Devil's Staircase

Colombo > Kalupahana > Turn to Bambarakanda falls road and it will connect to the devil's staircase.

This is a rough track and can be tackled with a good off road four wheel vehicle and a good driver. But if you want to fee the nature go on foot and use shortcuts. This route connects Kalupahana to a village named Udaweriya. It is a beautiful place and  if you can find accommodation stay a night there. This village will remind you Shire in LOTR. From Udaweriya you can go to Ohiya or Idalgashinna railway stations.

Around :

• Bambarakanda Falls
• Summit level

Kandalama Wewa

Colombo > Dambulla > take Dambulla Kandalam road and after few kilometers you will see the wewa

Above pics were taken from the shore of Kandalama wewa. This is a really beautiful place and if you are seeking a great scenery visit here in the morning or evening. this place is also a very good spot for bird watching. And from here you will be able to see Sigiriya and Pidurangala.

Around Kandalama:

• Dambulla temple
• Sigiriya
• Pidurangala

Richmond Castle- Kalutara

Colombo > Kalutara > Turn to the riverside road from Kalutara junction and go along that road until you meet the castle in left hand side.

This castle was built by the Padikara Mudali Nanayakkara Rajawasala Appuhamilage Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena in the colonial era. This vast mansion is situated in the southern bank of Kalu Ganga river, in the middle of a 42 acre estate. This castle is a combination of Indian and British colonial architecture. It is said that Mudali built this castle according to a plans of a castle of a Indian Maha Raja. At the present this castle belongs to national trustee. 

Waterfalls in Bambarella- Kalupahana

Colombo > Kandy > Wattegama > Bambarella > From Bambarella turn to Ratnagiriya Tea estate and at the of the estate there is a track in to jungle which leads to Kalupahana  and from there to Meemure.

Above photos were taken from the Bambarella to Meemure track which goes through the jungle around Kalupahana Mountain. About 15 years ago Kalupahana area was a village with cardamom plantations. After forest department acquired the land and made the area a forest resvior, people were sent away from Kalupahana area and now jungle rules over the cardamom plantations. This is a brutal track and it's very hard to find the correct path when you are in jungle because it's full of tracks here and there which goes to various abandoned cottages in the jungle. Above all, 2 minutes of carelessness will end you up in a middle of  an abandoned cardamom plantation. So if you hope to hike here take a experienced guide with you. And remember this is the capital of leech kingdom.

Around Bambarella :

• Meemure and other traditional villages
• Knuckles Mountain range

See more:

• Knucles nature trail
• Meemure

Oil Farm -Trincomalee

 

Colombo > Habarana > Trincomalee > Near Trincomalee Air Force campsite

After the fall of Singapore,Trincomalee became a very important naval base in Indian Ocean for British.So they built a farm of oil tanks using metal for store their oil.They used Trincomalee harbour to pump oil to the oil farm which was well hidden in the jungle.They could avoid many Japanese air raids. But one Japaneese pilot managed to destroy a oil tank and he sacrificed himself doing that.You need special permission to enter to this oil farm.