Yakgala / Kankarigala (=380m) (යක්ගල /කoකාරි ගල)

Yakgala / Kankarigala (7.118691, 80.339378)

This is just a small hike done in travel restricted season during Corona period. Supun who is one of my friends live in Bulathkohupitiya area suggested a hike to the mountain behind their home. This place is called Yakgala / Kankarigala by locals as villagers have done “Kankariya” (කoකාරිය) on top of this rock in old days.

Aerial view of Yakgala

The rock plain on top of Yakgala

We (Sumedha and Myself) have started the journey from Colombo and had our early breakfast from Ruwanwella town. Eshan joined with us at Bulathkohupitiya and we started the hike from 24km post at Kegalle-Bulathkohupituya road. (Right behind Supun’s place). First we crossed a tributary of Ritigaha Oya (රිටිගහ ඔය) and followed the foot pathway to houses on that side of the river. This village is called Pittagama (පිට්ටෑගම). Supun had a lot of stories to tell about his village. Actually Pittagama had a landslide about 21 years ago and after that villagers were removed from the place. Therefore the lower and middle part of the mountain is forested but upper part has rubber and some other cultivation. There is a clear road to the top of the mountain from other side as well. As we wanted to do a hike we followed the path on this side. Supun has accompanied us to two drip ledge caves on our way to Yakgala. There was a clear foot pathway as people go to Rubber and Clove cultivations following this foot pathway. As this was Clove season people were plucking cloves.

The day begins….Team…Sumedha, Supun and Eshan

Crossing Ritigaha Oya

One of the oldest Bo trees of the village.

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.	Drip ledge cave

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The area of old land slide

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ගස් දෙබර

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Another drip ledge cave

At the cave

The scenery

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Passing rubber estate

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Clove

We are almost on top of the mountain.

ඇඹිලින්න

Within an hour time we were able to reach top of Yakgala / Kankarigala. The main feature of the top is wide spread rocky plains with beautiful surrounding view. Supun has shown the rock cut mortar (ගල් වoගෙඩිය) on top of Yakgala, which was used for Kankari in old days. This place was like a view point of Bulathkohupitiya area and we were able to see Bulathkohupitiya town, Narangala (locals name it as Kabaragala) and Wewalthalawa areas. They have places a communication tower at the highest point of Yakgala but we didn’t go there.

On top of Yakgala / Kankarigala

View from Kankarigala

View from Kankarigala

View from Kankarigala….Towards Bulathkohupitiya

.	Towards Bulathkohupitiya town

Bulathkohupitiya town

Rock cut mortar (ගල් වoගෙඩිය)

Modern day arts

On top of Kankarigala

On top of Kankarigala

On top of Yakgala

We spent enough time on top of Yakgala and moved to the other end of the rocky plain. Here we came across a Pus Wela-පුස් වැල (Entada rheedii/ Giant Liana) which has grown lengthy. Then we started to descent from the mountain but steepness was high in this side.

Pus Wela / පුස් වැල

On Pus Wela

Pus Wela which is endemic to wet zone of SL.

This is the root of Pus Wela

End of rock plain of Yakgala / Kankarigala

Steep….Had to use our four limbs.

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Another finding was Narilatha flowers (නාරිලතා මල) on our way down from Yakgala. Narilatha / Doll Orchid (Habenaria crinifera) is a species of orchid found in Sri Lanka. These orchids, which bloom in late rains, are tuberous orchids with both epiphytic and terrestrial habitats. Flowers are white with smooth edged petals.

Plants of Narilatha / Doll Orchids

Narilatha

Flowers of Narilatha / Doll Orchids

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Flowers of Doll Orchid

Came out of the forest

Our next task of the day was to visit Alwathura Ganegoda Cave Temple which is situated close by.

Alwathura Ganegoda Cave Temple (අලවතුර ගනේගොඩ ලෙන් විහාරය)
This ancient temple is situated about 1.5 km from Bulathkohupitiya-Kegalle main road. From Kiriwana junction you have to cross a narrow bridge and then the road runs parallel to Alwathura Ela. Next you have to climb 250 steps to reach this cave temple.
It is believed the temple was built in 14th A.D, according to the style of South Indian architectural similar to Gadaladeniya Temple. One of an honorable Thero lived in Gampola era called Sheelawansa Himi (සීලවoශ හිමි) has built this temple at Alwathura village. (He built Gadaladeniya Temple as well). There was an old temple (lower temple) built by King Walagamba and current one is mentioned as upper temple. Dr. H.C.P.Bell has visited this temple in 1892 and mentioned this is the only temple in Kegalle district built completely by rock. According to him the frontal stone wall had been built following Kanchipuram Temple style.
The old shrine house and surrounding stone sculptures are main attractions of Alwathura Ganegoda Temple.
There is no resident Bikku at cave temple for a long time and a watcher was appointed by Archeology department to look after it.

The sign board at Kiriwana Junction.

Beautiful paddy field came across on our to Ganegoda Temple

Following Steps

Remains of Ganegoda Cave Temple

Outer stone wall with sculptures

Outer stone wall with lion sculptures

Right side a sculpture of a women dancer. Other one is combination of three figures of two women with a man at the center.

Set of women dancers and a drummer.

Above the dancers is a frieze of snarling leopards moving from right to left, front legs raised and heads reversed.

Gaja Sinha-ගජ සිoහ (lion) guard stones.

The shrine chamber

The Na tree sheltering the premises. Broken stone fragments are scattered everywhere.

The shrine chamber from front

The opening of a tunnel from Ganegoda temple to Rangalu temple. This has been closed.

Stone doorway

Paintings at outer shrine wall

Pillars

Entrance to shrine chamber

Entrance to shrine chamber

The rock ceiling

Rock cut Buddha statue belongs to Gampola era

Paintings on ceiling. Murals of Kandyan era are repainted.

Buddha statue

Yakgala hike and visit to Ganegoda temple were well enough to break the fasting due to Corona season. We had a nice bath at Ritigaha Oya to windup the day.

We had a good time.

End of the day.

Some aerial photographs taken from Yakgala

Paddies of Bulathkohupitiya

Bulathkohupitiya town and Kegalle-Bulathkohupitiya road runs through the town. Narangala / also called as Kabaragala is seen in left side of the picture. Other hills might be Wewalthalawa and towards Kithulgala

Zoomed view of Bulathkohupitiya town.

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View of Narangala

Bathalegala and Ura Kanda.

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