Kirigalpottha Mountain is second highest mountain of Sri Lanka. Situated in Horton Plains national park, Sri Lanka. Highest mountain of Sri Lanka is Piduruthalagala Mountain. It’s situated closed to Nuwaraeliya. It’s 2524m high above sea level. Kirigalpottha is second and about 2395m high from sea level. Third highest mountain in Sri Lanka is Totupala Mountain and it is situated at east side of the Horton plains. Kirigalpottha is situated at the west side of the Horton plains. Kirigalpottha consist of several beauties and high amount of endemic varieties. Especially endemic birds, endemic plants, endemic animals are present in the Mountain. Maharathmal flowers (Rhododendron Arboretum), deer, horn chameleon, jungle fowl which also endemic varieties can be found at the Mountain. Leopards are kept for this place for keep naturally in environmental equilibrium. Travel to this place is some what different.
Photos above are taken at the Ohiya railway station. Its a nice and a very cold place to spent a night. We reached there at about 4.30 am. Its about 8 hours from Colombo by train. If you go there always talk to the railway staff, they are very kind and they’ll help you as they can.
Ohiya to Horton plains, One of the most scenic routes in Sri Lanka. We went on this route around 7.00 am, that is the best time for photographers who want to play with the mist. Most of the people who visit Horton plains, they only focus on plains, remember there is lot to see on the way. We saw various kinds of birds on the way and if you are really lucky you can see a leopard. If you can, walking will be the best way because we also were on foot. But remember to be quiet and listen to that mystic jungle.
Photos above are taken on the way to Kirigalpoththa peak inside the Horton plains national park, and the photos below are taken at the peak. On the way you will see the elks. Be careful, don’t provoke them. No matter who you are, the leader of that elk group will attack you. so always be quiet.
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Important note –If you are on foot, manage your time because you have to walk 11.3km from Ohiya to Horton plains, and Kirigalpoththa trail is 6km.So the whole journey will be 36km.Our advice is to start your journey back before 5.00pm.
Because after the ticket counter you won’t find anything except jungle and mist till you reach to Ohiya.And on that time mist will be very thick and dark. If it begin to rain you will be in a big trouble, If you got a vehicle it is not easy to drive in that narrow roads with that mist. So safety first, be careful. We had that scary experience on our way back to Ohiya.