Hike to Uthuwankanda and Bathalegala: part 2


Continuing from Hike to Uthuwankanda and Bathalegala- part 1

We came back to Mawanella town, 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 a few hours on that route, otherwise, you had to get off at Gevilipitiya junction and travel 4 km to Bathalegala junction, which we had to do after returning. From the Bathalegala junction, it 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
A glimpse at our destination
Bathalegala, also known as 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 had been rainy and overcast since the time we descended Uthuwankanda, but as we climbed, we could experience climate change more than that. After about a 45-minute walk, we found the trail head, a tiny footpath through a small rubber estate. From there, it was a 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, making it dangerous to climb the rock and also the mist was invading the area.
Trail head
Entering a dark forest patch with a canopy grown so high...

From there, it 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 footpath branched off into two paths 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 the 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 there and taking a little snack break, we moved on to the other edge.
End of the forest patch..up there misty...
Climbing the rock
Touching the clouds...
The other edge of Bible Rock
Breathtaking...
At the right edge of Bible Rock
We just couldn't leave the place with the amazing scenery we were witnessing, but it was getting dark and we had to start our descent. By 6.30 p.m. We had reached the 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 we 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, somebody with a truck did give us a lift to Gevilipitiya. It was a nice experience too. After thanking him, we got off at Gevilipitiya junction, hired a three-wheeler to Mawanella and headed home.
me, Gehan and Buddhila
Location: Bible Rock, Kegalle, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka

Comments

  1. Native American ImagesSeptember 21, 2012 at 7:48 PM

    Obviously you had to be there! The photos are good and I love how you were touching the clouds. You were so blessed to share this experience with others

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gehan JayakodySeptember 22, 2012 at 7:04 PM

    Hey man ape anek 4to tika... kooooooo??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KasunSeptember 22, 2012 at 7:27 PM

      anith tikath slide show ekata add karannam.

      Delete

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