangala (පිදුරoගල) and Sigiriya (සීගිරිය) pooped up

Famous Kandalama Hotel-Heritance Kandalama

Directions from Dambulla Town. Kaludiya Pokuna archeology site is shown by black circle. Red circle shows Erawulagala Peak. Green circle shows Iththakanda peak. Gal Koth Kanda is named as Dickandahena in the map – Click Map to Enlarge

We travelled over Kandalama Lake bunt and found the pathway towards Kaludiya Pokuna Archeology site. It was shown by some boards. Road goes parallel to Hotel Green Paradise and then behind the hotel. Later it goes through thick forest and ended up at archeology site in about 3-3.5kms. We passed Thimbirawa (තිම්බිරාව) Lake also on our way to the archeology site.

Take the road behind the hotel. Shown by the arrow

Don’t turn at Archeology board. Go straight. (Shown by arrow)

Erawulagala is seen over Thimbirawa Lake

Kaludiya Pokuna Archeology Site-Dakkhinagiri (දක්ඛිණගිරි) Temple.

This temple complex was built by King Saddhathissa (137-139 B.C). It’s name is Dakkhinagiri temple and now the term Kaludiya Pokuna is used due to blackish water found in the pond. It was developed by King Aggabodhi and a chapter House has been constructed by him. Several inscriptions, some caves with inscriptions under the drip-ledges, a dagoba, pillars, a residence of monks, remains of a monastery can be seen in the site.

Excavation of this archeology site has not been done completely.

Boundary of Archeology site

Remaining

Stupa

Chethiyagaraya (චේතියඝරය)

Foot print stone

Slab inscription

What slab inscription says – Click Image to Enlarge

Chapter house

A cave with an inscription. There are about 50caves with drip ledges scattered at archeology site. We didn’t visit there as that was somewhat out of our way up

Content of stone inscription

This is called Kaludiya Pokuna. Filled with mud now. There is another pond as well

Ruins seen at the edge of the pond

Care taker at archeology site was kind and he said the peak can be approached from archeology site. But he has not been there before. We started the hike from archeology site.

There was a clear foot pathway from there but became less clear in a while. It was easy to climb in dry forest as there was no undergrowth. Main obstacle was scattered stones over the ground. Initially steepness was gradual and then became acute. We climbed at the edge of a rock and then got on to it. It was the first open area which gave the view of Kandalama side only.

Next part of the rock can be only climbed in it’s left hand side. That part was covered with Bamboo trees. Later it was cleared and we came to on top of that rock. It was the second open area which gave better surrounding view. Initially we thought it as the peak of the mountain but it was wrong.

Then we headed towards actual peak. First we had to pass some bushes and then dry forest met.

After about 2hours journey from archeology site, we came to the highest point of the Erawulagala Mountain. There was evidences of some constructions and later knew as an ancient Stupa. This place provided best panoramic view of surroundings.

We noticed Sigiriya, Pidurangala, Ritigala, Beliya kanda, Kandalama Lake, Ibbankatuwa Lake, Dambulla Rock, Punchi Dambulu Kanda, Manikdena¸ Arangala, Gedaragalapathana and Bakamuna side.

After enjoying the scenic view we reached to archeology site in one and half hours.