Alagalla Mountain Range is located at the boundary between the Central Province and the Sabaragamuwa Province. The mountain range is a popular hiking destination among local travelers. A huge number of hikers cross this mountain on Independence Day in Sri Lanka. This can be observed during the Kandy-Colombo railway journey. The elevation of the highest point is 1140 m above sea level.
Location:
As we mentioned earlier, the mountain is located on the boundary between Kandy and Kegalle districts. So, you can reach here from either side. If you are starting your trip from Colombo or the western side of the country, then you can take the Upcountry train from there. You need to drop off at the Ihala Kotte railway station, which is the next station to the famous Rambukkana railway station.
If you start your journey from Kandy or the eastern side of the country, the ideal route that you can choose is the Kandy-Poththapitiya route. You can hike to the Alagalla from there. But it is a slightly longer trail than the other route. Anyone who loves to do train trips and who is starting from Kandy can also come to the Ihala Kotte Railway Station by train.
Algalla Mountain Hike
You need to walk around 3 km to reach the Alagalla Tea Factory from the Ihala Kotte Railway Station. Then you need to walk along the tea estate to find the small footpath to the mountain. Both the Poththapitiya route and the Ihala Kotte route join together near the Alagalla Tea Factory. Finally, you have to follow one route to reach the summit.
The final stage of the hike is fairly difficult and dangerous. You can observe a huge slope in the later parts. One mistake can cost you your life. So, you need to be careful during the entire hike. The final few meters are extremely difficult and are called “Sinha Kata’ by locals. Total hiking time can take 2-4 hours, depending on your effort.
Guide
If you are planning to do the Alagalla Hike with a guide, then we highly recommend Zen Adventures. They are a very friendly team and help you with all your troubles. You can contact them at the mobile number below:
071 085 7333 (Kalana)
What you can observe from the top of the Alagalla
Alagalla is situated at the edge of the central Highlands. This has resulted in an incredible vantage point. The larger area of four provinces in the country can be seen. Those provinces are Central, Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Wayamba. Uthuwankanda, Devanagala, Ambuluwawa, Nelligala, Hanthana Mountain Range, Bathalegala, and Knuckles Massif are some of the mountains that you can observe from the top.
The Alagalla Mountain range consists of a few peaks. The names are not very popular and are given by locals. “Kodigala” is a peak that contains a large flag. “Poojagala” is another side of the mountain range that consists of a Buddhist temple called ‘Pabbathaaraamaya.” Another peak is called the “Katusu Gala.” All these sub-peaks can be covered in one day by anyone.
History of the Alagalla
The ancient Kings of the Upcountry used the mountain range as a wall. The place was an observation point during the Portuguese, Dutch, and British eras of the country. Balana Kotuwa is another historical place that is located nearby. A few battles between Sinhalese and Europeans happened in these areas.
Most of the locals hike to Alagalla during Independence Day (February 04). It is based on an unknown tale that happened on February 4th, 1948. So, it’s really difficult to hike on that day.
Things to Consider in Hiking:
- Start your hike early in the morning.
- Camping in the Alagalla Mountains is another awesome activity to follow. But you need support from a villager or guide to succeed.
- Bring leech protection in the rainy season.
- Be cautious near the end of the hike.
- On the top, there are no water sources. So, bring enough water.
- You can finish your journey from the Gangoda Railway Station. You can find that road near the Buddhist Temple.
- Please bring all the items that you are taking on the hike.
- Don’t disturb the wildlife or nature.
(Alagalla Image Credit: Dilki Divyanji )