Author: 
We got lost!
Travel story at Kehelpathdoruwegala, Ududumbara, Sri Lanka.
We are a group of backpackers with a travel mania. We can’t even remember how many mountains we have climbed and how many camping nights we have spent! This is one of the stories from our traveling portfolio that challenged our hiking experience.
Kandy district in Sri Lanka is a heaven on Earth. It is without a doubt. Ududumbara is a small town in Kandy, with most of the beautiful landscaping in Sri Lanka. Kehelpathdoruwegala stands on the route to Yahangala. Yahangala and Kehelpathdoruwegala are both super hiking spots. But Kehelpathdoruwegala brings the most beautiful and highest view than Yahangala does. So, our plan was to hike Kehelpathdoruwegala within a day.
I was with 4 of my colleagues. We started the journey at about 9 in the morning. I must comment on the beauty of the surroundings at that time. It was green all around, and golden rays of the morning sun lit the treetops. It was very crisp and lively. We drank the fragrance of nature on our way to the top of the Kehelpathdoruwegala.
Kehelpathdoruwegala range takes the shape of a branch of a banana tree. So, it has got this name which brings the meaning in Sinhala “the mountain with the shape of a branch of a banana tree”. Many hikers have climbed Yahangala, but not Kehelpathdoruwegala. Because it is a bit difficult to get the proper directions. It is way harsh and challenging. It is said that only a few experienced hikers know safer routes to climb up. If you are coming here for the first time, having a guide is always recommended. Many locals around Kalugala are more aware of the environment and paths. But if you are a pro at hiking, Kehelpathdoruwegala is a perfect bet! You can always try, and it is more fun to have it adventurous.
We had our breakfast at Kalugala. We didn’t bring many snacks. Because heavy luggage may exhaust us and slow down the journey. There was a waterway like a gutter where we filled our bottles with fresh, cool water. The water here is refreshing since it is natural to its last drop.
We managed to reach the foot of Yahangala. There was a four-way junction. Kehelpathdoruwegala is on left and the route straight will take you to Hasalaka. There’s a little sanctuary reserved for the god,” Galebandara”. Before hiking any of the mountains, either Yahangala or Kehelpathdoruwegala, everyone prays here and leaves their lives in the hands of the god. Just like making a vow. This is an iconic practice among folks of Sri Lanka. So, we also did the same. We said a little prayer, and it set our minds at ease. Likewise, there is a practice of breaking some branches of trees on the way, when moving into a jungle. This is very popular among ancient people disregarding countries. The idea is they will never get lost for the broken branches show the pathway. These are little tricks even valid for today.
Then we entered the jungle. To reach the Kehelpathdoruwegala summit, we need to cross 4 to 5 mountain peaks. It is a journey through a thick wood. At the start, we were full of energy, since we were full at the time. And we were stirred up with the great desire to reach our destination.
This area towards Kehelpathdoruwegala is close to the dry zone. So, we got exhausted quickly. Since we had to burn many calories, we were dehydrating swiftly. The destination is far away. The route is not smooth. And the best part is we were running out of water!
We were able to reach the Kehelpathdoruwegala summit by noon. To tell the truth, we were thirsty, and I have no words to tell how much I longed to have just a handful of water. We were slobbering because of the excessive thirst. But it was a relief that the jungle breeze braced us. The route was not shady, and the sun was also shining terribly in the sky. We had our chats on the way. That inspires everyone to go for the destination despite all the difficulties.
Our time was good enough. Because we found another troop of boys readying to camp on the summit of Kehelpathdoruwegala. ((I will call them the “camping troop” from here onwards). They had some water, enough to share with us. We felt like we were reborn with the first sip of water. We because friends for a while and shared our contact numbers to get in touch.
After that, we wanted to move to Thelabugala. It was a sudden plan. There is a cliff that is slanted about 90 degrees from the Kehelpathdoruwegala summit, and one has to cross the cliff in order to reach the next mountain to reach Thelabugala. So, we also have to cross this cliff. It was exactly challenging. But still, we wanted to give it a try. We needed a rope to move there. The camping troop gave us a rope. Then we moved to the other side. It was not an easy task. The camping troop also lend us a hand. That’s why hiking has become a soulful hobby or profession for some people. It is challenging and risky and at the same time, it enhances unity and positive vibes.
Anyhow, we reached Thelabugala after a journey of tiresome stroll. Again, we had a problem with water. Because we did not have enough water to fill our bottles at the sniff. We were thirsty. Then our main target was to find a waterway. Also, we noticed that going forward will not work, since we are not sure about a waterway. Then we decided to go back to the Kehelpathdoruwegala sniff.
Now we are coming back from Thelabugala. Wow! We could not figure out the way to come back! It was evening and since it is some wood, there were no proper roads. We couldn’t even find a clue of a footpath. It was the time that we felt blue with the idea, that “we had been lost in the forest”. It was darkening little by little. So, we just gave up the hope of finding some villagers and getting some aid to get back to the correct path.
The darkening wood, awful sounds of animals, and the extreme thirst weakened us further. It was our courage in the mind that kept us conscious. Surprisingly, we found a waterway on the way, while we were wandering without an aim. The water I drank at that time was the tastiest water I have ever drank! We spent a few moments there. We washed our faces, legs, and hands with fresh water. Then only we realized that we had gotten some wounds and cuts on our hands and legs. You know how it feels when wounds get in touch with water. Our bodies started to sense like burning. I think we were careless with the fear and hopelessness. We nursed each other and gave some time to our spirits.
Since we didn’t have a proper route to go back, we decided to follow the waterway. We went along the waterway in the hope of finding a route to get out of the jungle. Now it is around 6 in the evening. Some of us have gotten cramps in our legs. All of us were frightened because we didn’t come prepared to spend a night in the jungle. But still, we continued chatting and chuckling to chase away all the mental and physical chaos we were suffering from. To be true, it was really thrilling to get lost in an unexpected hour. We were also delighted with this sudden adventure.
The beautiful green wood we saw in the noon, turned into a ghostly black wood in a while. The rain started all of a sudden. We got wet. We could have thought of it as a blessing if it was not killing cold.
We are familiar with thick mist. Because we have experienced that on mountain tops. But not at nighttime, lost in a wood! So, it was very difficult even to find each other. We managed to stay closer, nevertheless.
Our mobile networks were out of coverage from place to place. We could contact some authority, but that would lead to some unnecessary fuss. we tried to come out ourselves.
On the way, there was a tree that had fallen two or three days before. Since the more we move, the more we get lost, we thought of preparing a place to stay. It was yet drizzling. We gathered some woods and branches from the fallen tree and set up a shelter. It was more than enough for us. It’s not that we could keep ourselves inside without getting wet, it’s that we could satisfy having ourselves closer.
That night was the longest night ever. We were hungry and cold. The cramps ached more when we were still. The horrible chaos of jungle animals deafened us. We thought that the hungry ourselves would be a meal to some fierce jungle animal. We’ve heard some stories of elephant attacks, wasps, and venomous snake bites at Yahangala. So, for sure, we can expect all those here also.
For the sake of God, we were lucky to see the morning light on a new day. We felt good seeing the golden rays and feeling the refreshing jungle breeze. We became more energetic with the freshness and the pleasure of winning a dreadful night!
Our phones had drained. But we had some luck remaining so that phones were not dead. Thus, we discussed among ourselves and contacted the camping troop through mobile phone. We never thought that we would have to call them again for the help.
We came up with a plan. The plan was to follow the howling! The camping boys howled, then we moved in that direction. Then again we howled to show them where we are. Likewise, we created a method of communication to find out the path. Surprisingly, it worked, and we stepped onto a familiar route. The howling is so close now. Our hearts were set at ease. The feeling of safety energized us. Again, we moved up the cliff with ropes and got back to the Kehelpathdoruwegala sniff. The view was amazing compared to yesterday. Because we; the viewers are so different from yesterday!
The camping troop was our life saviors. We had heard stories of following signals to find a route. But never thought they are practical and real. We had a lot of things to share with the camping troop. We became a family on the way back to the Kalugala village. Climbing down was easier compared to the incidents that happened to us. Whatever may happen, our immediate step is to plan the next hike!
