Camping on Kabaragala Mountain (1506m)-The highest of Dolosbage Range

Year and Month	21st and 22nd August 2020
Number of Days	Two
Crew	05- Arjuna, Charith, Chamod , Nalin and Myslef
Accommodation	Camping on top of Kabaragala
Transport	By car
Activities	Hiking, Sightseeing and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo-> Mawanella->Aranayaka->Asupini Ella->Back to Aranayaka-> Hemmathagama-> Singhapitiya (via B279) ->Gampola-Craighead road (B 132)-> Nawalapitiya-Dolosbage Road (B 318)-> Sri Jethawanaramaya (7.080468, 80.515356) where trail starts->Kabaragala hike->Back along same route->Mawanella->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Leech protection methods to be followed. Most of the roads were good in condition except B 132 which has some bad sections and it is a narrow one. Better carry water at least 2l per person for a day hike and water requirement would be more if you are camping. And you have to walk in an open area most of the time. This is an easy hike and you can reach the highest point of Kabaragala within 1.5-2 hours’ time. It is about 2km hike to the summit. There is a clear foot path till you reach the summit. Please bring back all you took. There is a threat of pollution as it has become famous travel destination. It is not need a guide. Start the journey early as possible. Better wear an attire to protect from Mana and thorny bushes. Kabaragala seems a popular camping spot on weekends. Therefore better go there early to get a good camping place.
Related Resources	Lakdasun trip reports on Kabaragala
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Camping on Kabaragala Mountain (1506m)-The highest of Dolosbage Range

Kabaragala /කබරගල is known as the highest peak of Dolosbage range and I have been there on 2012 as a day hike. It is well seen to surrounding mountains and easily can be identified by it’s unique shape.

View of Kabaragala to Nawalapitiya-Dolosbage road

Kabaragala and Dolosbage range are seen to Kikiliyamana mountain.

View of Kabaragala to Galboda area.

Top of Kabaragala. This was taken from Rambukpitiya area in Nawalapitiya.

Another view of Kabaragala

Kabaragala in metric map

Kabaragala peak is marked in red star in metric map. Click image to enlarge.

Kabaragala has become a famous travel destination among travellers during last few years and it is not hard to see at least one group for camping on top of mountain at weekends. As it is an easy hike and scenic view might be the reasons for the popularity of Kabaragala. Few of my new hiking friends have requested for a camping trip on top of Kabaragala and it made me to revisit Kabaragala.
We have visited Asupini Ella on our way to Kabaragala. (I will come with a detailed report about Asupini Ella later). From Asupini Ella we followed the way to Hemmathagama and had our lunch there. Hemmathagama was fairly a big town to buy our camping requirements. From Hemmathagama we followed B 279 road which also use to reach Ambuluwawa and turned to B 132 road. Then it was Nawalapitiya-Dolosbage road (B 318) from Paragala junction and soon we got the estate road to reach Sri Jethawanaramaya (7.0800468, 80.515356) where our trail head starts.
This temple seems abounded for a month and we have parked our car there. Actually the trail head (7.076988, 80.514277-actual trail head) starts beyond that temple but the road has been closed for laying concrete. It was around 3pm when we began the journey and another two groups also reached there visit Kabaragala.
Kabaragala hike is a straight forward one. There was an ascending foot pathway behind the temple and it goes through private premises. After about 500m ascend along this path, we came across a tea estate which is the lower part of the mountain. The foot path goes through the tea estate first and then runs along some bushes to reach the ridge of the mountain. (7.4201749, 80.305053)

Official transport partner

Ascending foot path behind the temple

During a small break….

Following steps

Starting of the tea patch. This hut was another resting place.

Along the tea estate

Clear foot path runs through bushes

This slab rock comes at the end of the tea patch.

Posing…

.	Craighead tea factory

Ambuluwawa is seen to Kabaragala

Reaching the ridge of the mountain.

Now the foot path goes along the ridge of the mountain till we reached the summit. This end of the mountain likes a tail and we followed the foot path from the tail to the head. The slab rock situated at this place is protruding out of the mountain and gives a beautiful appearance in photos. I have noted it is mentioned as “Pahala Balana Gala” (පහල බලන ගල) in one of Kabaragala reports. My friends have spent much time here to get different photos while I was flying the drone. Though this place is well beyond the summit some people are camping here as well.

Posing on this protruding rock gives nice appearance in photos.

Pahala Balana Gala

This is how to plan it.

While I am flying the drone

More and more photos

Another selfie on top of Kabaragala.

Some people camp over there

Rest of the mountain. The foot path lies on the ridge of the mountain.

It was a gradual ascend along the ridge and we have passed a Pinus patch as well. There was second view point after the Pinus patch where the above mentioned slab rock is seen well.

Continuing the journey.

Passing pines patch

The second slab rock. You can see the first iconic slab rock of Kabaragala here.

Tail end of the mountain.

On top of second slab rock

Cholakanda area

Pines…..

Zebra pattern of the mountain. It gives a unique appearance and Kabaragala can be identified even at far.

The mist has come down beyond that point and we decided to go to the summit without any stops as time was around 6pm. It was almost dark when we reached the summit of the mountain (7.070299, 80.503299) and all camp sites were occupied by travellers. I think there were about 50-60 travellers of 5/6 groups on top of Kabaragala on that day.
Summit of the Kabaragala has a grassy plain.

Entering to the grassy plain of the mountain.

Somehow we were managed to find a comfortable place to pitch our two tents. We had to pitch tents on grass bushes and this place is always facing to the wind. Therefore we couldn’t set a fire on camping night (other reason was we couldn’t collect enough fire woods). My portable gas cooker was the source of fire and we prepared dinner with disturbance of wind. The dew was so much during the night and tents were drenched by morning.

Lights of Nawalapitiya

Day 02
As far as I know Kabaragala is a good place to have superb sun rise. Early Morning was chilling cold but I walked out of the tent to capture sun rise while my tent mate was sleeping. We were not at the side of sun rise but I could capture when it came up. Sri Pada and accessory mountains were clearly seen to Kabaragala on that morning.

Pre sun rise

Silhouette

Sri Pada and accessory mountains are seen to Kabaragala

Number of mountains in between Kabaragala and Sri Pada range.

Sun rise at Kabaragala

.	Little bit diffuse….

.	Note one of our tents is drenched by dew overnight

This is the ideal place for camping at Kabaragala. It was occupied by some other group.

Gathered for golden hour photography

It was a beautiful morning.

Enjoying….

The mountain in front of Kabaragala has similar zebra appearance on the rock. It was beautiful with covering of the mist. I have marked it on the map as one of my future destinations. It is also a part of Dolosbage range.

The mountain just in front of Kabaragala. A part of Dolosbage Range.

It’s similar zebra appearance.

It was beautiful with mist covering.

How beautiful it was…..

Rest of Dolosbage range.

We have prepared tea and toasted bread for the breakfast. As that morning was so bright we couldn’t prevent of clicking cameras. In a clear day on Kabaragala you can view Sri Pada range, Watawala Kanda, Alagalla, Ambuluwawa, Rakshawa Kanda-second highest of Dolosbage range, rest of Dolosbage range, Piduruthalagala range, Nawalapitiya town, Ramboda area and Peacock Hills etc.

Cooking time…..

Morning tea at Kabaragala

Toasted bread for breakfast.

Raxawagala / Knihira Kanda / Wangedi Molgas Kanda. Second highest of Dolosbage Range. And some other peaks of Dolosbage.

Mahaweli Maha Seya and Kothmale reservoir seen to Kabaragala. This was take in 2012 visit.

Nawalapitiya town is seen to Kabaragala. This was taken in 2012 visit.

Unknown

Towards seven virgins

Alagalla from Kabaragala

Ambuluwawa with the tower

Paddies

This small rock on top of Kabaragala is another popular place for photography.

Ready to go….

Group photo on top of Kabaragala

.	Selfie time

Checking my clicks….

We spent another two hours for the return journey as another session of photography happened at “Pahala Balana Gala”. The temple at trail head was ideal place to get refreshed as there was a water tank. On our way to Mawanella we have visited Theppukulama Lake and Ruwankuru Ella as well.