University Explorers' Club: Loolkandura Exploration-2015

Year and month	29th of March 2015
Number of days	One day
Crew	University Explorers Club ( 84 participants including both senior and junior members)
Transport	From Peradeniya to Detota –University bus (54 seat)From Deltota to boundary of Loolkandura -a bus hired from Deltota (42 seats)Loolkandura estate – walking
Activities	Hiking ,Climb with aid of ropes, Relaxing, Discussing the historical, environmental importance of the place and Taking Photographs,
Weather	Sunny weather until noon, Thundering and storming at evening without showers
Route	Galaha Junction> Hindagala> Mahakanda> Deltota>Loolkandura from Loolkandura state return on the same road
Tips, Notes and special remarks	It is better to wear shoes and be cautious upon the environment as the forest area is a habitat to leeches and other wild animals such as leopards, snakes wasps etc.Beware of loose rocks which could be slipped. If travelling by bus 42 seat bus is ideal since 54 seat busses meets with difficulties in driving on narrow roads. Silence will allow you to enjoy hidden beauty of nature.
Comments	It was a moderate hike of 1.5km to the summit but anyone can be fascinated by its beauty.

LOOLKANDURA EXPLORATION

Loolkandura tea state is a place where most of the nature lovers are attracted by its eye catching scenarios apart from being the first ever commercial tea estate in Sri Lanka. The exploration of loolkandura was done by the University Explorers crew consisted of 84 participants on 29th of March, 2015. The journey was started around 8.45 a.m. from science faculty premises and the path we used was (B364)

Galaha Junction> Hindagala> Mahakanda> Deltota>Loolkandura.

ROUTE B364: TO LOOLKANDURA FROM UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA

There is around 35km s to Loolkandura tea estate from Peradeniya and another few kilometers inside the state to reach the peak. The bus was travelled along the narrow and bendy roads and reached boundry of loolkandura state. From that point all the hikers stepped together into the state through the forest area to seek out its hidden beauty and historically important places. The journey seemed to be little bit harsh along to steep and narrow footpath but helping each other made the walk easy and more memorable to all. Lunch was taken while resting on the first plane area we have met and we were able to reach the top by 3.00 p.m. On the way to the top an elk and foot prints of a leopard could be observed. The state is surrounded by gigantic mountains such as Hunnasgiri mountain range, Knuckles range and Brandy gala.

LOOLKANDURA ESTATE

When returning the pathway was much easier as foot path through the tea plantation area was selected to climb down. Passing a plot of recently trimmed tea plantation, we were able to reach the site where the cabin of James Taylor who was the founder of this state was located. There the chimney made with rubble in masonry work, James Tailor seat, ode to James Taylor could be observed. However we retraced our steps from loolkandura while thanking James Taylor who had made this state as his first and last love and reached our destination, Science faculty by 7.30 p.m.