Was it mere luck..to have survived...Lakegala...an adventure that I would not repeat

Meemure is a village situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is an isolated village which is about 33km from Hunnasgiriya and the road is a very difficult and a broken one. In the East of the village lies the pyramid shaped Lakegala mountain.

Lakegala is a mysterious looking mountain that is 1314m tall. The mountain bears many unmarked ruins, including caves with evidence of ancient human inhabitation. Some of the other attraction in the Lakegala region are Nawathna Waterfall, Ravana Falls and hiking trails in the deeps of Lakegala.

It is a dream of many hikers to climb that, even an attempt to climb it requires so much of guts and courage. This was in the back of my mind for a long time, but I have been postponing this for many years due to various reasons. There were many deaths that had happened in the mountain and many people would avoid it if they could because of the danger that is involved in the climb. Lakegala. requires great amount of mental & body preparation. Do not try to do this hike if you don’t have self-confidence and you are not ready to take risk & it’s a life-threatening experience.

Couple of months back I was planning to do the climb, but this got cancelled due to bad weather (Never attempt the climb during rains). There were a couple of guys who were interested in doing this and Namal was one of them. After the road trip, me, Namal and Akila was determined to somehow do this and was waiting for an opportunity.

One day Namal called me and asked what I was doing during the weekend and I had two exams and an anniversary party at a friend’s on Saturday, but Sunday was free. He said some of his friends are climbing Lakegala and asked me whether we shall also join them. Nadeeshan another friend was also available but all of us were occupied but later decided to travel on Saturday late night hoping to climb Lakegala on Sunday morning.

So around 11 p.m. I joined Akila and Namal and on the way we picked Nadeeshan. I was tired, having travelled from Kandy and a bit tipsy too. Having had few tea breaks on the way, we reached Kandy lake where we met another two of Akila’s friends who have travelled all the way in a motorbike. Supun another friend was waiting in Kandy and we met him at the Kandy view point and off we went towards Hunnasgiriya. During our last tea break, accidently we met another two guys in the same shop who were also joining our trip because we were mentioning the name of Don Amila who was the one who was organizing the event with Sachinthani who said that it was possible to travel by car.

When they saw our vehicle, they said it might be difficult to travel in that because of the condition of the roads. So, we asked the two bikes to go ahead, and we followed slowly. When we turned from Hunnasgiriya joint and was travelling the road gradually became broken, difficult to travel. Me and Nadeeshan had a small nap on the way but Namal and Akila was awake. We gradually came to realize the difficulty of the road. When we passed the Corbet’s gap the road was beyond any travel by the Car. We were getting down on several points but still it was not possible to travel further. So, we decided to leave the car behind. Luckily, we were closed to a hotel, so we talked with the caretaker and left the car behind. We got a telephone number of a 3wheeler and called him to take us to Meemure Mee Gaha.

While we were waiting, another vehicle passed, and we asked whether at least one of us could get a ride with them but they refused. We were waiting for almost an hour and still there was no sign from the 3wheel guy. While cursing all and waiting in cold, a van passed and stopped. We had a chat with them and they agreed to give us a lift. They were from Atlas company a group of guys. It was indeed such a relief for all of us. Otherwise we could have waited forever.

Those guys were some jolly good fellas. They treated us as if we were part of them. Eating, drinking and stopping on the way we really enjoyed and welcomed the comfort that they offered. Meanwhile, the 3Wheeler guy followed us but we pretended that we were not the culprits and while cursing us he went back.

We were planning to meet at Mee Gaha around 5;30 a.m. but by the time we reached the spot it was almost 10:30 a.m. as the road was so bad and we had to get down at several locations to help the vehicle move. I was not in a mood to continue the journey to Lakegala as it was too late, and I was damn tired, but others were waiting for us and was ready to go, I also agreed. But this is not the way someone should do Lakegala.

So, after a quick breakfast, we started our journey with a guide Kamal from the Village as Sudu ayya who was supposed to come had to attend another task. The first few hours were relatively ok. We were travelling through streams, trees, taking some breaks and finally end up with near a water where we had a bit of a rest before we started the difficult part of the journey.

The weather was good. I was too sunny. The slope was so steep. Its triangular face that stands on a base of about 2.5 miles in length from west to east with a sharp apex rising over 3000 feet from its base towards the heavens is perhaps the most fascinating and breathtaking creation of mother nature on this earth. It has three peaks and the Southernmost facing Meemure is the highest and the most enchanting. The whole mass exhibits a SW-NE trend with a dip slope to the SW. The three peaks are arranged in a NW-SE direction with a horseback like summits. These summits are covered with a thin layer of earth not more than few inches deep with few-stunted pigmy bushes struggling to survive.

There are two accesses to the point (Meeriyagolla) from where we start the accent. One is on the south, through Meemure, and the other on the North through Laggala. The southern access is easier. One must trek about three miles uphill through difficult terrain from the village whose elevation is about 1200 ft. to reach the base. It takes about two hours to reach the base. The villagers consider the climb as a mark of bravery and courage. Of cause before one attempts this feat it is customary and compulsory too that he should first visit the village Devale (The temple of the gods) and obtain the permission and blessings from the presiding gods of the region. It guarantees a safe and easy climb and return without any misfortune. It is also customary that the climbers on their descent too visit the Devale for thanks giving.

The climb from there was strenuous. There were many of different abilities. Some were as light as the wind, so they pushed through the trees, and reached the base quicker than the others. I followed as best as I could and was able to reach the base from which the climb through the crevice was to begin. By the look of itself the mountain could easily scare anyone from moving further. It was that scary.

Some of the team decided not to go ahead. Me being a bit acrophobic, however decided to move ahead one for being come all the way so far and the second I knew that I will not be doing this a second time. So, we were waiting in the crevice while our guide climbed up and tied the rope in the metal that was fixed on the top and dropped it down for us to climb.

It was such a strenuous climb. I made it a point not to look down. But the view was spectacular. When we reached the summit, I was too exhausted. My legs were almost shaky. I knew that this was it. I could not go further, as there was also the way down which was even scarier. So, I stayed, while the others continued to the view point. I was happy that I made it so far and was enjoying the view.

It was almost 5 p.m. when others came back. We were supposed to be back at the village by that time. So, we started the climb down. We could see sudu Ayya from the top who had come to look for us. It was so scary. We all relied on the rope. If there was a slightest slip, that would have been the end.

By the time we reached the base, it was becoming dark. Luckily, we had some torches and phones. We all were exhausted, hungry, thirsty. We were moving through the bushes. Our legs just moved on. Slipping on many a times, we just continued. We were just following behind the guides in pitch dark. Two of our members almost got lost but luckily found their way back. Finally, we reached the water body. Some of us opened the lunch packed and ate as it is even though they were bad, as we were too hungry.

We continued, the final part, back to the village, as fast as we could, as we wanted to come out of this. And finally, we made it. By the time we reached the house of our host, we were too tired to do anything. We had a bath, had a dinner and had to leave back to Colombo as all of us had work on the next day.

Akila who had to drive all the way, as none of us could, was too tired. We let him sleep but I knew he was too tired. Without him we would not have been able to go back to Colombo Safe.

This is how the hike ended. If you are planning to do this hike, keep these things in your mind.

Do not go with a large group. Make sure you have as much of safety as possible specially harnesses. Take plenty of water, energy snacks. You need to be confident of yourself. Remember no matter how many are there, you are on your own. A slightest slip would bring you down.

On the way whenever you feel like stopping, do it. Do not take a risk. If you are not confident, no matter what others say, make sure you stop. You are your best judge not someone else. You will understand what scary looks like when you are at such a hike. It will test every inch of your courage, confidence. Do not take any unnecessary risks and always listen to the guides.

I am glad that I am alive today. As many say it was indeed some sort of luck and blessing. I am glad I did it by challenging myself a step further. But one thing I am sure, I would not attempt this a second time.

A special thanks to Namal. Akila, Nadeeshan, Amila and all others who were part of the team. Without you all, this would not have been possible.