In searching of Gawarawila and sub plains

Gawarawila is a beautiful plain situated in Sri Pada forest reserve surrounded by hills with an attitude range 1800-1900m. Folklore says ancient mythical giant cow called “Gawara”-ගවරා has lived here to give the name Gawarawila (Gawara +Wila). Ancient Uva-Sri Pada path lies along Gawarawila. (People from Uva province have visited Sri Pada along Balangoda-Gawarawila and this foot path is no longer exists). The feeding stream of Upper Gartmore falls and Gartmore Falls origins and flows through the plain.

Gawarawila Plains

I was waiting to visit Gawarawila plains for a long time and Thanuj has invited me to join with them for this journey. It was a newer experience me to go with new friends for a camping trip.
It was a part of long weekend in Sri Pada season and buses were fully loaded. We have reached Hatton town by 4.30am. Our destination is Gartmore estate and there were no direct buses from Hatton to Gartmore estate. First we got a Sami male-Hatton bus (at 6am) and got down at Tea junction to catch first Gartmore bus from Maskeliya.
Gartmore is a beautiful place situated on the other side of Maussakle reservoir. I have been at opposite bank of Maussakle reservoir for waterfall hunting (Gartmore falls and Adam’s Peak Falls). Trail head (6.46402071, 80.33308362) starts from the estate called Frogmore estate which is situated above Gartmore estate. There was an ascend of 320m from bus stand to trail head through tea estate.

Reaching Gartmore estate. Note the bus stand, new line houses and Maussakle reservoir.

Gartmore tea factory.

Trail head can be approached in two directions from Gartmore bus stop. There is a formal mortable route through line houses but distance is more. We followed the shortest route on the other side of the stream, it mainly follows foot pathways through tea bushes.

Starting point and trail head of Gawarawila plains. We followed the road left to the stream.

Sacred peak and accessory peaks were seen in one side and hills surrounding Gawarawila plains were rising in other side. On our way to trail head we have crossed two streams which are responsible in forming upper Gartmore cascades at the edge of Gawarawila Plains. It took about 2 hours to reach the trail head at Frogmore estate from the bus stop.

New friends for travelling: Ishara (left), Ruwan, Thamindu, Darshana, Iresh and Thanuj (right).

Stairs case starts just above the bus stand.

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Sri Pada. Hatton route is seen as a white streak.

Accessory peaks of Sri Pada.

Abounded Carolina estate hills

Hills of Gawarawila was rising in one side like a parapet

Majestic…

Mini break…

The team

Following the foot path through estate

Waterfall with marked height. This must be visited in rainy season to get actual beauty.

Another waterfall

Upper Gartmore cascade

Upper most one of Upper Gartmore cascade

One of the streams we have crossed.

A waterfall made by one of the streams we have crossed.

Frogmore estate

On top of a waterfall

Conventional route to reach the trail head. Note it goes through a lot of line houses.

Foot path through bushes

Foot path lies at the base of this water fall

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View of Maussakle reservoir. Note the bus stand and factory.

Hills surrounding Gawarawila plains.

Team at trail head

Next part of the trail lies through mountainous forest and a clear foot pathway was noted till we reached Gawarawila plains. It has small ascends and descends but basically a flat terrain. We have crossed a significant one stream which gets start from the sub plain of Gawarawila. (Will come to this later). This stream accounts for above mentioned two main waterfalls. Collectively one can call all of them as Upper Gartmore Falls.

Gawarawila Plains and Gawarawila Sub plains in Google map.

Foot pathway was surrounded by Bamboo and Nelu bushes.

The stream gets start from Gawarawila sub plain. It gets a small drop here to form a waterfall.

Other side of the stream.

? බාදුරා

Close up….

Clear foot pathway margined by Nelu bushes.

Clear foot pathway margined by Nelu bushes.

බජිරි

Gawarawila plain is close by.

Reaching Gawarawila Plains.

Gawarawila like a mini Horton plains and surrounded by hills. The water stream flows slowly through the plain and forms Upper Gartmore cascade at the end. As we have reached the plain by 2pm there was enough time to roam around. There were enough camping places closer to the stream. After set the camp we have followed the course of the stream till its end to view the drop of the plain where Upper Gartmore cascade is formed. It was another amazing place where we spent hours till dusk. We were able to view Sri Pada, Yaka Andu Gala, Ballabendigala, Dakinapura mountain and Maussakle reservoir from this view point.

Aerial view of Gawarawila Plains. Note the stream crosses the plain. Whole like structures in the middle of the plain are Gem pits.

Sri Pada is seeing beyond the plain….

At Gawarawila Plains

There were enough camping places closer to the stream.

Weather was so bright and it is a perfect day for camping….

Nothing much to do….

Our camp site. We were the only group for that day.

Cooking time….

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Camp site in distance

Aerial view of the camp site…

Camp site of Gawarawila Plains

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Follow the course of the stream till end

Wild beauties

.	View from the drop: Maussakle reservoir and Dakinapura Mountain

Rest of the view: Sri Pada, Yaka Endu Gala and Ballabendigala

The drop

Snaps at the drop

It’s me…

Flying the drone…

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One of the Upper Gartmore Falls

The view….

Gawarawila Plains, surrounding mountains and Upper Gartmore cascades

Upper Gartmore Falls

Lateral view of Upper Gartmore Falls

The team on top of Upper Gartmore Falls

The team on top of Upper Gartmore Falls

Day 02
Night was cold as we expected and plain was clear with moonlight. Fortunately it was a full moon day. There was no significant sun rise to Gawarawila plains due to surrounding mountains. After the morning tea we have walked parallel to the stream along the plain to explore it. Seems Gawarawila has human involvement for years and years. There were number of gem pits at middle of the plain closer to the stream.

Sun rise over Gawarawila Plains

Enjoying the sun rise

.	Good morning Gawarawila

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Tea time….

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Walking along the plain

Walking along the plain

Walking along the plain

Walking along the plain

Shadows….

View of the camp site

.	The mountain behind Gawarawila plains

Selfie time

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Sri Pada is rising in front of the plain

Sri Pada and Hatton route

Yaka Endu Gala (behind)

Ballabendihela

.	It was a beautiful morning.

After the breakfast we have packed our stuff and said good bye to Gawarawila plain. Return journey happened along the same route and we were able to reach Gartmore bus in late afternoon. It was another memorable camping trip.

Exploring Gawarawila sub plains / ගවරවිල උපතැන්න සොයා යෑම
After I have fallen love with Gawarawila plains, I wanted to see her again. My second visit to Gawarawila plain was happened exactly after one week. We mainly focused on Exploring Gawarawila sub plains.
Gawarawila sub plains is another grassy land situated parallel to Gawarawila plains. But it is smaller than main plain. I have noted this when I examine the map for Gawarawila plains.

Gawarawila Plains and Gawarawila Sub plains in Google map.

Exploring sub plains happened as one day journey. We got Nallathanniya-Colombo bus from Pettah and reached Maskeliya town by 3.30am. Then we got to know the first Gartmore bus starts at 7.30am from Maskeliya. After got breakfast from Nallathanniya junction (there was a nice shop at Nallathanniya junction, but opens at 6am) we hired a three wheel to Gartmore.
It was not a good day for a hike as surrounding was gloomy and misty. We met another group of travelers who are going for camping at Gawarawila plains.

Nuwan and Keshan- This time my partners for the journey.

Gartmore estate

Islands of Maussakle reservoir

Hills covered with mist

Not a good number….

Get blessings from local Gods….

.	Upper Gartmore cascades

.	Upper Gartmore cascades

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Wild berries

Cascades met on our way….

Cascades met on our way….

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Surrounding is getting bit clear

Ascend to Frogmore estate

The view from Maussakle from Frogmore estate

At trail head. Just before enter the forest.

Here onwards we followed the foot pathway to Gawrawila plains and came across the first stream. This stream starts from Gawarawila Sub plain and we had to follow the steam to reach the plain. We followed the stream in it’s right side (later we revealed a clear foot pathway in left side of the stream) and reached a small open area in few hundred meters. Walking along the stream was not that much difficult. This stream was wider than the one we met at Gawarawila plains. Following this small open area we found a foot pathway in left side of the stream and reached a small pond created at the stream. This is a nice place with shallow water. Beyond that Gawarawila sub plain starts

Follow the course of the stream

Reached small open area

Continuing along then stream….

Small pond in the stream

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Gawarwila sub plain is narrow initially and getting wider later. Proportionately the stream becomes smaller with the plain. We were able to notice gem pits (newest ones) at this plain. (More organized sites compared to Gawarawila plains). This might be the reason to have a clear foot pathway in some occasion. Continuation of the Plain was disturbed by the forest in few occasions. Within one and half hours time we were able to reach the end of the plain. The plain ends with a significant drop at a place is a like a mini world’s end. The provincial border (Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces) goes closer to this place. This drop provides the view towards Rathnapura side-Alupola Ella area. But we didn’t have a clear view due to mist.

Entering to the sub plain

Wide stream compared to the plain

It is a narrow plain

Walking along the stream

Walking along the stream

Now stream becomes narrow and plain gets wide

Continuing parallel to the stream

At Gawarawila sub plains

Crystal clear water

More wider part of the plain

.	At Gawarawila sub plains

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It should be careful in walking on the plain due to gem pits

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Gem pits

One of an organized site of Gem mining

Site of gem mining

At the end-Reached to the drop

View from the drop….

View from the drop…. Rathnapura area

It was like a Mini World’s end

We were at the end of sub plains

As weather was not good, we have decided to turn from this point. Actually we had a plan to hike the nearby mountain from this point but it was postponed due to weather condition. Return journey was uneventful and we met another two groups who were on their way for camping at Gawarawila plains.

Good bye Gawarawila sub plains

We have revisited the shallow pool on our way back

The drop makes a small waterfall here

Smiley faces at the end

Thanks for reading