| Year and Month | 2014 August 31st |
| Number of Days | One day |
| Crew | 02-Indranatha and My self |
| Accommodation | Not applicable |
| Transport | Motor bike and walking |
| Activities | Mountain climbing |
| Weather | Excellent |
| Route | Dambulla -> Kandalama (කණ්ඩලම) -> Erawula junction (ඈරවුල හන්දිය) -> Pahala Erawula (පහළ ඈරවුල) -> Gal Koth Kanda. |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
Gal Koth Kanda-It’s unique appearance
 View at Pahala Erawula area |
 This is the rock which looks about to fall |
 Most right peak is Gal Koth Kanda. View at Kandalama Lake bunt with Erawulagala |
 Triangular shape Mountain |
Where it is situated
Gal Koth Kanda is circled. Map mentions it’s name as Dickandahena. But nobody knows it. – Click Map to Enlarge
Gal Koth Kanda got my attention in my Erawulagala climbing. (Refer report on) There was a triangular shape mountain next to Erawulagala and it was a separate mountain from Erawulagala range. I got to know it as Iththakanda but that name was wrong. Then people at Erawula inappropriately name it also as Erawulagala.
There is a unique appearance of this mountain. It has a large rock at top of the mountain which looks about to fall.
We followed the same way up to Erawula junction and got right turn from there to reach Erawula. (Left turn is to Kandalama Lake bunt and Kaludiya Pokuna). Then we passed Pahala Erawula School in right hand side and noticed a house in our left hand side just before Pahala Erawula Lake. A girl at that house confidently told it can be climbed behind the house but no foot pathway now.
So we started the climbing behind this house. Though there was no foot pathway it was not difficult to climb. There was minimal under growth and layers of dry leaves. Always we aimed the peak of the mountain and made our way towards it.
 We started the journey behind this house. It is Mr. Punchi Banda’s house |
 Starting the hike behind the house without a proper foot pathway |
 Forest department boundary |
 At some places old foot pathway is clear. Recently nobody has gone to top. Therefore foot pathway was not clear |
 Getting to the rocky part of the mountain |
 After about 1/3rd of the journey we reached to first observation point. Surrounding peaks: Yakkurugala යක්කුරුගල (most right), Manikdena මැණික්දෙන (middle), and Gedaragalapathana ගෙදරගලපතන (most left) |
 Nearby Pahala Erawula Lake |
 Peak. More to go |
 Climbing is bit difficult now |
 Beautiful Yakkurugala is seen in back |
 This is the rock which seen as about to fall. But actually it is stable |
 Angle is more now. As there was no foot pathway we went up along the way we thought easier |
Gal Koth Kanda has two peaks. The highest point and unique shape rock which is about to fall.
First we reached the highest point of the mountain. But last part of climbing was tough. We spent about one and half hours to reach the peak since start. At this point we had a panoramic view of surrounding areas. Erawulagala, Sigiriya, Pidurangala, Ritigala, Kandalama Tank, Dambulla rock with temple, Punchi Dambulu Kanda, Ibbankatuwa lake, Manikdena, Yakkurugala, Arangala peak, Ambokka, Etipola, Wilshire Mountain, Gedaragalapathana and Elahara-Dambulla road were seen clearly.
 This was the most difficult part. We had to squeeze through this narrow canal like area to reach the peak |
 We climbed like this |
 Some more to peak. Angle is more now |
 This is the peak of Gal Koth Kanda |
 Erawulagala. I have reached to highest point of it shown by the star. (Refer trip report). Note there is a huge gap between Gal Koth Kanda and Erawulagala. So these two are different peaks |
 Dambulla-Bakamuna road |
 Nearby paddy fields and Chena. Wewala and Erawula area |
 Kandalama Lake and it’s island. Now it is connected to main land |
 Distance view of Kandalama Lake |
 Ritigala |
 A-Dambulla Temple with it’s rock. B-Punchi Dambulla Kanda and C-Ibbankatuwa Lake |
 This is the other peak-Rock which is about to fall. Pahala Erawula Lake |
 Other nearby peaks. A-Yakkurugala, B-Manikdena, C-Arangala, E and D different peaks of Gedaragalapathana |
 We are on top of Gal Koth Kanda |
 I wanna fly |
Other peak is the cream of mountain. It is the rock which seen as about to fall. Reaching on top was challengeable. It is not possible to go from top of the mountain to this peak. We descended to some extent and moved towards right side. There was a bamboo patch and later about 30m climbing with 700 angle. Next section was bit tricky as we had to go along sharp rock area like a knife. My friend refused to take such a risk as both side of this ridge was steep. I accepted the challenge and reached the second peak.
 Bamboo obstacle |
 View of second peak |
 This is the most challenging part. Black arrow shows narrow ridge like pathway. Star shows the peak |
 On top of second peak-Vandalism |
 Place for flag at second peak |
 View of Pahala Erawula Lake and it’s bunt |
 Design |
 Summary of the path we climbed up to second peak. Yellow line indicates the steep section we climbed and my friend is at the area shown by circle. Then I walked on this ridge like section shown by red line to reach second peak |
After enjoying the surrounding view we went back to road in about 45minutes. There was a nice water spill at Pahala Erawula Lake. We had a bath there to relief our tiredness
 Pahala Erawula Lake |
 Water spill |
 Group of Little Cormorant |
 Yakkurugala captured on our way back. Might be next target |
Thanks for reading. Have a safe climb.