|
Year
and Month |
October,
2010 |
|
Number
of Days |
First
day of 3days journey |
|
Crew |
5
(25 to 38 years age). |
|
Accommodation |
Uva
Management Training Institute@ Passara |
|
Transport |
Jeep
(CJ5) |
|
Activities |
Photography,
Waterfall hunting, Scenic (off road) drives and visiting historic &
archeological sites |
|
Weather |
sunny |
|
Route |
First
day : |
|
Tips,
Notes and Special remarks |
|
|
Author |
viraj |
Sun
was shining in the sky as a silver globe. We were on our way to another
adventurous journey heading Namunukula. The small open canopy jeep was packed
with five Lakdasun members. The itinerary of the day was to reach Passara via
Beragala & Pilklinton point @ Punagala estate, since it was identified as a
much scenic drive.
Just
we passed Balangoda; our itinerary was challenged by ourselves. The main role
of the same was played by Dinesh, who bucked on the distinctive weather
condition prevailing and suggested to change the route.
According
to his words, we would not have such a good weather to explore the Devil’s
staircase in the rest of our lives. Since we had many experiences of gaining
better outputs with footloose decisions, the jeep was allowed to deviate from
the main road at Kalupahana junction, in the next 30 minutes.
 |
|
Kalupahana
junction |
[A set
of deadly hair-pin bends, located at the upper division of Udaweriya estate is
called as Devil’s stair case. This can be reached by the estate road which
connected Kalupahana & Ohiya. Road from Bambarakanda to the abundant tea
factory at Udaweriya is the worse part and identified as one of the most
serious off road drives in Sri Lanka. As much as the toughness of the drive, it
is rewarded travelers with attractive landscapes. As per my knowledge, Mithila,
Dinesh & Amila are the only 3 out of 2500 Lakdasun members; who have
explored the route previously. (If I’m wrong, please do correct me).]
The
sub route started from Kalupahana was heading Bamabarakanda, the tallest fall
in
 |
|
On
our way form Kalupahana to Bambarakanda |
 |
|
The
tallest fall in |
In the
next minute, we were warmly welcome by Mrs. Sera, the proprietor of the lodge.
The lodge was situated in a superb location facing the fall. Dinesh was very familiar with this place
since he had visited there several times. Thus helped us to get arranged our
lunch without placing an order in advance. How ever we had to spend few minutes
more until our lunch got ready.
 |
|
Eco-lodge
at Bambarakanda |
 |
|
The
fall is visible to the lodge |
When
we were at the lodge, one showed us some thing interesting. That was a vehicle;
moving in the uphill left passing the lodge before 45 minutes. (We met them
later on our way……)
 |
|
Bamarakanda
fall – Zoomed (the rock at your left side is known as lovers) |
Saying
good bye to Ms. Sera and the lonely eco lodge, we continued our journey. It was
a continuous ascending. At the beginning, condition of the road showed easily
manageable. But; that happiness was not last at least to the end of the first
500m of our journey. The road was eroded and the surface was consisted with
sharp edged stones, the worst enemy of your tires. Though our CJ5; the American
Military jeep was born tough, most of the times; she had to move slower than a
turtle, to escape from the said enemy.
 |
|
the
surface was consisted with sharp edged stones |
 |
|
Road
condition |
At the
end of the first kilometer of our journey, we stopped a while at a bend for
capturing nice images of the Bambarakanda fall & her surrounding.
 |
|
she moved slower than a turtle |
Having
climbing nearly 3km from the eco-lodge, we reached the popular V-Cut which was
treated as a holy place by villagers. In the next few minutes we met the
causeway / Ford from where the water source of the Bamarakanda fall was
crossing the jeep track at the upstream.
 |
|
The
valley |
 |
|
Popular
V-cut |
An ice
cooled natural pool was waiting for us; and no one had time to waste. We had a
cool dip and refreshed with shivering arms & shattering speech.
 |
|
It
was the time for a cool dip |
From
there onwards the road condition showed little improvement for few kilometers.
But it rose continuously.
 |
|
Lanka Ella fall visible in a distance. |
 |
|
The "sandy bend" where the Lanka Ella fall was visible |
 |
|
Peaks awaiting
for Hikers of Lakdasun |
Passing
the series of hairpin bends known as Devils staircase, we reached an open area
which offered a nice view of the valley. Then we met a three way junction where
the left turn (up hill) was heading HP. Since a villager informed us that road
was blocked due to a fallen tree, we had no option other than proceeding right
which heading Udaweriya. The narrow road
descended to a bridge and it was a nice place for having our lunch.
 |
|
A
hair-pin bend visible in distance |
 |
|
Little
shade |
 |
|
Reaching
West Haputale Division of Udaveriya Estate where the Devil’s stair case is
located. |
 |
|
View
to the top of the Devil’s staircase. |
From
the said bridge we moved to the other bank of the valley and we were offered an
endless view up to the southern coast. And also the devil’s staircase was
clearly visible to the road itself we were moving. No sign of mist. We felt
that Mother Nature was blessing us with crystal clear sky; which was very rare
to the area.
 |
|
The
narrow road descended |
 |
|
it
was a nice place for having our lunch |
 |
|
The
first vehicle we met after Bambarakanda |
 |
|
endless
view up to the southern coast |
 |
|
We
felt that Mother Nature was blessing us |
 |
|
Surprised
children of the village |
In the
next kilometer we reached a village. Surprised children of the village having
seen our open canopy jeep; were busy in waving their hands for greeting us.
Just we passed the village; we were stopped by another villager. As per his
words, the narrow road was completely blocked by a broken vehicle which cannot
be moved for half a day. Further he advised to turn our vehicle & return
Kalupahana since there was no alternative for us. But we were not ready to
relay on the massage & decided to proceed until we reach the obstacle.
Finally
we found the obstacle. It was the same vehicle seen; when we were at the eco
lodge. They had cut two tires due to
careless driving.
 |
|
the
devil’s staircase was clearly visible to the road itself ( But Sun prevented
getting good images of the same) |
 |
|
Finally
we found the obstacle |
Since
it was needed two wheels, the situation could not be changed even if offering
our spare wheel for them; because their spare wheel was sadly tighten at the
spare wheel carriage and could not dismantle. Finally they took a decision to
abundant the poor vehicle for the moment and hire a call cab. They moved the
vehicle to the deadly edge of the narrow road with two naked wheels, to provide
space / room to pass / over take them.
 |
|
3
way junction |
In the
next few minutes we reached another three way junction from where the tea
factory of Udaweriya was accessed. We paid a visit there and found that the
factory was temporary out of operation. It should specially note here that the
location of the factory was an excellent view point.
 |
|
The
tea factory of Udaweriya |
 |
|
the
factory was temporary out of operation |
|
|
|
the
location of the factory was an excellent view point |
 |
|
Can
you locate the abundant jeep (Zoomed) |
From
the said junction onwards, condition of the road was improved terminating the off
road experience being experienced so far. Passing Ohiya & Boralanda we got
in to the A5 hi-way back at Diyathalawa. How ever it was nearly 7.30pm when we
reached our destination, having delay a bit at Badulla, for necessary stuff.
 |
|
The
junction to HP & Ohiya……. |
 |
|
it
was nearly 7.30pm when we reached our destination |
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