Camping at Pallan Hela (පල්ලන්හෙල) / Hindagala (1068ft) and visit to Inginiyagala (ඉගිණියාගල) (1035ft)

This was a part of our two days trip to Ampara to visit Govinda Hela, Pallan Hela and Inginiyagala. First day we have hiked Govindahela and returned back to 9^th mile post for the lunch. Our next plan was to hike another rock called Pallan Hela and stay night there. Pallan Hela is situated at Wadinagala area and first we reached 17^th mile post / Wadinagala junction where road divides into two: One goes via Inginiyagala to Ampara (B 350) and other crosses Hingurana to reach Ampara (A 25).  We had to follow the road towards Inginiyagala to reach our destination of the day-Pallan Hela.

Pallan Hela (red circle) and Inginiyagala (blue circle) in metric map. These two peaks are situated around Senanayake Samudraya / Gal Oya reservoir.

Inginiyagala and Pallan Hela in Google map.

We all needed a bath following the fast hike to Govinda Hela. On our way to Pallan Hela we had a dip at Jayanthi Lake (ජයන්ති වැව). Govinda Hela and Wadinagala were nicely seen to Jayanathi Lake.

Lake Bunt and Pallan Hela is seen behind it.

Walasgala (1150 feet)

Fishery at Jayanthi Lake

Wadinagala (2402 feet) is the main attraction here

Wadinagala top

Unknown mountains

Govinda Hela is standing over Jayanthi Lake

Giants at Lake Reservoir

The team at Jayanthi Lake

Then we called a three wheeler to reach the base of Pallan Hela. We got Inginiyagala road and turned at Aluth Ela junction (අලුත් ඇල හoදිය) / Dewalahinda junction (දේවාලහිද හoදිය) to reach Wickramashila Pirivena (වික්‍රමශිලා පිරිවෙන) which is situated at base of Pallan Hela. Actually villagers called this place as Hindagala (හිදගල) / Pallan Oya rather than Pallan Hela. But metric map mentioned it as Pallan Hela.
We were advised to get permission from chief priest before hike along the rock. After getting permission, we followed the steps along the rock first and reached the place of stupa. This is a nice place with flat rock and a small shrine house, Dewalaya, scattered ruins, a Bo tree and a pond were situated in addition to stupa. There was a foot path in left side of Dewalaya to reach the top of first rock.

Steps carved on the rock

Steps carved on the rock

Small stupa

Dewalaya. Foot path was in left side of it to reach the top of the rock.

It was a nice place to enjoy surrounding view with short hike.

The pond

Shrine house

At shrine house

Ruins and directions

Bo tree and Buddha statue

We have hiked two rocks in this hike. It was a steep ascend first and we reached top of the first rock. Then it was creeping along the second rock to reach the open area where we have noted sets of rocks kept as a parapet. Ashan has assumed these were a part of a fortress of King Saddathissa was at Pallan Hela. This open area was another beautiful view point where we could observe Govinda Hela. Wadinagala, Jayanthi Lake and surrounding.

.	Hiking along second rock

Hiking along the slope of second rock

? Evidence of a fortress

? Evidence of a fortress

Towards Wadinagala and Jayanthi Lake.

Paddies after cutting crop

Paddies after cutting crop

Deegal Hela

Govinda Hela

Wadinagala and Walasgala

Jayanthi Wewa, Panagampamunuwa (right) and Govinda Hela (left)

Might be mountains near Muthukandiya reservoir.

Hills of Nilgala

It was closer to the dusk and we had to rush to the highest point of Pallan Hela where we planned to camp. There was another 100-200 m walk to reach the top of Pallan Hela.
There was a ruined pagoda on top and it was a 360 degree view point towards Gal Oya valley and Ampara side. We were able to see Gal Oya reservoir, Danigala range, Govinda Hela, Deegal Hela, Ekgal Aru reservoir and hills around Gal Oya reservoir, in addition to what we saw on our way to the highest point.

Heading to the top

If you pass this rock arrangement then you are at correct track

Top of Pallan Hela where ruined stupa situated

Top of Pallan Hela where ruined pagoda is situated

View from top of Pallan Hela. Gal Oya reservoir with low water level. Behind the reservoir you can see Dhanigala range and rest of hills of Gal Oya.

Zoomed view of Danigala range….This is the highest of Galoya Hills

Closer view of Gal Oya reservoir

Zoomed view of Nilgala Hills

On top of Pallanhela

Inginiyagala is seen to Pallanhela. Note two peaks of Inginiyagala.

Ekgal Oya reservoir (closer) and Ambalan Oya Lake (far)

Towards Ampara side

Deegal Hela (far) and Govinda Hela (just behind the lake)

The drop

Sun set

.

Sun set

Sun set at Pallan Hela

Lights of Senanayaka Samudrya dam

It was a challenge to set the tent with extreme wind during the night. The water source on top of the rock was almost dried and not suitable for consumption. Luckily we had brought enough water for camping and cooking. I have noted beautiful photos of sun set and sun rise from Pallan Hela taken by others but we didn’t lucky enough to watch these under high cloud cover. The morning was bit gloomy and we didn’t get good sun rise. It was a special day for Thiwanka as his birthday was on that day. We had a small celebration by cutting a cake on top of Pallanhela. After enjoying the morning view from Pallanhela we headed down to Pirivena.

Camp site….

Disfigured tent at morning. It was heavily shattered by wind overnight.

Waiting for sun rise…

This is the sun rise we got…..

Enjoying the sun rise….

Birthday celebration

Birthday celebration

What a place to rest…..

Dry paddies.

The team on top of Pallan hela.

Inginiyagala was the task of the new day and we rewarded with breakfast by priests at Pirivena. Then we walked from Pirivena to Aluth Ela junction and got a bus to Inginiyagala round the bound.  Vidyaraja Pirivena is situated at the base of Inginiyagala rock. We have walked along hospital road to the Pirivena and kept our unnecessary stuff at Pirivena.

Inginiyagala (1053 ft)

This small twin peak is one boundary of Senanayaka Samudraya (සේනානායක සමුද්‍රය) which is one of largest reservoirs in Sri Lanka. Senanayaka Samudraya is also known as Gal Oya reservoir (ගල්ඔය ජලාශය) (as Gal Oya dammed at Inginiyagala to build it) was built under Gal Oya multipurpose development project in 1953. Gal Oya national park is based around Senanayake Samudraya.

Inginiyagala in Google map

The foot path to twin peaks starts behind Bo tree at Vidyaraja Pirivena. We have come across few caves and ruins closer to the temple. We followed stone laid foot path which goes up to mini stupa. It is a nice open area to look around and seems a lot of visitors come only to this place.  We were able to see Pallan Hela, Wadinagala, Vidyaraja Pirivena and Inginiyagala church from this place. Real journey started from here on wards.

A cave is modified as a shrine house.

Ruins

Wide foot path

Stupa on slab rock

Mini stupa on slab rock

Inginiyagala church

Vidyaraja Pirivena

Pallan Hela (right side one) is seen to Inginiyagala

Wadinagala

.

Foot pathway got narrow following the stupa and it goes through boulders to the first peak of Inginiyagala. We spent about 30-45 minutes to reach this peak. There was a sacred foot print engraved on slab rock at this peak in addition to the Buddha statue.  Locals call this place as “Punchi Siripadaya” (පුoචි ශ්‍රී පාදය) due to Siripathulgala (සිරිපතුල්ගල) on this peak. Basically it was not a good view point.

Peaks of Inginiyagala

Foot path through dry zone forest

Hiking up….

Caves. We were heard there are about 40 small caves in this jungle.

Just below the first peak. We came back to this place and walked towards second peak.

Team on top of first peak

Sacred foot prints

Bunt of Jayanthi Lake. The area between Jayanthi Lake and Senanayake Samudraya is called as Sellaka Oya Sanctuary in metric map.

Inginiyagala round the bound and old mill

Second peak. Wadinagala is seen behind.

There was no clear foot path from first peak to second peak of Inginiyagala. But it was not a difficult task to reach the second peak by hiking along the slope of the mountain. On our way to second peak we rested on a slab rock which is another good view point towards Senanayaka Samudraya and Gal Oya valley. Senanayaka Samudraya had very little amount of water due to drought over dry zone. Second peak is the highest and Ingini’s cave is situated just below the highest point. A Wedda called Ingini has lived this place to name it as Ingini’s cave. It can accommodate about 100 people.
The highest point of Inginiyagala is the best view point of Senanayake Samudraya.

Dry Senanayake Samudraya. Catchment area of this reservoir is 384 square miles. It can store 770000 acre feet capacity of water.

Concrete spill of the reservoir.

I am repeating this picture for third time in this report. Hills of Nilgala. Different names given at metric map for these hills: Takunattela, Bulupitiyahela, Ulhela, Madahelawalakanda.

What remains…

This slab rock was a good view point towards Senanayake Samudraya

White- bellied Sea Eagle

Ingini’s cave

Final ascend

Getting a rest after “run” to Inginiyagala.

Senanayake Samudraya

The Earthen dam is 3600 feet in length and 140 feet in height comprising 2 million cubic yards of soils.

Known peaks

Senanayake Samudraya and Gal Oya valley. Ideally Namal Oya reservoir should be seen far away but not.

.

Inginiyagala power house

Inginiyagala inland fish breeding center.

Gal Oya (not seen due to forest cover) after forming Senanayaka Samudraya and two canals run parallel to Gal Oya. It ends this journey at Oluvil.

Pallan Hela where we spent the night

Dry reservoir….

Landscape…

At highest point of Inginiyagala

Return journey was so quick and we came to Pirivena in 30 minutes time. I would like to call it as “run to Inginiyagala” rather than a hike. We were managed to reach Ampara bus stand to get 3.30 pm bus to Colombo. It was the end of two days trip over Ampara covering three main rocks: Govinda Hela, Pallan Hela and Inginiyagala.

Thanks for reading