"Hithumathe Jeewithe", that was named ourselves had matched hundred percent perfectly because of the sudden plans,we had. Once we had a free weekends, we used to gather at Friday evening to ready for the weekends. Three of us just gathered to home and went through the internet and called some friends who traveled a lot. Then we decided where we should go. It was "Kotagaga ella" exactly without any other suggestions. We checked weather forecast and we would be lucky enough to have a nice day without rain.
Friday at 7.00pm, Me and Amila went to the food city to buy some needs such as foods, first aids. All of us got ready quickly because the last bus to Pettah would be at 10.00pm from home town, as far as I had known. We met at Gonapala junction and could get in to the bus at sharp 10.30pm and bus was arrived to Pettah at midnight. We should had to go to Rangama where the nearest junction was to ella.
There was no direct bus roots from Pettah to Rangama so we had to use public transports to Theldeniya across the Kandy then have to take a bus Thangappuva.
However it was, we couldn't able to arrived to Rangama on time that we supposed to be there. 1.00pm, the clock was made us afraid. After having breakfast and launch at once, We walked nearly 4km to foot of the cascade.
It was a pretty sunny day. Trekking was began. There were flora and fauna from the beginning to top that made a wonderful path to heaven. Kotagaga is a cascade which contains seven steps of waterfalls. We thought, we could be the top before the darkness. We decided to climb up in right hand side of the water stream and we came across some axe marks on trees that was made by villagers, who used to go for timber. After having few steps into the forest, surround was became very humid. We just had stepped to the leeches land. While we were climbing, we took a rest in every steps of waterfall until last 3 steps and captured some photographs. Actually my camera was the reason, keep me alive in wonderland and it help to make journey memorable. Time was 4.00pm, we climbed up for nearly two and half hours. It was getting dark surround us. Clear footpath was not there anymore and also top of the mountain wasn't reachable yet. The mist was there that never happen before. The wonderful pathway turn into very misty and dark that seemed very dangerous. We had to camp before at least 6.00p.m. I always check the time and keep climbing through the forest. There wasn't enough time to visit last two steps of the waterfall. However our fear to darkness kept us climbing ahead without getting rest. I was clearing the path forward by knife and Amila and Uditha were behind me. Many thistles, which have very sharpen thorns were made pain on my body. I hadn't time to care about it until the top. I always faced many troubles and about to fall while I was stepping. So Amila was taking the front with knife for a while. As far as I can remember, at last few steps before the heaven,we were so tired and thought that we missed the correct direction. Three of us laid down on the bushes even that was muddy. I looked alternate at the sky and the hand watch, thinking how to survive the night. It was not the time to turn back. I just had taken the torch and knife to find a place to camps and ready for the night. Uditha took my bag and lay down under a cave that was found by Amila. They would be there until my return. We always keep eyes on attention because this paradise belongs to snakes and wild animals. The only bless we had, was nice weather, It was getting very humid surround us but not a rainy day.
I could see the sunset through the forest. In every journey, one of the main scenery that we are willing to capture is sunset and sunrise through the mist and how sunrises treat the land. I was really upset because we were going to miss it. By the way, I kept climbing up. after few minutes I could hear the sound of water stream. It was a charming music for me. I hurry up to way of the sound coming. I couldn't believe my eyes what that was. Simply It was a paradise that we everyday dreamed. Sunset was yet to come. I shouted to friends but they were far away much to hear. I run again in to the forest and shouted again and again for Amila and Uditha. After my screaming they could able to find me. Uditha had carried my backpack. Amila place the tent on perfect location on the rocky bed. Uditha were collecting woods for the fire because it was getting cold. We are fortunate to taste the sunset and arround the mountain. Cascade had been began from where we camped. While Amila and Uditha were making the noodles and meatball curry. I took a bath and it was so cold that much freeze me. Then I laid down beside the fire and that was the feel comfortable as much I never had before. We pig at our meal. After chilling little time we went for sleep because we were damn tired at that time. And that sleep was a deadly one, no at least a dream.
The Alram at early in the morning, 5.30am. was wake up us. We never lazy to see the sunrise. I have no words to explain what I was seen and what kind of a paradise we have. Luminous orange, red, blue line was shining through the mountain range far away. Sun was rising slowly. Misty stream flowed on lower lands like a milky river. Kind of yellow birds were flying from the forest. At sharp 6.11a.m. very first sun rays that made gently warm on us was made our day perfectly. That I felt the breath of the nature.
After having the breakfirst, we ready up to return to Theldeniya. The path,that was mentioned in Lakdasun artcle, I read before was there opposite side of the path, we came. We left from our wonderful paradise arround 8.00am. We could able to reach Theldeniya at 11.00am. Then we return to home as usual by using public transport. We were seemed zombies for our parents because tiredness on our face and scratching marks on body showed how journey was treated us. After every camping mother was blaming and asking what's the use of going such kind of places, How can we explain it?
This is one of the best journeys I need to tell you. If you want to visit I can give related information. But keep in your mind please don't let your wastes and bring back your all of things that you carry there.
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| Rangama town |
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| We came across little guide on the way to cascade |
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| 3rd step of the cascade |
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| Misty water way to top of the waterfall. |
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| sunset that we were enough lucky to see |
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| Camp on rocky bed |
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| The night |
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| Way to Thangappuva |
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| Bus to Theldeniya |
