Exploring Highest Mountain Peak in Knuckles – Gombaniya

One of my favorite hiking places is knuckles. I can still remember my first trip to knuckles about decade back. It was in 2003 and we went to Meemure and hike Lakegala Mountain. After that I went several times to Knuckles range with different entry points. Last time in April 2013 we hike Knuckles peaks. After this I had a dream to climb highest peak in Knuckles range, its Gombaniya Mountain. I read a trip report published in LAKDASUN. One of my friends coming to Sri Lanka for his vacation. Normally he does hikes. He is very experience hiker – Lasitha. Also there are two other friends of mine, Hiruna and Chaturanga. They are also experience hikers. With two other new comers Rukmal and Asanga we planned to hike Gombaniya on Esala Poya.

I and Asanka started to travel at 3:30 AM from Kotte by hired van. Chaturanga joined us from Kaduwella and Hiruna and Rukmal joined from Biyagama road. We were able to reach Lasitha’s house in Kandy around 6:30 AM. From his home we had breakfast tea and also his mother gave us breakfast and lunch packets. At 7:00 AM we left from Lasitha’s house and went to Huluganga, by another hired van. We had our breakfast on the way. It was pol-rotty with potato. At 9:00 AM we were at Allakolla Estate upper division. From there onwards we have to walk with our Bags.

Allakolla Estate

Using shortcuts

On the way scenery

Resting place

By using tea estate road and some shortcuts we were able to reach border of tea estate around 11 AM. There is a resting place where it seems to be used as Resort. We had a rest there and started hiking with our bags. Our intention was to hike Gombaniya without a guide exploring by ourselves. After entering the forest the path is dividing to two and we took left turn since we thought it should be the way to Gombaniya since it’s on that direction. This foot path went to the small Shiva kovil inside the forest. After that the path vanishes. We searched everywhere and couldn’t found clue. Then we decide to use map, compass and GPS device. After hiking another three hours inside the forest with steep ascends, we were able to reach a place where there is a dead-end. It’s too sleep to climb from there (altitude ~ 1600m).

Large mushrooms

Angkatussa

Resting

On the way scenery

Time is around 2:00 PM we thought of finding a camping place before getting dark. There were few water sources, but we couldn’t find a flat land to pitch the tent. Therefore we retrieve back to the tea estate border resting place. On the way we lost the path once, but able to find it using the help of GPS device. We were able to reach resting place at around 6:00 PM. After having cool bath at natural pool we had our lunch packets. Then we pitch the tent and went to sleep early for prepare challenging day ahead of us.

Where we camped 1st day night

Early morning view of Gombaniya

Next day morning first thing we did was again studying maps. We had both 1 inch map and 1:50,000 map. But it clearer in 1 inch map. We identified it should be accessible using valley between Gombaniya and Yakungegala. Morning we had bread with sini-sombol. We kept our bags there and took only worth items and biscuits, cheese, date and water bottles. Since it’s very hard to go through forest with bags and also climb steep ascends.

Starting 2nd day hike

Tough through the bushes

We started around 9:30. This time we took right turn and climb up-hill. Not like yesterday we can clearly see the mountain top on the way. About two hour climb we were reached to another Shiva Kovil inside forest. Similar to yesterday there is no clue to go here after. We explore the area and also according to our GPS unit we have to go to left. Another 3 hour climbs though think forest we were able to reach an opening, it was a breathtaking view. We can clearly see the drop of Yakungegala. Time was 2:30 PM and we thought of retrieve back to our camp site. We were happy with day achievement.
Finding way back is easy since we marked on trees. At 5:30 we were able to reach our camp site. Had a cool bath and prepare dinner, rice with dhal curry and soya meat. We went to sleep with dreaming climbing Gombaniya next day.

Mountain tops covered with mist

Colorful tree canopy

Shiva Kovil

Having a rest

Tree formation

Getting closer to peak

Breathtaking view

Yakungegala drop

3rd day morning we leave early at 7:30 AM after preparing Kadala for breakfast. About three hour we were able to reach the last point we reach yesterday. Since we know the path and it was cleared. From there onwards climb was tough. Steepness of ascend is more than 70 degrees and path is slippery with mud. After two tough hours we were able to reach altitude of 1830m. After that we couldn’t find a way up since everywhere there are steep rocks. Even we tried to go round but because of the drop there are no ways. We knew Gombaniya height is 1870m and we have to climb only 40m to reach the top. But we thought of not taking too many risk and happy with our achievement and turn back around 12:30 PM. We were able to reach our camp site around 4:30 PM.

Mountains covered with mist

Mountains covered with mist

Climb is too steep

Climb is too steep

View from the top

View from the top

That day also we had cool bath and had grand dinner with rice, dhal curry, potato and soya. Next day morning we awake at 6:00 AM and get ready after having noodles at around 9:00 AM. We were able to reach Allakolla Estate entrance at around 11:30 PM. We went Lasitha’s house by hired van around 1:00 PM and had lunch from his house. We thank Lasitha’s family about their hospitality and leave by van at 2:00 PM. Kandy town was very crowded because of the Esela Perahera. Anyway we were able to reach Kiribathgoda around 5:30 PM.

Scenery on the way back

We haven’t seen any

On the way back

Allakolla Estate

This was one of adventures hike and it will remain in my mind for so many years.

Thank you very much for reading my adventure.