3 Day Trip to Waulpane ,Pitadeniya Conservation Center via Sinharaja (වන නිවහන)

Year and Month	June, 2012
Number of Days	3 Days
Crew	7 (between 27-50 years of age)
Accommodation	Pitadeniya Wana Niwahana, (Forest Dept. Bungalow)
Transport	Hired Toyota Dolphin Van
Activities	Wildlife, Photography, Hiking
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo -> Ratnapura -> Godakawela -> Kumburugamuwa -> Waulpane -> Suriyakanda ->Deniyaya -> Pitadeniya Return: Pitadeniya -> Deniyaya -> Morawaka ->Akuresa -> Galle Highway to Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remarks	Waulpane Caving Do not wear any good quality clothes ,just wear shorts and old T- shirt ,Cap Powerful light ,since it’s very dark Pitadeniya “Wana Nivahana” Pitadeniya Forest department dormitoryshould be reserved in advance from the department of Forest Conservatio head office (Rs.8960/- for 2 nights) leech repellent should be carried taken Take Kerosene for the days that you are staying the generator works 1Ltr -45Min , first day we didn’t have any lights , they said the generator was broken , so we had to spend the night and have our dinner from the candle we bought (luckily we took them) All provisions should be taken , vegetables , tea ,sugar…etc. The charge Rs.28/- from each persona if you’re trekking in the jungle
Author	Ranitha
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We started form the suburbs of Colombo at about 2.00 Am in the morning. The crew was Seven.

The drive to Waulpane was quite effortless. But the last 1KM or so was bit difficult. After stopping the van at end of the road (still you need to walk about 600m to the caves ) which was an very interesting journey. You need to find a giud to got to this otherwise if your not familiar with the place it’ll be difficult (negotiable the amount before you hire a guide) normally Rs.300-500

Walk to the Caves!

Entrance to the Cave

Some interesting Water flows

The largest bat cave

Rock formations

Inside the cave

Surroundings

Fossil

After visiting the caves and having a bath their we erer of to suriyakana for maduwan wala waluawa ,but beause of the time limitation we were unable to visit and we went straight to deniyaya then to sinharaja

The Drive to pitadeniya conservation Centre is bit of and rough ride if you’re going through deniyaya -> Mederipitiya route we had walk some distance since the van’s clearance is not enough, in maderipitiya you can find someone motor cycles to carry your food and ice box..etc. (if your carrying one),otherwise it’s difficult to carry them on the rough road , price MUST BE NEGOTIATED with them before starting the ride for us one bike ride was Rs 250/- ,after attending to that Vehicle can be parked at a nearby house which charged Rs300/- per day ,but of you negotiate you can park it both day for 500/- then off to “වන නිවහන”

On the way to Pitadeniya

Bit of a Rough road Mederipitiya

As you can see the bridge is very narrow and the vehicle fits by inches

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Pitadeniya Camp

If your’ planning to go to Pitadeniya Camp you at least have to leave the village at around 3.30Pm because you have to walk 1.5Km and there are no lights and the path is bit rough. if it rains HORROR !!!!! you get leeches every were and the road becomes very slippery, once night settles in it’s extremely difficult to go in that road , this happened to us.

Wana Niwahana

The landscaping in the PCC

PCC Office

Hanging bridge that leads to conservation Centre

The cook there was really good and we enjoyed his all 8 meals. There is some distance between the wana winwaha and the kitchen and you have to walk some distance to have your meals, this might be a problem when it’s night time, they switch off the generators at 12 midnight