Trail Head: Kanneliya Conservation Centre, Koralegama, Panangala, Galle

Nearest Town: Udugama                                   Nearest City: Galle

Access to Trail head:  Kanneliya Trail Map | More about Kanneliya Rain Forest

Route to Kanneliya Conservation Centre

Route1: Colombo -> Galle[116km on A2] -> Udugama [32km on B129] -> Panangala [6km on B156] -> Koralegama -> Kanneliya Conservation Centre [2km](approximately 156km)

Route 2: Colombo -> Kalutara (Katukurunda) [45km on A2] -> Nagoda [3km on B008] -> Mathugama [5km on B308 & 11km on B8] -> Horawala [5km on B3] -> Moragala [7km] -> Palewatta [8km on B3] -> Pitigala [10km on B3] -> Udugama [24km via Mapalagama] -> Panangala [6km on B156] ->Koralegama -> Kanneliya Conservation Centre [2km](approximately 125km)

Roads are paved all the way up to the Kanneliya Conservation Centre

Trail End: Circular Trail, ends at the trail head                Total Length: 6.3km (including 300m detour to visit Anagimale Falls)

Elevation Gain: 450m (Elevation at Trail Head: 22m | Elevation at highest point: 472m)

Approximate time: 4 – 5 hours

Hiking Season: December to March & July, August.

Permit Required: Yes. Permits can be obtained from the Kanneliya Conservation Centre

Kanneliya Forest Reserve located in theGalledistrict is the largest of the KDN, or Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya, forest complex. Kanneliya supposed to be the most biologically diverse forest in the country which even surpasses theSinharajaRain Forestin terms of bio-diversity.

The Kanneiliya Conservation Centre is the only designated entry point of this complex. The trail to Kabbale Mountain and Anagimale Falls is the longest and the most adventurous walk you can do in Kanneliya Reserve.

This trail starts off from the Kanneliya Conservation Centre. It first climbs up to theKabbaleMountainPeakwhere a panoramic view of the KDN complex can be seen. The trail completes the circle climbing down to the “Anagimale” water fall and winding through the forest along an abandoned logging trail back to the conservation center.

0 to 1.15km:  As you start off from the Kanneliya Conservation Centre (Waypoint: KB01) you will have to walk towards the forest department nursery. Between the nursery and the forest, locate the broad foot path climbing up (fairly steep climb) along the edge of the forest.  As you climb up for about 300m, the trail will make a 90 degree left hand turn in to the forest (Waypoint: KB02) and you will notice that the intensity of the climb eases off a bit.

As you climb up another 400m along the trail, the trail starts to climb down (Waypoint: KB03). In an approximately a 100m gradual descend, you will reach an abandoned logging trail (Waypoint: KB04). Cross the logging trail and continue to walk along the broad footpath. After crossing the logging trail, the next 300m is a relatively easy walk. There are no intense climbing ups or downs. In 300m from the point of crossing the logging trail, you will see a wooden hut and a small cave on the left hand side. The trail makes another 90 degree left turn here and start climbing up to the summer hut (Waypoint: KB05).

1.15km to 2.15km: Passing the hut in the cave, the trail then approaches a fairly steep climb. After about 150m, the climb will become extremely difficult as the trail start climbing through large boulders. You can see very large boulders surrounding you as the trail makes it way through those. After climbing another 150m through the boulders, you will cross a stream called “Galleli Dola” (Means slab rock stream) (Waypoint: KB07). During dry months the stream can go completely dry with only the exposed boulders. Crossing the stream you will continue to climb up along the side of the slab rock. In less than 100m from the point you crossed the stream, you will reach an upper point of the stream which drop about 10m over a rock creating a mini water fall (Waypoint: KB08). Again this can go completely dry.

Passing the waterfall, you have to tackle the most difficult climb of the trail through the boulders for 100m.  After this you will still have to tackle a steam climb but with much better under foot conditions with no rocks to climb on the trail. 150m from the waterfall, the trail reaches an edge of the mountain where you get the first panoramic view. This is called “Punchi Kabbale” or “Mini Kabbale” (Waypoint: KB10).

Leaving “punchi Kabbale” the trail then move along the edge of the mountain without any significant ascend or descent. After a 100m walk along the edge, the trail them makes a slight left turn, briefly climbing up, and move in to the forest (Waypoint: KB11). After the brief climb, the trail will be again flat for the next 130m until you reach the “punchi kabbale” observation point with a small wooden observation deck (Waypoint: KB12).

Passing the observation deck, the next 130m is again a flat section with just one steep ascend at around 50m from the observation deck. This section of the trail is called “Meda Kabbale” or the “middle section of the mountain”. After the flat walk, you will come to a point where you have to tackle a steep climb down of about 30m (Waypoint: KB14).  After you climb down, you have to tackle the final step, 100m climb to the summit of the mountain called “Maha Kabbale” (Waypoint: KB16), 2.15km from the conservation centre.

2.15km to 6.3km: As you start walking back from the peak, rather than climbing down along the same trail, chose the trail on the right side of the original trail to climb down. As you leave the summit and get on to the new trail, you will have to tackle a steep descend for 500m. The first 250m is steep but the second 250m is steeper. You will end this steep section of continuous descends at a small stream (which dries up when there is no rain) (Waypoint: KB18). After crossing the stream, the descend eases off considerably fro about 100m and then intensifies again for another 250m until you reach a wooden hut constructed along a large rock surface (Waypoint: KB20).

Passing the hut, walk about 25m to reach another small stream (which also dries up when there is no rain). After crossing the stream, the trail will become easy and descend become quite insignificant.  300m from the hut (KB20) you will reach the first reliable water source which is again a small stream but something which does not easily go dry (Waypoint: KB22).

Passing the stream, continue to walk down. This section of the trail is some what irregular with frequent but small ups and downs. 300m from the stream (KB22), you will reach another wooden hut and a stream about 25m apart from each other (Waypoint: KB23). This stream is also a reliable water source. Crossing the stream continue to walk along the narrow nature trail for 300m more until you get on to a broad abandoned logging trail (Waypoint: KB24). 200m descend on the logging trail will take you to an abandoned, paved road (Waypoint: KB25).

This paved road had been used as the main access road during the period where selective logging was done in Kanneliya many decades ago. This main road connects the Kanneliya Conservation Centre and a government circuit bungalow inside the forest. This bungalow is not there anymore.

As you cross the paved road, you will see a wooden hut and a trail climbing down through the forest. A 300m climb down along this nature trail will take you to the “AngimaleFalls” (Waypoint: KB26) one of the two largest waterfalls found in Kanneliya.

From the water fall you have to return to the paved road and walk 1.75km to right hand side to complete the trail at the origin, the Kanneliya Conservation Centre (Waypoint: KB01).

Tips, Notes & special remarks:

• The probability of rain is quite high through out the year. Be prepared with a rain coat and water proofing for electronics such as cameras.
• Unless the trail is very dry, be prepared for leaches.
• Always Carry a adequate amount of water (at least 1 ltr per person)

Way Points

Trail Head: Kanneliya Conservation Centre

Nearest Town: Udugama                      Nearest City: Galle

Access to Trail head:  Kanneliya Trail Map | More about Kanneliya Rain Forest

Route to Kanneliya Conservation Centre

Route1: Colombo -> Galle[116km on A2] -> Udugama [32km on B129] -> Panangala [6km on B156] -> Koralegama -> Kanneliya Conservation Centre [2km](approximately 156km)

Route 2: Colombo -> Kalutara (Katukurunda) [45km on A2] -> Nagoda [3km on B008] -> Mathugama [5km on B308 & 11km on B8] -> Horawala [5km on B3] -> Moragala [7km] -> Palewatta [8km on B3] -> Pitigala [10km on B3] -> Udugama [24km via Mapalagama] -> Panangala [6km on B156] ->Koralegama -> Kanneliya Conservation Centre [2km](approximately 125km)

Roads are paved all the way up to the Kanneliya Conservation Centre

Trail End: Narangas Ella

Total Length: 5.4 km

Elevation Gain: 200m (Elevation at Trail Head: 30mm | Elevation at highest point: 230m).

Approximate time: 2-3 hours

Hiking Season: Dry months are from December to April and July-August which will be ideal for walking in the forest but you will only be able to see the waterfalls in full flow during the wet months.

Permit Required: YES. Permit can be obtained from Kanneliya Conservation Centre.

Hidden deep in the Kanneliya rain forest, Narangas Ella is a small but an attractive waterfall. The trail leading to this waterfall is not at all difficult to tackle, even though it’s a walk slightly more that 5km. Also the trail covers three other of Kanneliya which are the cave, the Giant Navada tree and the giant creeper.

0 to 4km: From Kanneliya Conservation Center (Waypoint: NG01) you have to start walking along the old tarred road which leads to the now abandoned circuit building located inside the forest. The road is still mostly intact and it winds along the bank of the “Nanikitha Ela” stream. This section of the trail is a continuous, mild climb up. As you walk about 1.4km, you will reach the first point of interest which is a small cave which lies beneath the road. At this way point you can climb down on the right hand side of the road, walk through the cave, and get back on to the road from the left hand side.

Passing the cave, as you proceed 400m more, you will find a foot path climbing down towards the stream on the left hand side (Waypoint: NG03). This trail leads to the “Anagimale Ella” waterfall.

Passing the turn-off to the Anagimale Ella waterfall, continue to walk along the tarred road. About 200m from NG03, you will find another small trail on the right hand side of the road (Waypoint: NG04). You have to climb up to this trail to see the giant creeper (Waypoint: NG05). It is located just few meters inside the forest from the main road.

As you walk about 200m more from NG04, you will notice that the continuous slight ascend you experienced all the way form the trail head eases off to a more flat/mild descend (Waypoint: NG07).

In about 800m from NG07, you will again find a foot path on your left hand side (Waypoint: NG09). This foot path moves in to the forest, crosses the stream, circles thought the giant Navada tree (Waypoint: NG10), and crosses the stream again to rejoin the road in 200m from NG09 (Waypoint: NG11).  The length of the detour to see the Navada tree is approximately 500m.

800m from NG11, you will reach the end of the tarred road (Waypoint: NG12). At this point, if you look inside the forest on the right hand side you will be able to see the remaining of the old circuit bungalows hidden in the forest.

4km to 5.4km: Once the tarred road ends, continuation of the trail will be a broad nature trail. As you proceed about 125m along the nature trail, a large stream has to be crossed (Waypoint: NG13). This stream is called “Millagaha Dola” which is a tributary of the “Nanikitha Ela” stream.

Once you cross the stream, you will again have to continue your walk along the trail which is now very much flat and completely shaded by the canopy. About 100m from the “Millagaha Dola” crossing, you will reach the “Nanikiththa Ela” (Waypoint: NG14).

Once you cross “Nanikiththa ela” the trail will continue in to the forest. For the next 400m the trail will be fairly flat with occasional, minor ascends and descends until you reach another stream (waypoint: NG17). Between NG14 and NG17, you will be crossing another small stream which is very much likely to disappear during the dry season (Waypoint: NG16)

Once you cross the stream at NG17, the trail starts a some what steep ascend which lasts for about 250m. At the end of ascend you will reach a flat area where you will find a trail branching off downhill on the right hand side (Waypoint: NG18).

At this point, you can either take the trail to your right hand side to directly climb down to the waterfall or you can continue along the trail until you reach upper parts of one of the streams (Waypoint: NG19) that meets at the waterfall, take an almost 180 degree turn once you reach the stream to climb down to the place where the three streams meet which is also the base of the Narangas Ella (Waypoint: NG22)

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Tips, Notes & special remarks:

•  You don’t have to carry a lot of water, Take a small bottle with you and keep it filled from the streams that you cross during the hike.
• Drinking water from streams is safe.
• Leeches can become a problem when the trail is wet.
• If you want to see this waterfall in full flow, you have to choose a wet month as opposed to a dry month. During the dry season, the waterfall becomes just a trickle.

Way Points