Hike to Uthuwankanda and Bathalegala

Our first destination, Uthuwankanda; this is famous for a hide-out used by a local hero named Deekirikevage Saradiyel better known as Utuwankande Soora Saradiyel who fought bravely against British colonialism. Actually our destination was the Saradiyel Rock located in Uthuwankanda area.

So it was 7 in the morning when we got off the bus at Mawanella with a crew of three, had our breakfast and hired a three wheeler to Uthuwankanda junction (1.5km from Mawanella), turned right at the junction to Uthuwam Mawatha. It is possible to travel in a vehicle along this road to get closer to the destination but since we needed to see the surroundings we started our journey on foot from the junction, after about 1km turned left to a concrete paved way which was heading toward Saradiyel Gala and about 500m ahead we found the trail head.

Turned left from Uthuwan Mawatha to the concrete paved way

A glimpse at our destination…

The Trail Head

Foot paths branching off in the small rubber estate.

The trail was through a small rubber estate and from there it was a continuous climb to the peak, not too hard but not too easy either. Within 45 minutes we could reach an open area where the peak was located in a side but the moment we saw it what was on our minds was how the hell are we going to climb this. It was just like a cuboid with a stone fist carved on the top(about 10m in height, 12m long and 5m wide). This part of the hike was really challenging. Three of us spent some time in the open area enjoying the scenery. It was quite windy but had some fine weather. At first climbing the peak was not in our minds since it seemed quite impossible but that’s when another crew of three arrived one being a local guy. He showed us the way to climb the peak and with the help of him we could get to the top. It was a pure 90 degree climb and when we stood on the top there are no words to express the thrilling experience we just witnessed.

It was a continuous climb…

The peak, Saradiyel Gala

Looks like a giant fist

On the peak…

Colombo-Kandy main road(A1) seen from afar..

Saradiyel Gama & on the right the path we came

It was quite windy, felt like floating. Some dark clouds were approaching and soon it was drizzling, we had to climb down immediately since it was very dangerous to stay on the rock when raining even with the drizzle the rock can get very slippery and also we could easily turn into ashes if lighting stroke. So climbed down and started our descent with other crew and on the way the local guy mentioned about a cave with tunnels built by Saradiyel, a fact that we hadn’t heard about. Even he didn’t know the exact location of it, so we decided to do some research and the ‘Operation Saradiyel Cave’ was executed We were climbing up and down, following the other trails which was branching off and our biggest obstacle was a plant called ‘Nambiriththa(නාබිරිත්තා)’ a stinging plant just like Nettle(කහබිලියා) and it gave me a hard time when a leaf of that plant rubbed against my hand, it was getting really itchy but because my hand was sweaty and since I washed it with water asap I was ok.

Finally after a strenuous effort we found the cave. It was hidden in a rock boulder covered with trees. We went inside the cave, it was dark as hell and luckily we had the flash lights in the phone. It was a tunnel dug by Saradiyel to escape. About 15m-20m ahead the main tunnel branched off to three more tunnels. It was unbelievable. It became even more unbelievable when the local guy said each of those three tunnels are few kilometers long, One led to Bo-Ella which was about 2km away. He advised us not go further as these tunnels said have cobras.

‘Nambiriththa(නාබිරිත්තා)’ A stinging plant just like Nettle

The cave and the main tunnel

One of the 3 tunnels inside the main tunnel ( 2 more on the left & the right)

Inside the tunnel…

A high speed caterpillar, almost 20cm per second 8-O

A huge centipede, just like the ones you see in Sinharaja

Descending…

A look back…

It was raining when we came out of the cave, after spending about an half an hour started our descent. The path was muddy and slippery; we were all wet getting caught in the rain on the way. However our next stop was Uthuwankanda junction, there we said good bye to the other crew and took a bus to Mawanella.

We had been planning for a hike to Bathalegala for a long time but no one of our crew thought that it would turned out to be this day because before climbing Saradiyel Rock there was nothing about a Bathalegala hike in our minds, but after descending since we had a whole half a day left (it was noon) we decided to climb Bathalegala as well.

After arriving at Mawanella, had our lunch and luckily after getting some directions we could catch the bus to Bathalegala junction when it was just about to leave, there was only one bus for few hours in that route otherwise we had to get off at Gevilipitiya and travel 4km to Bathalegala junction which we had to do after returning. From Bathalegala junction there was 2.5km to the trail head, it was a small concrete paved way and starting from the junction it was one continuous climb.

The concrete paved way(about 1.5km)

A glimpse at the destination

Bathalegala aka Bible rock is 798m in height above mean sea level and it’s way taller than Uthuwankanda which is less than 400m in height. It was rainy and overcast since the time we descended Uthuwankanda but as we climb we could experience a climate change more than that. After about a 45-minute walk we found the trail head, a tiny footpath through small rubber estate, From there it was steep climb. On the way we could experience a clear change of vegetation when we entered A dark forest patch with a forest canopy grown so high. At the edge of this forest was the beginning of the rock to climb and we had to wait at this point since there were some heavy showers of rain falling and it was dangerous to climb the rock and also the mist was invading the area.

The trail head

Entering a dark forest patch with a canopy grown high

End of the forest patch..up there misty…

Climbing the rock

From there, was the best part of the hike, breathtaking scenery all the way around that no words could express. Soon we reached the summit and it was like a plain, the foot path branched off to two path as in a T junction and we took the right at first. The path was heading to a small temple an ‘Aramaya’ but no one was there and after a little ascent there was a small pagoda and we reached right edge of the Bible Rock. We were touching the clouds, felt like heaven. It was perfect weather for such breathtaking views. After spending some time, after a little snack break we moved on to the other edge

At the summit..

Citronella Grass grown on the summit (Not ‘iluk’ or ‘Maana’)

The right edge of Bible Rock

Breathtaking….

Touching the sky…

The other edge.

.	The path to climb down

We just couldn’t leave the place with this amazing scenery we were witnessing, but it was getting dark and we had to start our descent. By 6.30pm we reached Bathalegala junction at Hathgampola. After asking from a nearby boutique we got to know that there were no buses to Mawanella at that time so had to walk toward Gevilipitiya hoping that we could find somebody kind enough to give us a lift. Walking about 2-3 km in the dark actually somebody with a truck did give us a lift to Gevilipitiya. It was a nice experience too. After thanking him, got off at Gevilipitiya junction and hired a three-wheeler to Mawanella and headed home.

Thank you all for reading my trip report.

The crew