Travel Nadeera: EPISODE 5 : SRI PADHAYA/ADAM S PEAK

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No words to say about this adventure Pilgrimage 😄😁

This is the story about most adventure Pilgrimage and dangerous Solo Hike I went at this time.

Got ideas & Travel Targets 💭

Want to participate and help Dansala who give our relations at Nallathanniya.=(Del House)
Want to hike Samanala Rock on Wesak Full Moon Poya Day.
Want to hike Samanala Rock on Season and off season.
Want to hike Hatton sde and Kuruwita Erathna trek.
Want to worship lord Budhdha's foot print called as "Sri Pathula".
Want to watch Sun rise.
Want to clean garbage who drops on rock area.
Want to go Diva Guhawa.

#SamanalaRock #SriPadhaya #Adam'sPeak #Solo #Hiking #Trekking #NightHiking #WaterfallHunting #Climbing #RainyTrekking #Photography #Traveling #Nature #KnucklesRock

DESTINATIONS - RATNAPURA District and NUWARA ELIYA District

😃 Samanala Rock = Sri Padhasthanaya = Adam'sPeak

😃 Diva Guhawa = Batadobalena Cave

😃 Warnagala Ella Fall = Manna ketuu Ella

LOCATION IDENTIFICATION

Samanalakanda / Sri Paadaya / Adam's Peak ශ්‍රී පාදය/සමනළ කන්ද சிவனொளி பாதமலை is a 4 th tallest mountain in Sri Lanka, 2243 m (7,359 ft) tall conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It is well known for the Sri Pada, i.e., "sacred footprint", a 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) rock formation near the summit, which in Buddhist tradition is held to be the footprint of the Buddha, in Hindu tradition that of Shiva and in Islamic and Christian tradition that of Adam, or that of St. Thomas.

Access to the mountain is possible by 6 trails: Ratnapura-Palabaddala, Hatton-Nallathanni, Kuruwita-Erathna, Murraywatte, Mookuwatte and Malimboda. The Nallathanni & Palabaddala routes are most favored by those undertaking the climb, while the Kuruwita-Erathna trail is used less often; these trails are linked to major cities or town by bus, accounting for their popular use. The Murraywatte, Mookuwatte and Malimboda routes are hardly used, but do intersect with the Palabaddala road midway through the ascent. The usual route taken by most pilgrims is ascent via Hatton and descent via Ratnapura; although the Hatton trail is the steepest, it is also shorter than any of the other trails by approximately five kilometers.

Samanalakanda / Sri Paadaya / Adam's Peak Night view

Samanalakanda / Sri Paadaya / Adam's Peak - on the top

See Samanalakanda on Map

About Samanalakanda

The Batatotalena Cave, also known as the Diva Guhava in Buddhist literature, is a cave system in Sudagala, 8 km (5 mi) away from the town of Kuruwita, in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka.

The cave measures approximately 15 m (49 ft) high, 18 m (59 ft) wide, and 25 m (82 ft) in length, totalling the internal cave area to 6,800 m3 (240,000 cu ft). Accessing the cave involves a 400 m (1,300 ft) hike from Sudagala, and an additional 50 m (160 ft) climb to reach the cave entrance. Approximately 30 m (98 ft) from the cave is another partially submerged cave, which is accessible after a 20 m (66 ft) swim.

In Buddhism, it is believed to be the cave in which the Lord Buddha spent the day after placing his footprint on Adam's Peak, from where he supposedly proceeded to Dighavapi.

See Divaguhawa Map

About Divaguhawa

Warnagala Ella Fall is a waterfall lying on the Kuruwita – Erathna track to Sri Pada. Warnagala meaning “the colored rock” probably got its name from the colorful bed rock due to various mineral deposits. Although this has been a fairly large fall, due to mini hydro power projects upstream the volume of water on the fall has dwindled. Therefore the best time to see this fall is during the rainy season which is the off season for Sri Pada hike.

See Warnagala Ella Fall Map

My route

ROUTE + DAY SCHEDULE

DAY 1

Colombo Fort [ 0Km | 12:40 p.m. | by train] ⇾ Kandy Railway Station ⇾ Kotapola Railway Station ⇾ Hatton 146Km Hatton [ 0Km | 02.00 a.m. ] ⇾ Stayed @ Nallathanniya.

DAY 2

DAY 3

Summit of Samanala Rock [ 0Km | 07:30 a.m. | Rathnapura Road | by foot ] Galwangediya ⇾ Kuruwita Erathna Road [ Trekking begin ]⇾ Idikatupana ⇾ Thummodara Ambalama ⇾ Warnagala Ambalama ⇾ Warnagala Ella Fall ⇾ Diamondagala Ambalama ⇾ Jambola gaha yata Ambalama ⇾ Adawikanda ⇾ Erathna ⇾ Divaguhawa ⇾ Kuruwita Bus stand [ 18:30 p.m. ]⇾ Colombo [ 01:30 a.m. ]

DAY 4

Colombo Bus stand [ 01:30 a.m. ] ⇾ Matara [ 06:30 a.m. ]

ROUTE SUMMARY

By train/bus => 405.3Km

By foot => 23 Km

TRAVEL DATES
9th May 2017 - 12th May 2017 (4 Days)

CREW

1 member(Me https://www.facebook.com/nadeera.prasanne )

CHALLENGES & EXPERIENCE

😲 After office works go by night mail train to hatton.But train stopped kotagala because
of before day train derailed near kotagala bridge.After go by bus and again get train.That train had engine problem,so it get 34- hours to begin journey.

😲 Got few hours 2-3 sleep on the chair @ old house.

😲 Got up early in the morning and help Wesak Dansal works.

😲 Very tired because of Dansal works,after began another challenge : start hike to samanala rock summit before end Wesak poya.12.00 a.m.

😲 1st Day Trekking (5 km with 15 kg back packs,rainy situations,very cold)

😲 Got few hours 4-5 sleep on the summit. (very cold situations) bed sheet gave to small baby

😲 Lucky to get down with "Sumana Saman" God's perahera.

😲 Trekked 14-15 km on kuruwita - erathna road without anyone.That is very dangerous and hard trek in Sri Lanka.I had only 2 apples,1 Mars Chocolate and water bottle.Meet 3 sets (9 peoples) during 14-15 km jungle road.Shops closed because of off season.

😲 Carried 10kg garbage bag + 15kg travel bag on 3km.

😲 Had 3-4 Km climb route to Diva Guhawa.

😲 Sometimes mist covered me.

😲 Faced to longest bus journey - 12 hours on buses.

SPECIAL NOTES

No need special Guide for Hatton-nallathanni road.But if you go Kuruwita-erathna road go with guide or well known person.
Accommodation can be arranged from Nallathanni (Del House) area. Have many hotels.
Check Weather as it’s impossible to reach the Fall if it rains.
Have 2 main seasons SEASON and OFF SEASON. Normally hiking season,but if you need adventure go off season.
SEASON begin December Poya Day (Uduwap Poya)
SEASON end May Poya Day (Wesak Poya)
Feel your hike ,but carefully when you take photographs and selfies. Because when you adjust your photo frame you could not may be remember where you here.
Be Careful from snakes,elephants,leechers and poisonous plants ( bring soap,Sidalepa,Wear Shoes/boots to cover your feet,Anti-leech socks)
Check Weather as it’s impossible to reach the Fall if it rains.(Bring rain courts and bag rain covers )
Don’t Litter. ( please put them in to your bags and bring again)
Everyone should be mentally and physically strong and should understand each other well.3 traveler team is good.
April the route is cleared by forest department and red marks are in the path, but take a guide from Village.
Please don't write anything to stones,Leave only foot prints.
Colombo Bus Stand +9411 232 8081

Colombo Railway Station +9411 2421281

Special Thanks to Jagath Ayya all villagers and who help us from word and my XPERIA Z5 💓

MEMORIES NEVER DIE

STEP BY STEP

Here Journey begin 12.40 p.m.

Heavy rainy @ Kandy Railway Station

NESCAFE AD ;) Heavy rainy @ Kandy Railway Station

My train stopped nearly 1 hour @ Kandy Railway Station before begin journey to Badulla.

@ Kandy Railway Station

Leave from Kandy Railway Station

Peradeniya Junction

Old train box ;) Now HOME

No one is my box :) So selfie time 😝😜😜😜

Quechua AD 😍😗😕😕

No one is my box :) So selfie time 😝😜😜😜 SLEEPING

LAMP

Freedom

feeling cold night

After came to trains and one bus anyway arrived to HATTON 😍😍😍😍 Hurray but now again want to go Delhouse 😀😀😀😀

sweet bed 😎😎😎Got few hours 2-3 sleep on the chair @ old house.

Welcome to Sri padhaya - Nallathaniya point

Please read this and do it

Nallathanniya Police station

During hike places you have to pass

Samanala Rock view from Nallathanniya

Samanala Rock and summit view from Nallathanniya - Zoomed image

Work begin @ 6.30 a.m. 😖😖😖😖

Kids on duty

Priyantha ayya on duty

Our main chefs Manike Akka & Poddi Akka

Gayan Ayya on duty

this is the way how to Protect your eyes from onions ;)

Parippu 😋😋😋😋

Mango Curry 😋😋😋😋

Pujawa

First part of Dansal rice and curries give to Lord Budhdha,Buddhist called it "Budhdha Pujawa"

"Budhdha Pujawa"

Mal watti I made

Lord Budhdha,

Sumana Saman God Statue @ Nallathanniya

temple @ Nallathanniya

Our Dansala @ Nallathanniya Junction

Here circle shown Samanala rock

"Puthe lajjai wage ;) "

Our Dansal Rice & curry = Samba + Parippu + Aba + badum sambal + Pol sambal + Soyameat 😋😋😋😋😋

Nadeera on duty ;)

Dansal committee Members : Main Jagath Ayya

Selfie time : father's side relations

kids committee

night shift committee ;)

Night time Pujawa @ Sumana Saman God Statue @ Nallathanniya

new lovely kid meet 💓💓💓💓

"Sumana Saman Devi Pihitai"

hike + pilgrimage begin @ Nallathanniya bridge

Please calm down You enter God's place

Main entrance point Hatton - Nallathanniya route

Foot massage place

Samanala Rock seen from Near the Makara Thorana

MAKARA THORANA

Selfie @ Makara Thorana

No one in route

temple

bridge before Sama Chaithya

Special location Have to paths :) both are OK

SAMA CHAITHYA

rest time @ JAPAN Sama Viharaya

@ JAPAN Sama Viharaya

wesak Oil lamps on the way

@ SEETHA GAGULA

Coffee Time

SAMANALA KANDA seen at night time

Come with me :) I want to go that top light point

new friend meet :) He get my 4tos :) thank you mcn

IDIKATUPANA beginning :)
Buddhist believe when you pilgrimage at very first time you want to do this thing.

IDIKATUPANA

IDIKATUPANA ;)

IDIKATUPANA

Hard route begin @ Hatton-Nallathanniya road.it called "MAHAGIRIDHABA"

Nadeera on the MAHAGIRIDHABA

"Aggala kan doone putha :) Hele Nagin doone putha "

KARUNAWAI KARUNAWAI SAMAN DEVINDU KARUNAWAI !!!!!!

SRI PADHA MALUWA/Samanala Kanda pEak

Very Cold and mist

Selfie @ SRI PADHA MALUWA

SRI PADHA MALUWA

"SRI PADHA WADIMI "

Ghost coming from Mist ;)

DOLOSMAHE PAHANA = the oil lamp lighting on every time

DOLOSMAHE PAHANA

School friend meet on the peak :) Sazni marikkar

Got few hours 4-5 sleep on the summit. (very cold situations) bed sheet gave to small baby

Waiting for Sun rise " IRA UDAWA"

PUJA PERAHARA

SELFIE with clouds

Sun rise " IRA UDAWA" step by step

Ready to go SPACE :)

HERE I'm on SPACE :)

They told it's their 54 time in Sri padha pilgrimage

SPECIAL scenery : shows "Sumana Saman" God's festival, after Wesak Full moon poya day did this

SPECIAL scenery : shows "Sumana Saman" God's festival

School friend meet during "Sumana Saman" God's festival

SPECIAL scenery : shows "Sumana Saman" God's festival

I'm Lucky can go with GOD

HERE my going down path : Rathnapura - erathna - kuruwita route

SPECIAL scenery : shows "Sumana Saman" God's festival 💚💚💚💚💚

Lucky to get down with "Sumana Saman" God's perahera.

Beautiful nature 💚💚💚💚

Temple : turning point

GALWANGEDIYA

HERE turning point

Now I turned to Kuruwita -Erathna route , perahara go to Rathnapura route :(

Now begin solo wild trek ,Have to go 14-15 km on kuruwita - erathna road without anyone

It's time to collect garbage

Carried 10kg garbage bag + 15kg travel bag on 3km.

ohhhhhhhh

IDIKATIPAHANA @ Kuruwita - Erathna Road

WARNAGALA ELLA FALL = MANNAKETU ELLA

Bathing time :) very tired after long solo trek

Swim toward to ella

Again begin my journey

Diamondagala Ambalama

Jambola gaha yata Ambalama

ANyway after completed long solo adventure arrived to "ADAVIKANDA" now have to go DiVaguhawa ,can't walk my fots :(

SRI PADAHA Pilgrimage || Samanala Kanda Hike finished