Magnificent Alagalla

Alagalla is situated right at the provincial boundaries of Central and Sambaragamuwa Provinces. In fact Kegalle and Kandy ditrict boundary goes very close to
 the peak of Alagalla. Anyone who travels to Kandy from Colombo by train will surely recognize this imposing mountain on to your left as you pass Ihala Kotte railway station.

The peak of the mountain is about 1100m above sea level and the total climb from Ihala Kotte is about 800m. This particular mountain stands tall among relatively 
smaller mountains in the vicinity, as it is postioned just outside the central highlands. The result is some breathtaking scenery at the top and along the path up the mountain! 

This particular hike is not too long, and can be easily completed in a day. As such, you’ll only require a bare minimum of supplies.
It’s better if you can carry a stock of water & food. Wind conditions on the top could be a little challange, And better to avoid rainy days.

**Leech protection needed.
      
There's a footpath which lead to Poththepitiya, a small town on the other side of the mountain. Once you reach it, ask around on how to reach the top. After getting past the village, you will find some tea plantations. The road will soon be winding around the mountain. There will be many great views.

Head up the trail and depending on the weather, you might go through a stretch full of leeches. Whether or not these leeches will get to you is directly tied to your hardcoreness-quotient, we’ve found.

As you head higher, the trail will become steeper. And also harder to get through, thanks to it being slowly taken over by thorny bushes on both sides. After about an hour of pushing through all this, you end up near the top.
 You can see the top, and all that surrounds you is savannah-like grass. Except of course, that is not really the top.

   Allagalla is a peculiar thing. Once you get to the “top” of the hill, there is yet another rock to climb. There is a massive pile of boulders that just sits there and mocks you till you claw your way up the thing.

The view from the top is, in one word: spectacularly amazingly awesomeness condensed into a single view from the top of a big rock.
It was that good.

 

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Bathalegala (The Bible Rock)

To the traveler proceeding from Metropolitan Colombo to Kandy, the magnificent spectacle of the rock stands as a colossus dwarfing the surrounding landscape. Batalegala Kanda rising to a height of more than 1688 feet is surrounded by its satellites such as Devanagala Kanda hallowed by the visit of legendary God Alutnuwara deiyo in the north east, Kaithankadagale and Urakanda hillocks and Montane Kanda, Wakirigala Kanda and Uthuwankanda from the north. Image Nature has gifted Batalegala Kanda with the panorama of cascading water-falls, luxuriant meadows and intriguing scenery.

Bathalegala is directly under the World Magnetic Field Line & Lightning has special attraction towards Bathalegala. people say If there is lightning at least two or three will struck Bathalegala. It has a cave on the summit and once “Loku Hamuduruwo” was a victim of a lightning strike and luckily survived. Bathalegala mountain gets rain without rain clouds on top of Bathalegala. It has some kind of attraction towards water. Seems like this rock attracts water from nearby clouds.

*Bernoulli Principle - “For an inviscid flow, an increase in the speed of the fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid’s potential energy.”

There is a small Sthupa and some caves for the monks on top of the rock. Heard that there was a cable car project from Kadugannawa to Bathalegala. (About 8Km).

We see Bathalegala as a single rock but it is not. I guess its because of the Magnetic Field. The particles of the rock changed eventually because of the magnetic field and the shape of the rock changes, but the stability of the rock changed when the time goes by.” There's a rock named “Idiri Gala” which is apart from Bathalegala. People say that was early a part of Bathalegala (about 50 years ago) & people were able to jump to that rock from Bathalegala.

 The Memorable view from the top of the rock- 

If you are planning to climb Bathalegala better use public transport till Gewilipitiya and there is a bus towards Hatgampala and from there take a 3 wheeler. If your vehicle has good ground clearance you will have the chance getting as near as possible.

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Halfway To Paradise

Some photos from our trip to Maskeliya area.

Locations - Norton Bridge & Norton Pond, Seven Virgin Hills, Aberdeen Falls, Mare Fishing Hut, Maskeliya, Mohini Falls, Laxapana Falls...

NORTON BRIDGE & NORTON POND

On The Way To Aberdeen Falls

ABERDEEN FALLS

SEVEN VIRGIN HILLS

FISHING HUT

BUTHTHALU OYA

Hike to one of the remote

 water falls of Baththulu Oya.

Moray Tea Plantation

Views of Adam’s peak

 and the green tea fields.

Adam’s peak falls crashing

 in to Maussakelle reservoir

Sun sets over Seven virgin hills

LAXAPANA FALLS - 115m

Scenic upcountry road to Fishing Hut: 

From Colombo through Highlevel Road passing, Hanvella, Awissawella, Karawanella, Yatiyanthota, Kithulgala, Ginigathena, through Hatton road: Diyagala Junction, Norton Bridge, Kiriwan Eliya, Seven Virgin Hills, Hapugastenna Estate, Moussakellie Junction turn right and through Sri Pada Road, Recarton, through Nallathanniya road; Lakshapana Junction Left turn to Moray Estate Road.

Info - Internet

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