Nearest
Town : Erathna
Nearest City : Kuruwita
Total
Length : 12km
Approximate time: 8 – 12 hours
0 to 3.4km:
The first 3.4km of this trail is mostly an intense continuous climb.
There will be brief flat or less intense sections, but they rarely last for
more than 100m at a stretch.
This climb ends at the top of a mountain known as Warnagala meaning The colourful rock. Warnagala possibly got its name
because of the large, exposed rock bed on its side.
A stream flows over the
large rock bed creating a beautiful large waterfall called Warnagala falls.
Unfortunately at present most of the water have been diverted to generate hydro
power and therefore the true beauty of the fall can only be seen during the wet
months (off season).
Important
land marks you will pass :
·
Jambolagaha Yata Ambalama (A Permanent Rest Place) at 1.6km from trail head (Waypoint:
ES06)
·
Diamondgala ambalama (A
Permanent Rest Place) at 2.6km from the trail head (Waypoint: ES11)
·
The intake basin of the penstock of the power
plant (where the large pipes carrying water to the turbines collect water
diverted from the stream) at 2.8km from the trail head (Waypoint: ES12)
·
Saman Dewalaya & Buddha Statue about 50m
from ES12 (Waypoint: ES13).
An important land mark (and an attraction) that should not
be missed in this section is the WarnagalaFalls.
The first glimpse of the
waterfall (or the exposed rock bed during the dry season) can be seen high up
in the mountain at round 1.2km from the trail head (Waypoint: ES04).
As you climb, around 2.2km from the trail head, the trail
goes over the side of this rock bed (Waypoint: ES04).
There is a small bridge
like structure and steel bars on the trail to help climb the rock bed.
After passing the small bridge look for a
trial on to your right side through the forest. This trail will take you to the
large rock bed of the waterfall (Waypoint: ES10) (less than 100m walk)
This continuous climb ends as you reach the top of Warnagala
Mountain, 3.4km from the trail head.
3.4 to 6 km:
As you reach the top of Warnagala Mountain, after passing a scenic
outlook where the trail goes over a rock bed with iron bar laid for support (Waypoint:
ES16), you will see the trail transforming in to a narrow foot path through
dense, undisturbed forest.
These 2.6km is an easy and interesting walk along
the edge of a cliff with a river flowing deep in the valley.
The only “Ambalama” or permanent
rest place you find in this section is the Ambalama at “Seethagangula”
or “IcyRiver” (Waypoint: ES22).
At the point, which is located exactly
5km from the trail head; the trail meets the river that was flowing in the
valley, at a point where two streams merge.
There is a beautiful large natural
pool with crystal clear water. You can bath in the river if you can handle the
temperature!
As you walk about 1km from this point you will again have to
start a section of continuous climb (Waypoint: ES24).
6km to 10km:
You will experience frequent, intense
climbs during this section as you make about a 500m elevation gain.
There will
be flat sections intermittently but they will not last long. The trail still
goes through the dense forest for the most part and very irregular.
Underfoot
conditions are not smooth at all.
At about 7.7km from the trail head you will reach
Buddhist shrine and a small temple called “MedahinnaTemple” (Waypoint: ES28)
At about 9km from the trail head, you will reach a
somewhat flat area with a large bed rock and a permanent resting place (Waypoint:
ES32).
This is called the “Idikatupana” or “GeththamPana”. As the trail
goes over this bed rock, take a look behind you.
You will see an interesting
landscape with a prominent square shape mountain in the backdrop seen over
layers of trees.
If you happen to be at this place in the late evening you will
be able to witness a memorable sunset scene.
There are few places in this
section of the trail where you find this square spare mountain creating
interesting compositions, the sunset scene at this place is the best out of all
of them in my opinion.
Passing this point as you climb another 1km along the rough
trail, you will reach the resting place called “Galwangediya” where the
Rathnapura-Palabathgala Trail meets the Kuruwita – Erathna Trail, 10 km from
the trail head (Waypoint: ES33)
10Km to 12km:
There are few resting places in the
next 100m from (Waypoint: ES33).
The last of this bunch situated at 100m
from Galwangediya (Waypoint: ES34).
This entire area is a high altitude
plain and it’s called “Haramitipana”. From “Heramitipana”Adam’s peak rising
like a pinnacle from the surrounding peaks can clearly be seen making it clear
that from this location it is a single continues climb to the summit.
Passing “Haramitipana Plain” you have to tackle a somewhat
intense and continuous climb on an irregular rocky trail for about 1.2km to
reach the last permanent resting place before the summit which is called
“Adiyamalathenna” (Waypoint: ES35)
From this point the steepest ascend of the trail has to be
tacked. This section is called “Mahagiridamba” or “The Great Rock Climb”. This
entire 800m of length is a steep climb. The last 600m is so steep that the
steps are continuously aided with steel bars on both sides. As you reach the
summit it feels more like walking in the Sky as the steps are so steep.
12km from the trail head you reach the summit of Sri Pada
which is the 5th highest and the most prominent peak in Sri Lanka (Waypoint:
ES38).
(Speacial thanks for Lakdasun site)
(Speacial thanks for Lakdasun site)