🏞 Are You Ready for a Real Jungle Adventure?
Nuwaragala is one of Sri Lanka’s best-kept secrets — a towering rock hidden deep in the Ampara District.
This is not your average hike. Think thick jungle, wild elephants, wild bears, ancient ruins, and heart-racing moments.
It’s tough, thrilling, and absolutely unforgettable if you go prepared.
📍 Where Is Nuwaragala?
Nuwaragala is a massive rock mountain surrounded by dense forest.
It’s home to ancient ruins, mysterious legends, and incredible 360° views from the top.
You’ll find it in Pollebedda village, about 10 km from Maha Oya town.
🐘🐻 The Most Dangerous Hike I Ever Attempted
First of all, I have to tell you — the Nuwaragala Hike was the one I was most afraid to do. Why? Because of the wild elephants and especially the wild bears that roam the area.
🤝 Deciding to Take the Risk
Even with the danger, I decided to go on this adventure with my friends. It wasn’t an easy choice, but the thrill of the unknown pulled me in.
🏹 Choosing the Right Guide
Because of the risks, I didn’t want to take any chances. I chose Gunawardana Aththo as our guide. He’s not just any guide — he’s the last indigenous leader of the area. I believed that if anyone knew how to handle a wild animal encounter, it would be him.
Travel Plan 🗺
Here’s the route if you’re coming from Colombo:
Colombo → Nittambuwa → Kegalle → Mawanella → Kandy → Teldeniya → Hasalaka → Ududumbara → Mahiyanganaya → Padiyatalawa → Maha Oya → Rambaken Oya Road → Pollebedda → Nuwaragala
🚌 Public Transport:
- Colombo to Ampara: Night bus departing at 10:45 PM, Ticket: LKR 1,100 one way (Last Update on 13.03.2025).
- Maha Oya to Colombo: Return journey at 3:45 PM, Ticket: LKR 1,100 one way (on 13.03.2025).
- Tip: Book tickets a day in advance for a hassle-free journey.
📌 Bus Booking Information (Mahinda Express)
- Colombo Departure: 10:45 PM
- Ampara Departure: 3:15 PM
- 📞 Call to reserve seats: 077-2592998 / 077-6905998
👨🏫 Guide Fees:
- Gunawardhana Aththo: LKR 1,000 per person – 076 3649442 (Gunawardhana Aththo, an indigenous leader with unparalleled jungle knowledge)
- Ayuwardana guide: LKR 1,000 per person – 076 9826267
- Piyal: LKR 1,000 per person
- Loku Aiya (Maha Oya): LKR 8,000 for the group
- Srilal – 076-6086702
- Vikum – 078-3873387
- Forest Entrance Ticket: LKR 250 per person (ask the guide to take the tickets before the hike day)
Note: ( These details Last Updated on 13.03.2025 ) If you have updated details, please comment below, and I will update the post.
🧭 Why I Chose Gunawardana Aththo as My Guide
When selecting a guide for Nuwaragala, Gunawardana Aththo is hands-down the best choice. He has unmatched experience in this wilderness, and he knows secret ways to avoid dangerous animals.
👀 Eyes Sharper Than Mine
Even though he’s old, he’s incredibly fit — and somehow, he can see more than I ever could. At times, he would stop suddenly, point to a spot in the distance, and talk to a wild elephant I couldn’t even see yet. It sometimes took me 2 or 3 minutes to spot the elephant he noticed instantly.
🐘 Talking to the Wild
One of the most fascinating things? He isn’t afraid of animals. He literally speaks to them, asking them to go away — and unbelievably, the wild animals actually listen to him and leave.
🍲 A Well-Prepared Leader
Gunawardana Aththo was not just a guide; he was our protector and trip organiser.
He:
- Took care of the entrance tickets a day before our journey 📝
- Arranged breakfast and lunch 🍛
- Watched over us during the night in the cave 🌙
- Shared amazing stories from his life and experiences 📖
He might be old, but he’s full of energy and humour. Living for two days under his guidance was an unforgettable life experience for me.
🚫 Other Guides I Met Along the Way
Inside a cave, I met Ayuwardana, another guide, who had come with four boys. Their journey was delayed because they hadn’t taken their entrance tickets in advance. Unlike Gunawardana Aththo, he seemed more careless — drinking with the boys and leaving his group unprotected at times.
I also heard about Loku Ayya, a guide with a tractor who drives visitors close to Nuwaragala Rock using his own route. While it’s faster, I personally don’t like it — in that way, you miss the true jungle experience of hiking through the wild.
Gunawardana Aththo and Ayuwardana Aththo
Most importantly, Gunawardana Aththo and Ayuwardana Aththo are not friendly — they are like enemies in the forest.
Gunawardana Aththo once shared a story:
One night, Ayuwardana Aththo led a group of people to Nuwaragala. It was an extremely risky move, considering the dangers of the jungle at night.
When Gunawardana Aththo found out, he slapped him and warned:
“Don’t risk someone’s life by doing such dangerous things!”
He made it clear that safety should always come first. 🛑
🚜 Transport Options (Maha Oya to the Starting Point):
- Tractor (Round Trip) – LKR 13,000
- Dimo Batta (Round Trip) – LKR 5,000
🧳 What to Pack
- Good hiking shoes
- Extra clothes
- Camping gear (tent, torch, sleeping bag)
- Food & snacks
- Camera 📸
- First aid
- Water bottles
- Power bank
The Trail and Challenges
- Crossed a wide canal with moderate water levels.
- Cross the wild elephant areas.
- The 9 km trail takes about 5 hours to climb.
- Physically manageable hike, but highly risky due to wild elephants and bears.
- The final stretch was steep, with elephants using the same path.
⚠️ Safety Tip: If an elephant approaches, run back and hide in the jungle (as advised by our guide).
Thanks to Gunawardhana Aththo, we avoided danger—he calmly spoke to the elephants, allowing us to proceed safely.
🥾 The Hike to Nuwaragala
- Start from Pollebedda village (about 10 km from Maha Oya town).
- Hike distance: Around 9–10 km (one way).
- The trail goes through teak forests, so be cautious of wild elephants, bears, and buffalo.
- Water sources are available at the base of the hill.
- The final few kilometres involve steep hiking through forested terrain.
- Reaching the summit takes a few hours.
At the top, you’ll find:
- A huge stone pond and small water pools (likely used by ancient residents).
- A fresh water spring.
- Wildlife presence (elephants and buffalo sometimes reach the summit).
- Lush greenery and rich biodiversity.
From here, you can see Mahiyanganaya, Ampara, Dimbulagala, Athbedda, and many other scenic spots. 🏔️
💧 Water & Preparation
In the dry zone, mountains usually don’t have reliable natural water sources, so most hikers carry a lot of water. But since we planned this hike right after the rainy season, I decided to take just one water bottle instead of heavy cans. It turned out to be a great choice—less weight and plenty of water sources along the way.
🚚 Journey to Gunawardana Aththo’s Home
We arrived at Maha Oya around 6:00 AM and called a Dimo Batta truck—arranged by Gunawardana Aththo—to take us to his home. The ride took about 30 minutes.
When we reached, Aththo welcomed us warmly. His home is a clay house decorated with wild animal bones and teeth—probably his souvenirs from the forest.
🍽️ Breakfast & Lunch Preparations
We enjoyed a delicious breakfast of string hoppers with dhal curry and chicken. Aththo also prepared lunch packets for our hike.
Before we began, he quickly checked the water level of a canal—a wise move for safety.
🌊 First Challenge – Canal Crossing
Since it was right after the rainy season, the water level was very high in some places. Aththo chose a crossing point, but even there, the water came up to my stomach!
This canal is called Rambukkam Oya. The water here comes from the Rambukkam Oya Reservoir.
After crossing safely, we had to off-track for a while to avoid flooded areas, making our own way through the jungle until we rejoined the Nuwaragala trail.
⚠️ Rainy Season Warning
During the rainy season, the water level can rise significantly. Be very careful!
If the dam doors are opened, the water flow becomes too strong, and crossing the stream will be impossible.
🐘 Into the Wild
We soon reached the old ticket counter, now abandoned. Here, the elephant electric fence ends, which means the real wilderness begins.
The first stretch was flat walking with natural water sources everywhere. We followed Aththo, listening to his village songs and keeping an eye out for wild elephants.
⛰️ Final Ascent
The last 3 km had a steep elevation. This path is also used by wild elephants, so we moved very carefully. Eventually, we reached the Nuwaragala cave—and it was empty. We quickly started setting up camp, just in case another group arrived.
🏞️ Exploring the Summit
After wandering around the summit, we thought about visiting the famous Nuwaragala pool. But I met another group with Ayuwardana Aththo, and I decided to skip it to guard our belongings.
My friends went, but found the water too dirty to bathe in, so they used a smaller, clean stream instead.
🌅 Sunset Bathing at the Rock Pond
As darkness approached, I wanted a bath but didn’t want to risk meeting elephants in the forest. Instead, I climbed to the top of Nuwaragala Rock and bathed in a small pond there while watching the sunset—absolutely magical! 🌄
🔥 Stories by the Fire
That night, Aththo entertained us with amazing stories about the jungle, wildlife, and his life as an indigenous leader.
🐘 Elephant Roadblock the Next Morning
In the morning, the surroundings felt fresh and alive—breathtaking views everywhere. Then Aththo informed us: lots of wild elephants were on our return path!
From above, they looked like huge boulders scattered in the jungle. I sent my drone to get a closer look, and the footage was incredible.
🏠 Safe Return
After breakfast, we carefully made our way back, keeping a safe distance from the elephants. Thanks to Aththo’s guidance, we returned home safe and with unforgettable memories.
🌄 What You’ll See from the Top
At the summit, you’ll witness a breathtaking 360-degree view of:
- Pettigala Mountain
- Savula Hela
- Ethbedda
- Walasmountain
- Gal Oya Mountains
You’ll also clearly see several large tanks and reservoirs such as:
- Borupola Wewa
- Rukam Wewa
- Unnichchiya Wewa
- Weligahakandiya Wewa
- Nuwaragala Tenna Wewa
- Rambaken Oya Reservoir
The view stretches as far as the East Coast. If you camp overnight, the sunrise is truly unforgettable.
Camping at the Top
🏕 Campsite Details:
- A large cave at the summit provided natural shelter.
- Four tents can be set up easily, but there is space for two more in the cave.
- A lot more tents can be placed on top of the Nuwaragala Rock & near the pool area
💧 Water Availability:
- Post-rainy season: Several water sources are available.
- Dry season: Carry enough water as natural sources may be unavailable.
- There is also a huge stone pool and several small ponds. However, the large pool’s water is not suitable for drinking—it’s best used only for bathing or as a landmark.
🦌 Wildlife & Nature
Nuwaragala is rich in biodiversity. It has plenty of water and plant life, so you might see wild elephants, bears, and other forest animals. Be respectful and stay alert.
⚠️ Important Safety Tips:
- Be silent and stay alert—especially due to wild animals.
- Avoid shining torches into caves at night—some contain bats and Endemic birds.
- Be ready to walk about 10 km through the jungle, muddy paths, and shallow streams.
- Do not pollute. Leave no trace. Take all your trash back with you.
- Be careful during rainy seasons — paths may have mud, water streams, or slippery rocks.
🏛️ Historical Background (Still Being Uncovered)
Although Nuwaragala’s full history is not officially confirmed, there are three main theories:
- King Saddhatissa may have started constructing religious buildings here but left them unfinished.
- Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thero believes King Lajjatissa, the son of King Saddhatissa, built these temples.
- Another theory links the site to Giri Nuwara, built by Prince Giri Abhaya, husband of Princess Soma, sister of King Kavantissa.
The mountain contains ancient stone walls, paved paths, drip-ledged caves, and even paintings believed to be from the time of King Saddhatissa or earlier.
Nuwaragala Trekking GPS coordinates 🎒🏕️📸
For your reference, I will put the Nuwaragala Main Trail route GPS coordinates in GPX format.
Nuwaragala live weather update 🛰️
24°C
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- Precipitation
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💬 Final Words
Nuwaragala is not just a hike — it’s an unforgettable journey through Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and ancient mystery. Whether you’re a hiker, history lover, or nature photographer, this spot offers a unique experience. 🌄
So go there, enjoy, take beautiful photos — but remember: leave no trace. Let’s protect this magical mountain for generations to come. ❤️🙏
📸 Lots of Photos from My Journey!
I’ve captured many beautiful and unforgettable moments during this trip. 🌿🏞️✨
👉 You can check out all my photos on my Facebook profile here:
🔗 My Facebook Photo Albums
💚 If you enjoyed them, don’t forget to follow me for more travel stories, adventures, and hidden gems from Sri Lanka! 🌍✈️📷
Plan Your Adventure: Explore Our Interactive Map!
To make your journey even easier, check out our interactive map, where we’ve marked all these amazing destinations. Use it to plan your trip and discover more hidden gems in Sri Lanka!
To plan your trip with public transportation in Sri Lanka, visit Sri Lanka Railways for train schedules.
