The best hiking sites around Sri Lanka | Ella Rock | Devil Staircase | Great western mountain range etc.


1. Ella Rock – One of the most famous hiking range in the world

This is one of the best hiking sites around Sri Lanka. Situated in Badulla district in Uva Province near Ella town. Nearly 300 kilometers from Colombo to Ella rock view point via Southern Express way.

This is the way how you can reach to the Ella rock from Colombo. Drive through E01 expressway to Mattala, exit from Mattala interchange. Then go ahead to Lunugamwehera junction. Turn left from the junction and nearly 01 hour, you will be able to in Wellawaya town. From Wellawaya town, it takes nearly 40 minutes of drive time to Ella. Nearly 03 kilometers before to the Ella town, the path for the Ella rock view point and camping site, will be met in your left hand side.

The whole journey consisting approximately 05 hours of travelling time to the destination from Colombo.   

What are the sceneries that you can see during the way of Ella Rock?

1.     Lunugamwehera Reservoir – Just 01 kilometer from Lunugamwehera junction to the way of Lunugamwehera national park

2.     Lunugamwehera National Park - 22 kilometers from Lunugamwehera Junction

3.     Rawana waterfall – 21 kilometers from Wellawaya town towards Ella.

4.     Buduruwagala Temple – Between Lunugamwehera junction and Wellawaya town. 44 kilometers from  Lunugamwehera junction towards Wellawaya. The path to the (temple) Buddha statue and Buduruwagala rock carvings on your left hand side.

5.     Buduruwagala Rock Carvings


2.      Devil staircase – Ohiya Camping Spot

Nearly 200 kilometers from Colombo. Devil staircase is a viewing point as well as camping spot for  the hikers.

The easiest path to the Devil Staircase from Colombo is – Colombo – Ratnapura – Pelmadulla – Balangoda – Belihuloya – Kalupahana Junction - turn left from Kalupahana Junction – Devil Staircase, the destination.

What are the things that you can see during the journey of Devil Staircase?

1.     Pahanthudawa Waterfall – 17 kilometers from Balangoda town towards Belihuloya

2.     Brampton Falls – Nearly 07 kilometers from Belihuloya town towards Kalupahana Junction

3.     Surathali Waterfall – Nearly 10 kilometers from Belihuloya town towards Kalupahana Junction

4.     Bambarakanda Waterfall – Approximately 07 kilometers from Kalupahana Junction towards Devil Staircase road

Just 09 kilometers from Bambarakanda waterfall to our destination, Devil Staircase.

 

3.       Great western mountain range – Coolest hike ever in Sri Lanka

This working as a viewing point and a camping site for the hikers. Area is generally 1461 meters above mean from the sea level.

How can we go from Colombo?

There are multiple ways to the destination but the easiest one is train. You have to get off from the Great western railway station which is the next railway station from Thalawakele railway station towards Nanuoya, Badulla.    

Just few steps (nearly 1km) away from the Great western railway station towards Nanuoya, there is a foot path starts towards a Hindu temple on your left hand side. That is the beginning of the hike. It takes approximately 03 hours to come on to the peak of the mountain.  

You have to bring the food, energy drinks and especially the water during the hike. The most important thing is make sure to not release any plastic or artificial material to the environment. 

Note: Be careful from the Wasps during the hike.

The hike will be very difficult when rainy. The pathways will be slippery and difficult to descent. Sri Pada Mountain, Kikiliyamana forest reserve and some beautiful sceneries can be seen in the viewing point in here.

 

4.       Haritha Kanda - Green Peak camping site – The most famous camping site Sri Lanka

The Green Peak also a hiking mountain and a camping site as well. There are multiple camping sites around the area but the most famous one is this. If you are going from Bogawanthalawa end, nearly 04 kilometers from the town to the starting point of the mountain. It takes approximately 04 – 05 hours to reach to the top of the mountain.     

 

5.       Kurunegala Yakdessagala Hike in Plain North western Province

Yakdessagala is differ from the other hiking mountains. Why I am saying that, because it situated in the arid zone of Sri Lanka, Kurunegala District in North Western Province.    

Kurunegala –> Turn right in Gonagama junction in Kurunegala Puttalam road –> Kudagalgamuwa area –> Turn right near Sangweli Rajamaha Viharaya in Tittawella – Gonagama road, this is the starting point of the hike. This takes approximately 02 – 03 hours to come on to the peak. 

 

6.       Gongala Mountain peak – One of the best hiking mountains in Down South Sri Lanka

Gongala Mountain, which is situated in Ratnapura District in Sabaragamuwa Province has high sensitive ecosystem indeed. Approximately three or four hours of hike for the mountain.

There are two main roads to the destination. First one is via from Colombo-Galle expressway and the other one is via Colombo-Ratnapura–Rakwana road.

Colombo – Ratnapura – Pelmadulla – Madampe – Rakwana – Iththakanda – Buthkanda – Gongala mountain peak.

Colombo-Galle Expressway – then exit from Imaduwa interchange – Akuressa – Morawaka – Deniyaya – Heis town- Gongala mountain peak.

The second one is much better than the other. Why I am saying that because it goes through the expressway since time will be valuable for the travellers.  

What are the things that you can see during the way of Gongala?

1.     Maduwanwela Walawwa, The ancient and historical house made by the greatest Sri Lankan aristocrat – If you are coming from Colombo – Ratnapura – Pelmadulla road, turn left to Nedolakanda Vidyala road from Nedola junction before Heis. Continue nearly 06 kilometers in Nedolakanda Vidyala road (The road is very difficult for the low ground clearance vehicle). Then turn right from Nawa Neliya junction towards Kolonna town. In 03 kilometers from Nawa Neliya junction you will meet Maduwanwela Walawwa in your right hand side.  

2.       Kanabadugala Ella – When you arrive from Colombo – Ratnapura – Pelmadulla road, you have to turn left from the unknown junction just few meters before Nedola junction. Continue for nearly 01 kilometer for the destination.

3.       Buluthota falls – Just 2.7 kilometers from Sooriyakanda junction towards Heis from Rakwana end.

4.       Dalveen ella falls – Just 2.4 kilometers from Rakwana junction.

5.       Handapan Ella – Nearly 07 kilometers from Rakwana Junction.

6.       Rakwana viewpoint – Beautiful scenery in the way between Rakwana and Heis close to Rakwana.

7.       Hulan wanguwa viewpoint - Beautiful scenery in the way between Rakwana and Heis.

  

7.       Monaragala Mountain (Peacock Hill) – One of the best hiking mountains in Sri Lanka

Monaragala Mountain, which is situated in Kandy District in Central Province. Pussellawa, in Kandy – Nuwaraeliya main road is the closest town for the mountain. If you are coming from Colombo, the easiest way to the Pussellawa is Kandy road via Kegalle, Mawanella and Gampola.     


8.       Kabaragala Mountain Peak – Hiking area in Sri Lanka

Kabaragala, situated in Central Province of Sri Lanka which is the highest peak of Dolosbage mountain range. This is also an uncommon hidden hiking site in Sri Lanka. Nearest town is Nawalapitiya and it has nearly 13 kilometers to Kabaragala mountain peak from the city of Nawalapitiya.

If you are coming from your private vehicle, there is a shortest path via Mawanella – Aranayake – Udahathenna for our destination. If you are coming from public transport service, train or bus, you have to come to Nawalapitiya town and then get a bus to Dolosbage via Lewdeniya. Get off from the bus in Meriwila junction in Lewdeniya - Dolosbage road and continue towards Kabaragala peak on your left hand side. 

 

9.       Sooriyakanda View Point Deniyaya - Sri Lanka

Sooriyakanda is a mountain as well as a view point which has one of the most beautiful environmental eco sceneries in wet zone of Sri Lanka, situated in Rathnapura District in Sabaragamuwa Province. It has nearly 06 kilometers from the city of Sooriyakanda which is the nearest one and 04 kilometers from Sinharaja Junction, in Deniyaya – Rakwana road, to the view point. You can drive to the view point by your own vehicle which should be compatible for the road. It is better to have high ground clearance all-wheel drive vehicle or motor bicycle for the ride.


10.   Non-Pareil Estate - Things to do in Sabaragamuwa

Non-Pareil, located in Ratnapura District in Sabaragamuwa Province. Approximately 20 kilometers from the city of Balangoda. There is a high sensitive environmental eco system around here situated in intermediate climate zone in Sri Lanka.

If you are coming via Balangoda, continue nearly 15 kilometers on Balangoda – Haputale road towards Haputale until Non-Pareil estate (world’s end junction) junction. Turn left from the junction and continue for 07 kilometers.   

 

 

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