Lakegala is situated in Meemure village. Lakegala in Sinhala means “The Rock of Lanka”. The rock is 1310 meters in height and it is situated in the Knuckles mountain range.
About the destination
Lakegala lies near the border between Kandy and Matale districts. It rises to the sky like a silent giant and famous as the highest bare rock outcrop in the world. The mountain is situated in an old village named as the “Meemure”. It is a major attraction among tourists who visit Sri Lanka.
There are two famous legends of Lakegala one of which is that King Ravana ruled the kingdom of Sri Lanka from the summit of Lakegala. The other famous belief is that Lord Buddha left his footprint on this mountain during his third visit to Sri Lanka.
Hiking in Lakegala
Hiking in Lakegala is an extremely tough task unless and otherwise, you are strong both physically and mentally. It is hard to reach the peak of the mountain and the last 300m is beyond difficult. You have to be fit enough to complete this task, if at any point you feel like giving up, it is always a smart choice to let go rather than to push yourself to finish the task. Your hard work will pay off once you reach the top of the mountain where you will get a clear view of the East seashore of Sri Lanka.
You have to start your task first bypassing a few houses. The first 3 km of the hiking is river-based trekking. It can also be described as a journey with horror and you have to lean and jump as the route is covered with creepers, rocks, etc. During the rest of the journey, all you have to do is to climb Lakegala.
Tips to follow on your hiking
Do not go hiking during the rainy season.
Do not hike the mountain on your own and make sure to go in teams.
Take proper hiking gear and necessities.
Reaching your destination
From Colombo
Take the McCallum road then go on the Colombo-Katunayake expressway and exit from the Ja-Ela exit. Turn right onto Chilaw – Colombo Main Road and turn right onto Kurunegala Road. Turn right to Kathiresan Kovil Road and turn right onto Link Road.Turn right onto Matale – Illukkumbura Road and turn left onto Narangamuwa Road to reach your destination.
From Matale
Go on Kandy Road and turn right onto Elahera-Hettipola Road. Turn left onto Matale – Illukkumbura Road and turn left onto Narangamuwa Road to reach your destination.
