Trail Head: Entrance to the protected area, Kudawa Conservation Centre, Weddagala, Kalawana

Nearest Town: Weddagala (south)                             Nearest City: Kalawana

Access to Trail head: Kudawa Trail Map | More about Kudawa Conservation Center

Route to Kudawa Conservation Centre (KCC)

Route1: Colombo-> Kalutara -> Nagoda -> Mathugama -> Agalawatta -> Baduraliya -> Kalwana(Manana) -> Weddagala(South) -> KCC  (approximately 125KM)

Route2: Colombo-> Avissawella -> Ratnapura -> Nivitigala -> Karawita -> Kalwana(Manana) -> Weddagala(South) -> KCC

KCC is accessible by any kind of a vehicle except extremely low profiled cars (The road from Weddagala to KCC (6km) can be rough).

From KCC, there are two jeep tracks to the trail head (Entrance to protected area, waypoint: S01). Distance from KCC to the entrance is 2.5km and 3.2km on respective jeep tracks. You need a 4WD / SUV with good ground clearance to tackle this or you will have to walk up to the trail head from KCC.

Trail End: Sinhagala Peak             Total Length: 8.5 km

Elevation Gain: 300m (Elevation at Trail Head: 473m | Elevation at Trail End: 743m)

Approximate time: 5-7 hours

Hiking Season: Best months are December to April. July, August is also fairly dry. Avoid monsoon months.

Permit Required: YES. Permit can be obtained from the Kudawa Conservation Center (KCC).

“Sinhagal” means “The Lion rock”. Legends say that a mighty lion inhabited this rock located deep inside the Sinahraja rain forest.

Trail to Sinhagala peak will take you deep in to the magnificent Sinahraja rain forest and you will get an opportunity to walk along tracks only visited by few. It’s one of the most rewarding hikes in terms of the diversity of scenery, landscape and the view from the summit. Since it is a lengthy walk and involves an extremely steep climb to reach the summit, it is arguably the most challenging hikes you can do in Sinharaja.

0 to 1.9km: The trail starts from the gate at the entrance to the protected area (waypoint: S01). You will be asked to produce your permits before you enter the protected area. From this point onwards walk along the jeep track leading to Kudawa Research Centre.

This part of the trail is the best area to observe birds of Sinharaja. Early morning and late evening there is a very high chance of coming across mixed species flocks which will provide you an opportunity to observe some of the rarest birds of sri lankasuch as the red faced mal-koha.

Since the jeep track is fairly broad, unlike the rest of the trail, it easy to spot birds and butterflies.

On your way to the research centre (Waypoint: S07) note the two entry points to the Mulawella nature trail on your left hand side climbing up in to the forest, first one at 600m from the gate (Waypoint:S03) and the second at 1.5 km from the gate. (Waypoint: S06).

Passing the research centre, cross a large stream and continue along the trail.

1.9km to 7.2km: Once you pass the research centre, it’s a long walk along an easy trail. The Jeep track ends at the research centre and the trail now is a narrow foot path. You have to walk along this foot path for more than 5km from the research centre. Trail has occasional irregular sections but it is more or less a flat, easy walk.

Passing the research centre, at about 2.9 km from trail head there is a trail on to your left climbing in to the forest (Waypoint: S09). This is the trail to a large complex of caves known as “Gallen yaya”.

4.7 km from the trail head, you will cross a large stream with a concrete slab laid over it as a bridge (Waypoint: S13). As you cross this stream, you will find a trail branching off to your right. This trail leads to “Lanka Gama” village, located in the southern boarder of Sinharaja.

At 6.4 km from the trail head, there is another branch off to your left which is the trail to the “KoskulanaPeak” (Waypoint: S18).

Passing S18 and crossing two tiny streams reach another large stream with huge logs put across as a bridge. (Waypoint: S21). At this point you have completed 7.2 km from the trail head.

7.2km to 8.0km: Once you cross the large stream, the trail will become more irregular. There will be brief climb ups, climb downs along with broad flat sections.

At about 7.4 Km from the trail head you will reach a small marsh/bog (Waypoint: S23). As you walk about 200m passing the marshy area, you will hear the sound of a flowing stream (Waypoint: S24). The trail now winds through the bank of a stream.

From about 7.7 km, you have to pass a series of streams. Two streams (Waypoint: S25) & (Waypoint: S26) with in first 200m and three more streams almost adjacent to each other (small-large-small) there after. These three streams together have very little water flow and full of large rocks (Waypoint: S28). After this point onwards you will feel that you have started climbing up. The trail climbs up to another rocky stream (With better water flow) flowing from the mountain located 8.00 km from the trail head (Waypoint: S29).

8.0km to 8.5km: After you reach the rocky stream, you will NOT see the continuation of the trail. You have to climb up, along this stream for 20m-30m and you will then find the continuation of the trail on to your right. After you come out of the rocky stream, you have to cross one smaller stream few meters from the point you get out from the rocky stream (Waypoint: S30). These are the last water sources. After this point onwards you will have to tackle an extremely hard climb of about 500m to the summit. This section is by far the most difficult of the entire hike.

About 200m before the summit the trail goes through a small cave (Waypoint: S31) which is an ideal spot to take a rest. The summit point is 8.5 km from the trail head (Waypoint: S32).

Tips, Notes & special remarks:

• This area of the rain forest is heavily infected with leaches. Take necessary precautions such as wearing leach proof socks or carry a repellent such as soap or Detol.
• Make sure that you take the full timing advantage in the first 7km. Once going gets tough it takes much longer than you think to reach the summit.
• Water from streams flowing in the forest is safe to drink without treatment.
• Even during the dry months occasional heavy showers can be experienced. It is always a good idea to carry rain coats and a plastic bag to protect electronics.

Way Points

Trail Head: Entrance to the protected area, Kudawa Conservation Centre, Weddagala, Kalawana

Nearest Town: Weddagala (south)                             Nearest City: Kalawana

Access to Trail head: Kudawa Trail Map | More about Kudawa Conservation Center

Route to Kudawa Conservation Centre (KCC)

Route1: Colombo -> Kalutara (Katukurunda) [45km on A2] -> Nagoda [3km on B008] -> Mathugama [5km on B308 & 11km on B8] -> Agalawatta [6km on B8] -> Baduraliya [7km on B8] -> Kalwana(Manana) [25km on B8] -> Weddagala(South) [11km] -> KCC [6km]

Distance fromColombois 120km

Route2: Colombo -> Ratnapura [100km on A4] -> Thiriwanaketiya [6km on A4] Nivitigala [10km on B421] -> Kalwana(Manana) [13km on B421 and 11km on B8] -> Weddagala(South) [11km] -> KCC [6km]

Distance fromColombois 150km

KCC is accessible by any kind of a vehicle except extremely low profiled cars (The road from Weddagala to KCC (6km) can be rough).

From KCC, there are two jeep tracks to the trail head (Entrance to protected area, waypoint: MV01). Distance from KCC to the entrance is 2.5km and 3.2km on respective jeep tracks. You need a 4WD / SUV with good ground clearance to tackle this or you will have to walk up to the trail head from KCC.

Trail End: Mulawella Peak             Total Length: 2.4 km

Elevation Gain: 300m (Elevation at Trail Head: 457m | Elevation at Trail End: 758m)

Approximate time: 1 – 2 hours

Hiking Season: Best months are December to April. July, August is also fairly dry. Avoid monsoon months.

Permit Required: YES. Permit can be obtained from the Kudawa Conservation Center (KCC).

Trail to Mulawella peak is one of the popular nature trails in Sinharaja forest, accessible from the most convenient entrance to Sinharaja, the KCC.

MulawellaPeakis one of the several mountain peaks in Sinharaja forest. Even though Mulawella is not the highest peak in Sinharaja (Highest peak is Hinipitigala), it offers a very good scenic view of the mighty rain forest, better than the view from most other peaks.

0 to 450m: The trail starts from the gate at the entrance to the protected area (waypoint: MV01). You will be asked to produce your permits before you enter the protected area. From this point walk along the jeep track leading to Kudawa Research Centre.

This part of the trail is the best area to observe birds of Sinharaja. Early morning and late evening there is a very high chance of coming across mixed specie flocks which will provide you an opportunity to observe some of the rarest birds ofsri lankasuch as the red faced mal-koha.

Since the jeep track is fairly broad, unlike the rest of the trail, it easy to spot birds and butterflies.

At 450m from the trail head, you will see a narrow foot path on the left hand side going in to the forest from the jeep track (waypoint: MV02).

525m to 1.44km: As you take the left turn in to the forest, you enter the second section of the Mulawella trail. This portion of the trail follows an abandoned, semi circular logging trail which goes in to the forest and the joins the jeep track again at around 1.5km from the way point MV02. Total length of the semi-circular logging trail is 2km. You have to walk around 900m on this trail to enter the third and last section of the Mulawella trail.

The forest which surrounds this section of the trail is predominantly a secondary forest appeared after selective logging in 1970’s. The section of the trail is mostly a flat walk except a slight climb at the very beginning and another at around 250m from MV02

As you walk about 50m from MV02, there is a “Y” division of the trail (waypoint: MV03). Continue along the right branch. At 1.44 km from the trail head (waypoint: MV04) observe a small stream on the left side. This small stream is called “Halmandi Dola”.

Turn left and climb down to the valley at MV04 and cross the stream to enter the third and the last section of the trail. Remember to get your water bottles re-filled from the stream since there are no water sources beyond this point.

1.44km to 2.4km: This final section of the trail is the most difficult part of the hike. The first 750m is a continuous climb through the primary forest. Conditions under foot are fairly rough. Frequent boulders and tree roots blocking the trail would require you to be mindful of every single step. The climb eases off in the last 200m as you approach Mulawella peak. This section ends at Mulawella peak (waypoint: MV05)

Tips, Notes & special remarks:

•  This area of the rain forest is heavily infected with leaches. Take necessary precautions such as wearing leach proof socks or carry a repellent such as soap or Detol.
• Water from streams flowing in the forest is safe to drink without treatment.
• Even during the dry months occasional heavy showers can be experienced. It is always a good idea to carry rain coats and a plastic bag to protect electronics.
• On your way back you can turn left after crossing the stream (MV04) and track back, or turn right, complete the logging trail and  merge on to the jeep track at a point about 1.5km from the gate (waypoint: MV06). If you turn right your return journey will be 3.4km instead of 2.4km.

Way Points