Hulangala Mini World's End - at Selagama Estate
For those who want to reach easily one of Sri Lanka's escarpments called "Mini World's End" without long extra driving distances, Hulangala is the best option. From Palapathwela Junction near Kottagoda at the A9 mainroad, passed by most Cultural Triangle holiday makers when traveling from Dambulla and Kandy, the car park at the ticket office of Hulangala is in a distance of only 12 km ( 7 miles) one-way. The walking distance from the office to the Mini World's End of Hulangala is 2.3 km (1.4 miles). Admittedly, the hikes at Deanston and Pitawala Pathana in Knuckles Range and Madulsima in Badulla District are even shorter. But their starting points are far away from classic travel routes.
Yattawata at the B409 mountain pass road, which is the direct route from Matale to Kurunegala, is in 4.5 km (2 miles) distance from the Hulangala Mini World's Ent ticket office. From Hulangala in Selagama Estate, Matala and Kurunegala are in 19 km (12 miles) resp. 37 km (23 miles) distance by road. Kandy is 44 km (27) miles in the south and Dambulla 41 km (25 miles) to the north by road.
Yattawata at the B409 mountain pass road, which is the direct route from Matale to Kurunegala, is in 4.5 km (2 miles) distance from the Hulangala Mini World's Ent ticket office. From Hulangala in Selagama Estate, Matala and Kurunegala are in 19 km (12 miles) resp. 37 km (23 miles) distance by road. Kandy is 44 km (27) miles in the south and Dambulla 41 km (25 miles) to the north by road.
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Hulangala is a 1050 m (3440 feet) high mountain in the northwesternmost range of Sri Lanka's central highlands, stretching almost 50 km (30 miles) from Katugastota at the Mahaweli River near Kandy in the south to Menikdena near Dambulla in the north. The highest mountain of the Range is Ethipola 12 km (7 miles) south of Hulangala, as the crow flies. This south-north range, separated from Knuckles Range by the Matale Valley and the Campbell's Lane Forest Reserve (near Hatale Mini World's End), forms the boundary of the Central and North-West Province in Sri Lanka. Actually, the rocks of Hulangala Mini World's End are exactly at this boundary. The top of the cliff belongs to Matale District in the Central Province, whereas the foot of the rocks is already in Kurunegala District of the North-Western Province.
The entrance to Hulangala Mini World's End, as said, belongs to the tea estate of Selagama, where comfortable accommodation is available. The uphill trail from the ticket counter to the escarpment is pleasant and not steep. Special permission provided, it would be passable for tuctucs, motorbikes, and jeeps, too. You have to overcome a height difference of 200 m (650 feet) to reach the escarpment, which is at an altitude of almost 840 m (2750 feet) above sea level and about 600 m (almost 2000 feet) above the valley of Pettiwala.
The entrance to Hulangala Mini World's End, as said, belongs to the tea estate of Selagama, where comfortable accommodation is available. The uphill trail from the ticket counter to the escarpment is pleasant and not steep. Special permission provided, it would be passable for tuctucs, motorbikes, and jeeps, too. You have to overcome a height difference of 200 m (650 feet) to reach the escarpment, which is at an altitude of almost 840 m (2750 feet) above sea level and about 600 m (almost 2000 feet) above the valley of Pettiwala.
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The cliffs are around 100 m (more than 300 feet) high, but the escarpment is not exactly vertical. Nonetheless, this is a very dangerous drop and you should be aware of strong gust of wind, which can occur suddenly at Hulangala. There are no guard rails. Children should always be led at their hands when advancing the escarpment.
For a relaxed walk and a picnic break at the Mini World's End, 1.5 hours should be sufficient. For those who like to enjoy a longer hike, the summit of Hulangala Peak can be reached from the Mini World's End. The very top of the mountain is in only 1 km distance from the escarpment, and the trail is a well walkable path, but steeper than the trail from the Hulangala ticket office to the Mini Woröd's End. By the way, the trail to the top also runs almost exactly along the pronvicial border.
When arriving back at the car park at the ticket office, you can consider to have another short detour to the escarpment of the waterfalls called Yatawatta Biso Ella.
For a relaxed walk and a picnic break at the Mini World's End, 1.5 hours should be sufficient. For those who like to enjoy a longer hike, the summit of Hulangala Peak can be reached from the Mini World's End. The very top of the mountain is in only 1 km distance from the escarpment, and the trail is a well walkable path, but steeper than the trail from the Hulangala ticket office to the Mini Woröd's End. By the way, the trail to the top also runs almost exactly along the pronvicial border.
When arriving back at the car park at the ticket office, you can consider to have another short detour to the escarpment of the waterfalls called Yatawatta Biso Ella.
